NEW YORK (AP) — The man accused in Long Island’s infamous Gilgo Beach serial killings intends to plead guilty in the case next month, according to two individuals familiar with his decision. Rex Heuermann, a 62-year-old former architect charged with murdering seven women over the span of 17 years, is poised to change his plea from not guilty at his next scheduled court hearing on April 8.
Sources, who agreed to speak on condition of anonymity, indicated that both the victims’ families and Heuermann’s family have already been notified of his decision. Despite this development, it is essential to recognize that circumstances may change before the court date, and it is possible that Heuermann could reverse his decision. Any new plea also requires judicial approval.
Heuermann has been in custody since his arrest in July 2023 and had previously asserted his innocence. Prosecutors have utilized a combination of DNA evidence, cellphone data, and items discovered during a search of Heuermann’s Massapequa home to establish a connection between him and the victims, all of whom were young women associated with sex work. Remains of several victims were found along an isolated stretch of Ocean Parkway, with additional remains found in other remote locations.
The victims included Melissa Barthelemy, Maureen Brainard-Barnes, Amber Lynn Costello, Sandra Costilla, Valerie Mack, Jessica Taylor, and Megan Waterman. Both Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney and victims' rights attorney Gloria Allred declined to comment on the latest updates in the case.
Investigations concerning a potential serial killer in Long Island gained public attention in 2010 when police stumbled upon multiple sets of human remains while searching for a missing woman. Over the years, a mix of DNA analysis and investigative work allowed authorities to identify the victims and draw connections to Heuermann. A renewed investigation into the cold case finally linked Heuermann as a suspect in 2022, aided by witness reports and forensic evidence including a pizza crust tied to a hair from one victim.
Cellphone records indicated Heuermann's contacts with some victims before their disappearances, while computer files were discovered that contained disturbing details akin to a blueprint for the murders. Recent months have seen the court reject multiple motions from Heuermann’s lawyers related to evidence admissibility and the case's structure. The case remains a focal point in the ongoing discussion surrounding unsolved crimes in the region.
Sources, who agreed to speak on condition of anonymity, indicated that both the victims’ families and Heuermann’s family have already been notified of his decision. Despite this development, it is essential to recognize that circumstances may change before the court date, and it is possible that Heuermann could reverse his decision. Any new plea also requires judicial approval.
Heuermann has been in custody since his arrest in July 2023 and had previously asserted his innocence. Prosecutors have utilized a combination of DNA evidence, cellphone data, and items discovered during a search of Heuermann’s Massapequa home to establish a connection between him and the victims, all of whom were young women associated with sex work. Remains of several victims were found along an isolated stretch of Ocean Parkway, with additional remains found in other remote locations.
The victims included Melissa Barthelemy, Maureen Brainard-Barnes, Amber Lynn Costello, Sandra Costilla, Valerie Mack, Jessica Taylor, and Megan Waterman. Both Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney and victims' rights attorney Gloria Allred declined to comment on the latest updates in the case.
Investigations concerning a potential serial killer in Long Island gained public attention in 2010 when police stumbled upon multiple sets of human remains while searching for a missing woman. Over the years, a mix of DNA analysis and investigative work allowed authorities to identify the victims and draw connections to Heuermann. A renewed investigation into the cold case finally linked Heuermann as a suspect in 2022, aided by witness reports and forensic evidence including a pizza crust tied to a hair from one victim.
Cellphone records indicated Heuermann's contacts with some victims before their disappearances, while computer files were discovered that contained disturbing details akin to a blueprint for the murders. Recent months have seen the court reject multiple motions from Heuermann’s lawyers related to evidence admissibility and the case's structure. The case remains a focal point in the ongoing discussion surrounding unsolved crimes in the region.
