The latest development in the infamous Gilgo Beach serial killings has unveiled a massive amount of evidence against the primary suspect, Rex Heuermann, the 59-year-old architect. The array of evidence includes 2,500 pages of documents, numerous crime scene photos, extensive autopsy reports, and hundreds of hours of video footage acquired from Heuermann's residence and professional workspace. The prosecutors disclosed these details during a recent preliminary hearing.
During this brief hearing, the prosecution handed over four hard drives containing significant evidence to Suffolk County Supreme Court Justice Timothy Mazzei and Heuermann's defense attorney. A subsequent pre-trial conference hearing has been arranged for September 27.
Under a protective order, agreed upon by Heuermann's attorney Michael Brown and Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney, the release of the evidence remains strictly confined to attorneys. "We’re talking about 13 years of investigation," Tierney stated in a post-hearing press conference, highlighting the enormity of the material and the ongoing nature of the investigation.
Heuermann, clad in a black blazer and light-colored trousers, made his presence known at the hearing hosted at the Arthur M. Cromarty Criminal Court Complex. The courtroom was packed, accommodating about 100 people, including members of the media and public spectators. The suspect remained silent throughout the brief hearing.
Heuermann was indicted last month with three counts each of first-degree and second-degree murder, specifically relating to the deaths of Melissa Barthelemy (24), Megan Waterman (22), and Amber Lynn Costello (27). The discovery of these women's remains back in December 2010 at Gilgo Beach on Long Island’s South Shore led to his arrest.
The dramatic arrest of Heuermann outside his Manhattan office on July 13 marked the most consequential development in the prolonged investigation into the series of mostly young female victims discovered along Gilgo Beach. Heuermann is also under suspicion regarding the disappearance and death of a fourth woman, Maureen Brainard-Barnes (25), whose remains were similarly found near Gilgo Beach. This particular investigation is still in progress.
The victims, now referred to as the “Gilgo Four,” were thought to have been engaged in sex work, utilizing online platforms for advertisement, according to police reports. Some of the victims' family members were present at Tuesday's hearing, as mentioned by Tierney. These victims were discovered during the search for another missing woman, Shannan Gilbert, who was last spotted within the proximate gated community of Oak Beach.
Heuermann, to this point, has pleaded not guilty and firmly denied involvement in the killings. His attorney, Brown, stated post-hearing, “We’re prepared to go forward...We will defend this case in the court of law and we will go to trial in this case.” Brown has also previously labeled the case against Heuermann as “extremely circumstantial in nature.”
Investigators have linked Heuermann to the crime based on DNA recovered from a discarded pizza, which allegedly matches a male hair found on burlap material used to wrap Waterman's body. District Attorney Tierney confirmed that the evidence in the case would encompass “mitochondrial DNA, nuclear DNA,” which has already been tested and deemed admissible in US courts.
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