Massapequa Park, Long Island - Rex Heuermann, the suspect in the Gilgo Beach murders, was found to have “over 200 guns” in his Massapequa Park home, according to Suffolk County Police Commissioner Rodney Harrison. This number is more than double the amount of firearms for which he had permits. Heuermann had permits for 92 firearms, as revealed by Suffolk District Attorney Ray Tierney in court on Friday.
Police are currently searching a second storage facility after searching one on Sunday, expanding their search for physical evidence that could connect Heuermann to the three women he is charged with killing. Investigators have already collected a significant amount of evidence from his cluttered home in Massapequa Park. They are also looking for potential victim ”trophies,” such as earrings or locks of hair, at the 59-year-old architect’s house.
The investigation into Heuermann began after a breakthrough in the case, which involved revisiting an old clue. Heuermann was linked to the murders through DNA extracted from a discarded pizza crust he ate and a male hair found on one of the victims. His activity on a series of burner phones used to arrange meetings with the slain women also played a role in tying him to the crimes.
Heuermann, a married father of two, is currently behind bars and has been charged with first-degree murder in the deaths of Melissa Barthelemy, Megan Waterman, and Amber Costello. He is also considered the prime suspect in the death of Maureen Brainard-Barnes.
Suffolk County Police Commissioner Rodney Harrison believes that Heuermann’s wife and adult daughter had no knowledge of his actions. He stated that they were shocked, disgusted, and embarrassed by the revelations.
The victims in the Gilgo Beach murders were mostly young women who were sex workers. Authorities have suggested that more than one person may have been involved in the killings.
The arrest of Heuermann took place in Midtown Manhattan on Thursday evening, outside the office building where he works as an architect. Exclusive video obtained by Eyewitness News shows authorities surrounding Heuermann to take him into custody. He was arraigned on Friday afternoon in Suffolk County and pleaded not guilty.
Suffolk District Attorney Ray Tierney personally appeared before the judge and described Heuermann as an “ongoing danger.” Tierney implored the judge not to grant bail, citing Heuermann’s ownership of houses in South Carolina and Las Vegas, which could make him a flight risk. Tierney also revealed that Heuermann used seven burner phones to make over 200 searches related to the Gilgo Beach investigation and the victims’ family members.
Allie Pertel, the sister of one of the victims, Megan Waterman, expressed her shock at Heuermann’s arrest. She stated that he didn’t look like the monster he turned out to be, but the details of the case confirmed his true nature.
Defense attorney Michael J. Brown argued that the case against Heuermann is “extremely circumstantial in nature” and released a statement asserting his client’s innocence. Brown described Heuermann as a 59-year-old with no prior criminal history, a college graduate, and a hardworking licensed architect. He emphasized Heuermann’s role as a loving husband and dedicated father and expressed confidence in defending him in court.
Heuermann is currently being held without bail due to the “extreme depravity of the allegations,” as stated by the judge.
The four women Heuermann is linked to were all found covered in burlap along a half-mile stretch of Ocean Parkway on Long Island’s South Shore in late 2010. These murders, along with the deaths of seven other people, have remained unsolved for a long time.
The disappearance of Shannan Gilbert in 2010 triggered the investigation that uncovered the larger mystery. Gilbert, a 24-year-old sex worker, vanished after leaving a client’s house on foot in the seafront community of Oak Beach.
Suffolk County Police Commissioner Rodney Harrison praised the efforts of the task force involved in
What potential evidence are investigators looking for at the second storage facility in relation to the Heuermann case
Ey Ray Tierney explained that the discovery of over 200 guns at Rex Heuermann’s Massapequa Park home has shocked and alarmed investigators. Heuermann, a suspect in the Gilgo Beach murders, only had permits for 92 firearms, meaning that he possessed more than double the amount legally allowed.
Authorities are now conducting a search of a second storage facility in an effort to find additional evidence that could tie Heuermann to the murders of three women. So far, investigators have collected a significant amount of evidence from Heuermann’s cluttered home and are also looking for potential victim “trophies” such as earrings or locks of hair.
The breakthrough in the Heuermann case came when DNA extracted from a discarded pizza crust and a male hair found on one of the victims linked him to the murders. The use of burner phones to arrange meetings with the slain women also played a significant role in connecting Heuermann to the crimes.
Heuermann, a married father of two, is currently in custody and has been charged with first-degree murder in the deaths of Melissa Barthelemy, Megan Waterman, and Amber Costello. He is also considered the prime suspect in the death of Maureen Brainard-Barnes.
Suffolk County Police Commissioner Rodney Harrison stated that Heuermann’s wife and adult daughter had no knowledge of his actions and were shocked, disgusted, and embarrassed by the revelations.
The victims in the Gilgo Beach murders were primarily young women who were sex workers, leading authorities to suspect that more than one person may have been involved in the killings.
Heuermann’s arrest took place in Midtown Manhattan, outside the office building where he works as an architect. Exclusive video footage obtained by Eyewitness News shows authorities apprehending him. Heuermann was arraigned on Friday afternoon in Suffolk County and pleaded not guilty to the charges.
