Gilgo Beach LISK Serial Killer, Rex Heuermann, charged with 3 murders, July 2023

[NottaYutz]

*I was sitting on my bed, holding the iPad, stood up at the same time reading and almost fell on my ***

WANTAGH, NY – APRIL 15: An aerial view of police cars near where a body was discovered in the area near Gilgo Beach and Ocean Parkway on Long Island on April 15, 2011 in Wantagh, New York.

Police have been conducting a prolonged search of the area after finding ten sets of human remains. Of the ten only four sets of remains have been identified as missing female prostitutes in their 20s who had been working in the online escort business. Police, working with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), suspect that a single serial killer may be in the New York area focusing on sex workers

New York authorities have taken a suspected serial killer into custody wanted in connection with the unsolved deaths of 11 people who were found in a string of killings on Long Island’s Gilgo Beach in 2010 and 2011.

The suspect is being looked at over the Gilgo Beach murders, including the so-called “Gilgo Four,” women found wrapped in burlap within days of each other in late 2010, and seven other bodies that were later eyed as possibly being connected.

The hunt for a suspect in what’s become known as “the Long Island serial killer” started more than a year before police released a 911 call made by Shannan Gilbert before she vanished in 2010, CBS News reported..

The “Gilgo Four” were later identified as Maureen Brainard-Barnes, abducted in 2007; Melissa Barthelemy in 2009; and Megan Waterman and Amber Costello, who went missing in 2010.

The full audio of Gilbert’s 911 call was released by the Suffolk County Police Department last year, as well as maps and other images showing what authorities believe happened on May 1, 2010, the night she disappeared, according to CBS News

Suspect in Gilgo Beach Long Island killings charged with murders

More than 300 subpoenas and search warrants were issued during the course of officials’ investigation.

www.newsnationnow.com

Police released photos of a belt found during the initial Gilgo Beach investigation which they believe was handled by the perpetrator and did not belong to any of the victims

Belt with mystery initials and chilling link between 10 unsolved murders

A suspect has been taken into custody reportedly in connection with the deaths of the 'Gilgo Four' - four women whose bodies were discovered along Ocean Parkway near Gilgo Beach in Long Island

www.mirror.co.uk

MOO for what it's worth. RE: HM or WH on the belt. Admittedly, the letters look hand-drawn because of the letter ratios and off-centeredness (and it may be the case they are someone's initials). But because I tend to focus on minute tangents, I did some searches regarding the initials and found two European leather companies that bear those initials: William Hannah Limited and HM Leather System. But I found no logo from either company matching the belt's letters.

 

[alaskanblue]

About the belt.
A 1930 Census shows that William Heuerman, father of Theodore Heuerman, who was married to the mother of Rex Heuerman.

Name	William Heurmann
Birth Year	abt 1888
Gender	Male
Race	White
Age in 1930	42
Birthplace	New Jersey
Marital Status	Married
Relation to Head of House	Head

Great post-it was the grandfather's after all! Why he would use it in one of the crimes and his wife's hair on three of the victims seems really sloppy on his part. Glad that he was!

 

[alaskanblue]

Just another possibility for the belt initials being HM. I've seen variations of the Heuermann surname as Heuer Mann, and Heuer-Mann. In past research on surnames, I've noticed that usage can vary over time, even within the same family units.

Someone posted some info about Heuermann's grandfather's initials being WH and I'm inclined to believe it was his. The initials viewed upside down. Why he would use it in the commission of one of the murders is beyond me.

 

[Susieq87]

Something I found interesting is Rex's seemingly endless list of over-litigation. He seems like a real cocky .

Also, not saying he did this but “you hit me with your car” is a quick way to make a buck, sometimes thousands. The insurance companies don’t want litigation and settle quickly out of court—it’s rampant around here and even happened to my husband, a guy faked running his beat up car into his big truck tire and tried to get him to pay $300 cash, he refused because it was a total scam…the jerk went and sent a claim to our auto ins by getting our license plate, who then paid him a few thousand without even letting us dispute it! I was LIVID. I told them it was a scam and they said, “we know” and paid anyway. Now he has a dash cam. Happens every day. A couple weeks ago the police asked for our Nest cam video to expose another scam that happened to a neighbor. That one didn’t get away with it. So Rex could have been doing this for a quick buck on the side to supplement his income.

edit: @NeverPersonal just want to add that I love your avatar…in a world of Heathers, be a Veronica

 

[NottaYutz]

Skeleton remains found in Islip woods yesterday. Not sure if it is related to LISK...although I have not heard anything further on this.

I would not be surprised if the killer has other dumping locations. From all the cases I've encountered, it's a bit unusual for a serial killer to cease killing unless incarcerated. No doubt in my mind that LE is poring over older cold cases involving similar victims.

 

[DaisyChains]

Again, Shannan Gilbert was not running from Rex’s house the night I BELIVE she was captured while running away and murdered. She said “they” were trying to kill her. Brewer was in real estate and grew up on Long Island as well right? I would be looking into any connection between he and Rex. Any. This goes deeper.

Someone mentioned the interview with Rex seeming off. As if the interviewer knew something. Particularly when the interviewer asked something along the lines of whether Rex was known for anything other than architecture/buildings. That smirk. I’m convinced these two met on the dark web. The interviewer knows something. I’ve even questioned if videos of the victims exist somewhere on the dark web. Who knows. This guy didn’t seem particularly tech savvy. Then again to contradict my last statement Architecture does take a bit of technical prowess.

 

[x_files]

He was watching the case and googling it frequently, which LE was aware of. They specifically kept the investigation into him VERY confidential/sealed so he didn't do anything to himself, so no media mentions or real LE updates on the case until the arrest.

I haven't seen his name prior anywhere in the media, I was wondering if I somehow missed it. Thanks!

 

[dotr]

Someone posted some info about Heuermann's grandfather's initials being WH and I'm inclined to believe it was his. The initials viewed upside down. Why he would use it in the commission of one of the murders is beyond me.

rbbm.
Getting the ''strap'' comes to mind.. imo, speculation.

 

[x_files]

I didn't know about Portland.
Is there a thread for them?
I'd be interested in following it if so..
I have friends in portland.

So far LE in Portland says there's no serial killer but LE said that about The Gren River Killer at first back in the 80s.
Not that I am aware of, here's one link:

Fears of possible Oregon serial killer rise after 6 women found dead in Portland area

Portland police say they have no reason to believe the six unsolved deaths are related, but there are similarities in the cases that experts say raise concern.

www.foxnews.com

 

[DaisyChains]

I would not be surprised if the killer has other dumping locations. From all the cases I've encountered, it's a bit unusual for a serial killer to cease killing unless incarcerated. No doubt in my mind that LE is poring over older cold cases involving similar victims.

You can bet he did not stop abusing/killing sex workers after his body dumping ground was found. He just found new ways to conceal the bodies. Since I surmise he liked to visit the gravesites of his victims perhaps he began keeping their remains closer to home. LE did confiscate a freezer from his house. Perhaps he moved to dismemberment and keeping the remains. I don’t think he emotionally likes letting go of remains completely bc they were momentos from which he could remember his crimes when in their presence.

 

[everybodhi]

Quite possible that he had incriminating evidence or bizarre stuff he didn't want anyone to accidentally see. I couldn't believe how ramshackle the place is, he's got blocks of wood nailed in as shims above one of the posts.

Suspect in Gilgo Beach Killings Led a Life of Chaos and Control

Mr. Ferchaw recounted several run-ins with his neighbor, none pleasant. There was the time he said hello to Mr. Heuermann as he was cutting wood and Mr. Heuermann responded by silently glaring back between chops of his splitting maul. Other times he would be seated beside his stacked wood on the porch watching an old television.

Mike Schmidt, who has lived in the neighborhood for 10 years, has a friend who lives behind Mr. Heuermann. Sometimes Mr. Schmidt would visit his buddy, have a few beers in the backyard, look out at the sagging Heuermann house, “and say ‘He probably has bodies there.’”

 

[NottaYutz]

I agree. Looks like he inherited the house but never has bothered to maintain it much, at least on the outside. Gives me the impression he is frugal to the point of being cheap.

Maybe it's a hint of a double life - architect in the city but run-down house? Completely separate work and home life? Professional man, husband, father, but serial killer?

jmo

According to this article, he owed hundreds of thousands in back taxes.

Long Island murders suspect Rex Heuermann had history of tax issues and lawsuits

The Long Island murders suspect has been years late in paying hundreds of thousands of dollars in taxes, documents showed.

abc7ny.com

"Heuermann appears to have had issues paying his taxes going back more than a decade. Nassau County records show Heuermann was subject to six tax liens filed by the IRS in Nassau County between 2010 and 2021. According to the liens, Heuermann owed a total of more than $425,000 for taxes he had failed to pay going back to 2005."

 

[DaisyChains]

According to this article, he owed hundreds of thousands in back taxes.

Long Island murders suspect Rex Heuermann had history of tax issues and lawsuits

The Long Island murders suspect has been years late in paying hundreds of thousands of dollars in taxes, documents showed.

abc7ny.com

"Heuermann appears to have had issues paying his taxes going back more than a decade. Nassau County records show Heuermann was subject to six tax liens filed by the IRS in Nassau County between 2010 and 2021. According to the liens, Heuermann owed a total of more than $425,000 for taxes he had failed to pay going back to 2005."

My guess is he was paying for substances and sex so much he lost control of his finances. Lots of addictions that took his attention/money. Just a hunch.

If multiple accomplices involved via the dark web or other (Brewer etc) maybe he was being blackmailed, but this is less likely.

 

[alaskanblue]

Great insights.

I wonder what came first, chicken or egg? Did his "addictions" serve as a coping mechanism for his bumbling life or did he not quite achieve success because of his criminal activities.

And by not achieving success, I mean he didn't pay bills, lived a sloppy life. Not every professional wants to live a showy life and there is absolutely nothing wrong with living modestly and focusing on hobbies. That is fine - no offense given. But that is not what is happening here. Any comments about his run-down house in an otherwise nice neighborhood are a reflection on him, not anyone who might be reading this. The man is accused of being a disgusting serial killer and yes my impression of his life is colored by that.

jmo

Yes, I wonder about this too. His tax problems started in 2005 and proceeded to get worse. I think his serial killings began as a coping mechanism like you mentioned. HIs life was sliding off a cliff it appears and what is strange is this is so much different than the life I expected the killer to have. I always thought he'd be meticulous in all aspects of his life and cunning. I don't know how he conducted his business but everything else seems to be sloppy. He must've had an inkling that technology might perhaps make advancements to seal his fate or perhaps he just ignored it. Considering how tall and large he is, he stands out and anyone who witnessed anything would ID him. I recall there were couple sightings of him and I have a feeling that the corruption in the Suffolk PD from 2010 to 2018 until the last two task forces were put into place was the reason it took so long to get this guy on the radar at least.

 

[indicolite22]

True definition of "Your priorities are in the wrong place" because, despite all of the above, he was buying and funding burner phones like crazy. At least 7 of them.

SBM. Not to mention his vast collection of firearms.

 

[dotr]

Case Information

www.gilgonews.com

Long Island Serial Killer ‘cherry-picked’ Gilgo Beach victims for personal goal

THE Long Island serial killer carefully chose his victims for personal gratification, targeting a vulnerable population of women, two forensic psychologists have said. It’s been 13 years sinc…

www.thesun.co.uk

rbbm
''Forensic psychologist Dr. John Delatorre agreed when asked if the serial killer cherry-picked his victims.
"They're picked for a specific purpose," he exclusively told The U.S. Sun.''
Delatorre said that while the killer may have frequented places where prostitutes advertise or may have even purchased sex before, it wasn't someone who was just trying to get rid of them because they were escorts.

"I think this individual has a specific target in mind," the expert said.

Delatorre explained that the killer may have been trying to find someone that closely matched another person that they weren't able to harm.

"They are an easy target, but I highly doubt that that's the only reason why [the killer] is choosing sex workers," the expert said.

"Now it's possible that whoever's doing this has a specific victim in mind but for whatever reason, they can't get to that victim, so they use a proxy.''

 

[Pinkizzy]

LE probably interviewed him in 2010 due to the location of his house to the murder scenes. I wonder whether they thought he was a weirdo back then

 

[LaborDayRN]

brazen or dumb? I feel like he must be missing a few braincells to discard a pizza box outside his office building

IMO he was both dumb and he got lazy. He's gotten away with these killings for so many years he most likely thought he'd never be caught.

 

[alaskanblue]

Valerie Mack

www.gilgonews.com

Just noticed the link on Valerie's page goes straight to Megan Waterman's security footage leaving the hotel instead of the statement on her identity.

These poor girls. And the poor toddler baby. This man is SO sick. I just woke up & read about him stealing clementines at Whole Foods last year... Weirdo.

Do we have transcripts of the calls he made to family members after the fact, or no?
Imagine the horror. Your sister goes missing and the man who took her calls you to brag and gloat. Disgusting on a different level.

I didn't even know that they even had any footage of Megan from the hotel until yesterday (!!). I'd always thought the tapes had been recorded over and thought that was a golden opportunity that was lost to perhaps get the image of the killer on them. When I watched the tape I couldn't help but notice out of the several guests in the lobby in seperate footage from her, there was a large guy in a white shirt who looks similar to Heuremann. I'd be interested to know if anyone else sees a similarity. He's younger and thinner but that was 13 plus years ago.

Yes, this guy is so depraved--I have to think he is responsible for at least some of the other bodies on the gilgo and others dumped elsewhere. I'm ecstatic that they have this monster off of the streets!

 

[citylady]

First of all, thanks to my fellow posters, readers and mods on the LISK forum here for keeping me up to date all these long years. This isn't the case that brought me to Websleuths but it was certainly one of the cases that kept me here - I lived in Massapequa during high school (not Berner) and went to the beaches nearby every day during Summer. I'm sure I'm not the only one who wept during parts of the press conference. Bless the families.

Didn't see this posted and wanted to share

Lost Girls Author on Gothamist