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

[Ursamajr]

ETA: In the affadavit, the taxi driver says she was called to a little road off Ocean Ave, in Ronkonkoma. Actually, that's over near JFK. Any idea where that might have been? Is Ocean Ave also called Hook Creek Blvd? There are some streets off Ocean Ave that have areas of woods. She said he stepped out of some woods that were at the edge of a parking lot. Across the street there was a residence where people saw what was going on.

JFK? Iam confused because there is an Ocean Ave in Ronkonkoma.

@Betty P ... @madamx is correct
The Ocean Ave they are referring to is in Ronkonkoma. Exit 59 off the LIE. It's quite a ways from JFK - about 45 miles at least. 1 hour drive average and forget it if it's rush hour.

 

[FansBlowing]

Why did this swinger couple (one of whom was a cop), pick up a random homeless person to bring to a sex party? And she had to take a shower first? And she was hungry and wanted food. This does not sound like a prostitute at all. I don't think the cop was having sex with Rex, he was having sex with Vargatta (maybe while Rex watched).

 

[Just K]

At this point in time, we don’t know who may or may not have helped suspect Rex to possibly lure, groom, kill or help him dispose of dead women and/or possibly men.

Many have suggested that the killer may have had another woman’s help. We can’t assume that any member of his “associates” is a victim, especially since some of the lawyers involved come with their own baggage.

 

[Ursamajr]

Why did this swinger couple (one of whom was a cop), pick up a random homeless person to bring to a sex party? And she had to take a shower first? And she was hungry and wanted food. This does not sound like a prostitute at all. I don't think the cop was having sex with Rex, he was having sex with Vargatta (maybe while Rex watched).

It is a possibility that the "random homeless" person wasn't totally unknown to the cop. Karen Vergata was known to LE in NYC- she had convictions and had just been released from jail on drug charges. She might have looked a bit rough and the witness could have assumed she was houseless. She might not have been "random" at all.

 

[waldojabba]

I bet they know who the narcotics cop is. Maybe Harrison even knows him personally if they happened to both be in NYPD narcotics at the same time in the 90s. Imagine that. That would be a fantastic reason as to why Harrison was standing next to John Ray during this presser. I can't see this witness signing an affidavit yet not giving the name of the cop who was also at Heuermann's house.

NYPD cops and sex workers notoriously have had a strange symbiotic relationship. Something I have hesitated to say before here: Immediate family... Lieutenant... NYPD... 70s-90s. I have stories. It was not abnormal for police to fraternize with the sex workers and most knew who was walking the streets - especially in their precincts. It was not unheard of for cops and sex workers to have friendly interactions on one day then the next slow day rough them up during an arrest and send them to jail overnight. You could say for sport. Example... one day a cop might throw some garbage out of their car window while passing a known sex worker in the crosswalk, laughing hysterically because their outfit is now soiled and then the next day pull over and have a friendly chat with them and tell them to keep it off their "beat" tonight. Maybe they save a dead rat or two to throw at sex workers for fun when they drive by and still tell the stories to this day. NYPD cops treating sex workers inhumanely is something I have heard a lot of first hand stories about. I think its safe to assume SCPD is similar considering all we know already.

The internet changed how things work a bit but it is still true that both cops and sex workers still need to have those symbiotic relationships to keep in business.

To keep this case active and to keep the witnesses coming in, Harrison needs to show (quite literally) he stands apart from the exact cops that most of these witnesses have most likely had interactions with in the past. I think the presser was a smart move.

Got it. I really appreciate the inside/local perspective @Ursamajr

 

[loveplace]

Thanks for the clarification! I'm not an expert, so appreciate you pointing that out.

You're welcome. My oldest daughter recently taught me so I'm just paying it forward.

 

[DS2021]

It does if you live in New York and are familiar with NYC. Especially in the 80's and 90's.

I was referring to them randomly picking Karen Vergata (a complete stranger) up and taking her to a swinger party.

 

[waldojabba]

Not to me it doesn't.
There's a whole dark underbelly out there.

agreed @x_files
A whole dark underbelly that needs to be exposed no matter where that leads
" Good and Bad" traits are seemingly very entertwined thoughout LE and a lot of the players tasked with solving these vicious and senseless murders. Hopefully it is unravelling. There is right and wrong and then there is reality.
The true criminal/s are the murderer/s and whoever aided and abetted any cover up.
So many road blocks and twists and turns - it really is hard to know for sure who to trust
JMO

 

[Sundog]

Why was Asa Ellerups hair found on two of the victims bodies? Why does she have her own attorney?

<snipped for focus>

DA has indicated that AE was overseas at the time of the murders, and that her hair was a result of transfer due to living with RH.

She definitely needs her own attorney. It would be a conflict of interest for her to have the same attorney as RX. Even without that, there are many legal issues she is facing now and will continue to face in the future as a result of being married to RH. The first thing her attorney is helping her with is her divorce, which had to be filed quickly for her financial protection and security.

I guess the real question is: why wouldn't Asa have her own attorney

 

[Sundog]

A few things bothered me about the press conference: First, everything mentioned was hearsay and a press conference was held on that info. 2nd, the wife of the beast was attacked at the Press Conference without any true evidence to prove what was said about her.

<snipped for focus>

Agree completely, Asa Ellerup is a victim, and not sure what John Ray's issue is with her, but he continues to go after her. I wonder if she could file a civil lawsuit against him for defamation of character. I hope we hear from her attorney soon to make it clear that she is a victim in this case and to strongly defend her against this guy's accusations.

 

[imstilla.grandma]

In the affidavit, a 54-year-old woman whose name was not released said she and her then-boyfriend — a New York City narcotics detective — went to Heuermann’s house after finding an open invitation to go there on the wall of Trapeze, a swingers club in Manhattan where couples share partners with one another. On their way to Long Island, the witness said her boyfriend picked up a woman she recognized as Vergata, the witness wrote in the affidavit, after authorities announced in August that they had identified the victim after two decades. Ray said the woman cried when she saw Vergata’s face in the news because the witness told the attorney that she was uneasy with how the victim was allegedly left at the suspect’s house.

“Hey shouldn’t we be taking her, something’s wrong here,” the witness told her boyfriend as she said they left Heuermann’s house, leaving behind Vergata, who ran out of the home naked, according to Ray. The boyfriend reportedly told the witness, “Don’t worry, they’re just playing a game. Leave it.

Was Karen Vergata Last Seen at the Alleged Gilgo Beach Serial Killer’s House?

A new witness believes that she last saw Karen Vergata, who was recently identified as Fire Island Jane Doe, at the Massapequa Park home of Gilgo Beach serial killer suspect Rex Heuermann.

www.longislandpress.com

 

[NyxNY]

I was referring to them randomly picking Karen Vergata (a complete stranger) up and taking her to a swinger party.

? She was a sex worker. Quite common in NYC to do something like this with a sex worker. "Get in. We're going to a party."

 

[Bree1950]

I don’t think the public should allow that to happen! Possibly, the Feds could prosecute on violating the victims civil rights and get to the bottom of this!

 

[Betty P]

JFK? Iam confused because there is an Ocean Ave in Ronkonkoma.

Apologies. I must have used the wrong airport name, but I thought it was JFK which was near-ish to that area.

ETA: Yes, to a non-New Yorker, JFK it near to Ocean Ave in Ronkonkoma.

105 1st Ave to Ocean Avenue

www.google.com

 

[Betty P]

? She was a sex worker. Quite common in NYC to do something like this with a sex worker. "Get in. We're going to a party."

Perhaps what madamx means is "did Heurermann already know her?" He may have observed and "screened" SW's he patronized to see which ones might be vulnerable enough to control. Serial killers have done similar screening before. Pedophiles also do it, sadly. Penn State's Jerry Sandusky preyed on kids from broken homes, serial killers have preyed on sex workers who have substance abuse problems, etc.

 

[Bree1950]

Also curious - why didn’t they name the NYPD narcotics cop who she was with or have him also write out an affidavit ? Or just even say that they contacted him and he had no comment. Are they trying to tell that cop they are on to him and know his identity. And could he even be a part of the task force and that is why this whole presser was separate and distinct from them. Which btw spoke volumes

I am still noodling what the end game of that presser was.

Seemingly good info for the investigation but imo not anything the public needed to know at this point.
The motive is either very simple or there is a twist somewhere.
-Rex frequented sex workers. A lot. Ok. Stands to reason he may have been with some of the other victims plus countless others.
-Asa may have been a swinger and known Rex had sex workers in the house. Ok.

No sure how you get to murder of anyone else from JRays info but good to know as you investigate.

The part from the cabbie/banker about Rex in camo and she drives him to the woods and hears two gun shots - when and where?

JMO

Maybe it was not a real Detective but someone impersonating a Detective?

 

[minazoe]

I think we can all agree there was some next level hanky panky going on out there. Some how this seamy kind of stuff rings true to me. multi partner hook ups in the suburbs, hookers, probably drugs and booze...not all prostitution takes place at a motel or in a car. not all prostitutes hook up with swingers for group sex but I assume some will or may end up in a situation they were not prepared for, going to someone's house without a pimp or anyone to look out for them. So scary. I bet Rex tied these girls up really bad and they could not move or get out of restraints...thus causing panic and crying.
I want to get to the absolute bottom of this case. Where there is smoke there is fire. Also I disagree with the FBI agent on NN last night, who thinks it's not likely this cab driver ran into Rex twice..There aren't that many cabs out there on the island driving late at night. I one hundred percent think he could even call and request her through the dispatcher or somehow find out who she was.

mOO

 

[Betty P]

<snipped for focus>

Agree completely, Asa Ellerup is a victim, and not sure what John Ray's issue is with her, but he continues to go after her. I wonder if she could file a civil lawsuit against him for defamation of character. I hope we hear from her attorney soon to make it clear that she is a victim in this case and to strongly defend her against this guy's accusations.

John Ray's issue with her is that he's had multiple witnesses, one who has signed an affidavit and is willing to testify in court, who went to Heuermann's house and conversed with Asa Ellerup while she was there. It was during the "swinger's party". Another sex worker has said she was there on a different occasion and AE accused her of stealing her iron - the kind you iron clothes with. Bizarre. This witness has chosen not to sign an affidavit because she wants to keep her privacy. She left SW a long time ago, has a family, lives in another state.

Have you read the affidavits yet?

 

[Betty P]

I think we can all agree there was some next level hanky panky going on out there. Some how this seamy kind of stuff rings true to me. multi partner hook ups in the suburbs, hookers, probably drugs and booze...not all prostitution takes place at a motel or in a car. not all prostitutes hook up with swingers for group sex but I assume some will or may end up in a situation they were not prepared for, going to someone's house without a pimp or anyone to look out for them. So scary. I bet Rex tied these girls up really bad and they could not move or get out of restraints...thus causing panic and crying.
I want to get to the absolute bottom of this case. Where there is smoke there is fire. Also I disagree with the FBI agent on NN last night, who thinks it's not likely this cab driver ran into Rex twice..There aren't that many cabs out there on the island driving late at night. I one hundred percent think he could even call and request her through the dispatcher or somehow find out who she was.

mOO

After reading the affidavits, I think he didn't always kill them in his home. He may have partied with them there or picked them up, then took them to one of the wooded areas (like Manorville) where he killed & dismembered them. The parties may have also occurred at other people's homes who were in his same swinger group.

JMO

 

[minazoe]

I bet he tricks them into restraints Ala Gacy..with his handcuffs..mOO