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

[NoSpoonFeeding]

Nothing would surprise me in that county. It’s LE and criminal justice system are deeply flawed. Just look at the circle of people in both prosecution and defense for this case. Look at Burke and his history of corruption and cover ups. They’re all tied together, some having been involved in serious criminal activity, including drug use. Perhaps its more obvious to outsiders

Edit to add, the question I asked is what does corruption have to do with an expected change in the appointment of the commissioner when a new county executive is elected? It is a common practice in county governments and elections all over this country.

I do not see anything that will halt the prosecution of this serial killer, who you stated it would not surprise you if he was allowed to "walk". I don't see anything that warrants stating that it is even remotely possible. I fail to see how anything in those news articles is currently interfering with this case going to trial.

The articles you listed hardly show any widespread corruption or that the LE and criminal justice system there are "deeply flawed". MOO
I am an "outsider", I have never even been to that state.

"Some having been involved in serious criminal activity" I see a lot of accusations here without any specific information, the kind with evidence that could lead to actual charges being filed.
Allegedly. The articles don't articulate any specific crimes.

There may still be a lot of things covered up, probably in all the jurisdictions out there.

That's a very unfair, broad statement. MOO

 

[NoSpoonFeeding]

Harrison is resigning. Hot diggity dang... this isn't shocking at all. The writing was on the wall though, Romaine (R) was going to fire him when elected. I would have put money down on that.

SCPD and Heuermann are breathing sighs of relief tonight.

Heuermann is being prosecuted for the murder of three women. MOO but I think it is widely believed that the evidence is unbeatable and he will die in prison.
I can't see Heuermann thinking a change of police commissioner is going to change his fate. How does it benefit him or affect the prosecution/prosecutor?

 

[Justice101]

Heuermann is being prosecuted for the murder of three women. MOO but I think it is widely believed that the evidence is unbeatable and he will die in prison.
I can't see Heuermann thinking a change of police commissioner is going to change his fate. How does it benefit him or affect the prosecution/prosecutor?

Yeh, he and his lawyers know this one is over already.

 

[Ruminations]

I suppose the turf wars never really go away. This same department fought tooth and nail to prevent NY state police and FBI from looking over their shoulders. Maybe its a male, macho, law enforcement thing. JMO

There may still be a lot of things covered up, probably in all the jurisdictions out there.
It kind of reminds me of Jeffrey Epstein and the mysterious way his case was handled. JMO

Regardless, the cat is out of the bag, so to speak. The PTB can backpedal and spin, but some of the sordid details are now known to the public.

Sad. Hopefully this society is able to celebrate efforts of heroes like Rodney Harrisons and get away from accepting political games and corruption.

To me it's analogous to rape culture- boys will be boys vs. politics are politics. We don't have to accept corruption.

MOO

 

[Ruminations]

Heuermann is being prosecuted for the murder of three women. MOO but I think it is widely believed that the evidence is unbeatable and he will die in prison.
I can't see Heuermann thinking a change of police commissioner is going to change his fate. How does it benefit him or affect the prosecution/prosecutor?

It benefits Heuermann if the investigation stalls at these charges of murder for three victims.

It benefits the prosecutor because it keeps the isolated power structure in SC more in tact, dispite a few glances on it in the convictions of a few like Spota and Burke.

Who is harmed? Those of us who want a LE system in SC that is actually focused on fighting crime rather than covering corruption.

If Heuermann had co-conspirators, as seems possible given the scenario with the woman who appears to have been Vergata, they escape justice by cooling off the investigation. Karen's family never gets to find out what happened or see justice done.

If Heuermann is or is not involved with Shannan, the coconspiritors in that murder escape justice and her family does not get to see justice served. Same for victims identified or unidentified, peaches, peaches jr., Asian individual, Valerie, Jessica....

there is a strong system developed protecting LE's insular power to operate corruptly without interference. It does not feel to me, in my opinion, that Tierney intends to help weaken it. It feels like he is trying to play both sides, courtroom hero since the damned task force made a convincing arrest, while also making efforts to keep "those meddling kids" from going deeper.

What does he gain for all that harm to the public?

It's simple: he remains a good ol' boy. <modsnip: Removed direct allegation> He will be immune to whatever harassment occurs to people like Rodney Harrison, who appear to value law enforcement over being a good ol' boy.

It's very disturbing that people make these decisions, but they do.<modsnip: Profanity is not allowed> I want to be DA for the rest of my career.

MOO

 

[CuriousCricket]

It benefits Heuermann if the investigation stalls at these charges of murder for three victims.

It benefits the prosecutor because it keeps the isolated power structure in SC more in tact, dispite a few glances on it in the convictions of a few like Spota and Burke.

Who is harmed? Those of us who want a LE system in SC that is actually focused on fighting crime rather than covering corruption.

If Heuermann had co-conspirators, as seems possible given the scenario with the woman who appears to have been Vergata, they escape justice by cooling off the investigation. Karen's family never gets to find out what happened or see justice done.

If Heuermann is or is not involved with Shannan, the coconspiritors in that murder escape justice and her family does not get to see justice served. Same for victims identified or unidentified, peaches, peaches jr., Asian individual, Valerie, Jessica....

there is a strong system developed protecting LE's insular power to operate corruptly without interference. It does not feel to me, in my opinion, that Tierney intends to help weaken it. It feels like he is trying to play both sides, courtroom hero since the damned task force made a convincing arrest, while also making efforts to keep "those meddling kids" from going deeper.

What does he gain for all that harm to the public?

It's simple: he remains a good ol' boy. <modsnip: Removed direct allegation> He will be immune to whatever harassment occurs to people like Rodney Harrison, who appear to value law enforcement over being a good ol' boy.

It's very disturbing that people make these decisions, but they do.<modsnip: Profanity is not allowed> I want to be DA for the rest of my career.

MOO

How I hope you're wrong about Tierney. He has very good reason to be on the opposite side of the Spota-Burke group having been squeezed out of a job in the Spota regime. However, you are absolutely correct, Tierney must play politics in order to stay in office.

 

[NoSpoonFeeding]

It benefits Heuermann if the investigation stalls at these charges of murder for three victims.

Hermann will never see the light of day, multiple convictions and life sentences will not change anything, three convictions is no different than 4 or 5 when you are convicted of murder.
A new commissioner is not going to change whether or not enough evidence exists for the prosecutor to charge him with any other murders. LE agencies frequently experience changes in Chiefs, Sheriffs, and Commissioners. There is nothing to show that a new commissioner is going to "stall" the investigation into the uncharged/unsolved homicides.

It benefits the prosecutor because it keeps the isolated power structure in SC more in tact, dispite a few glances on it in the convictions of a few like Spota and Burke.

Who is harmed? Those of us who want a LE system in SC that is actually focused on fighting crime rather than covering corruption.

The prosecutor of this country was elected in 2021. The prosecutor answers to the citizens and not to a county executive or a commissioner. By all accounts, he is highly qualified and respected.
Burke was in office from 2012 to 2015 and he was prosecuted and convicted along with others who helped him obstruct justice. The corruption was not tolerated in that case, in my opinion.
It's now 2023, who is recently or now involved in cover-ups that will affect this case?

Meet the District Attorney - Suffolk-County

meet the da Get to Know District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney overview Raymond A. Tierney was elected Suffolk County District Attorney on November 2, 2021, and assumed office on January […]

suffolkcountyny.gov

 

[Betty P]

Hermann will never see the light of day, multiple convictions and life sentences will not change anything, three convictions is no different than 4 or 5 when you are convicted of murder.
A new commissioner is not going to change whether or not enough evidence exists for the prosecutor to charge him with any other murders. LE agencies frequently experience changes in Chiefs, Sheriffs, and Commissioners. There is nothing to show that a new commissioner is going to "stall" the investigation into the uncharged/unsolved homicides.


The prosecutor of this country was elected in 2021. The prosecutor answers to the citizens and not to a county executive or a commissioner. By all accounts, he is highly qualified and respected.
Burke was in office from 2012 to 2015 and he was prosecuted and convicted along with others who helped him obstruct justice. The corruption was not tolerated in that case, in my opinion.
It's now 2023, who is recently or now involved in cover-ups that will affect this case?

Meet the District Attorney - Suffolk-County

meet the da Get to Know District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney overview Raymond A. Tierney was elected Suffolk County District Attorney on November 2, 2021, and assumed office on January […]

suffolkcountyny.gov

All of those murder victims and their families deserve justice. Their cases shouldn't go cold without a thorough investigation, nor should they be dismissed as "probably a tragic accident" just because they might reveal other killers who are walking around as free men on Long Island.

Recent evidence has revealed that Heuermann didn't always work alone, that he was part of a "network" (for lack of a better term) of creeps. There's evidence that hints Rex may have known another possible suspect involved in the "accidental death" of Shannan Gilbert (both were involved in the Survivalist hobby world).

The evidence that clearly linked Rex Heuermann to the deaths of several women laid inactive in a file box for 12 years until it was researched and followed up by an agent from the NY State Police. They caught Rex in 1 month with evidence that had been around for more than a decade. Assuming the LISK Task Force will be disbanded once Harrison has left, who will track down, arrest and prosecute the others who were involved in the LISK murders? The same people who allowed Rex Heuerman to live as a free man for 12 years?

 

[NoSpoonFeeding]

All of those murder victims and their families deserve justice. Their cases shouldn't go cold without a thorough investigation, nor should they be dismissed as "probably a tragic accident" just because they might reveal other killers who are walking around as free men on Long Island.

My comment was only to do with what Huermann might think of the possibility of a new commissioner, not anyone else. I don't think he reacted with any "relief" at the announcement. The number of murders, beyond 3, that he is charged with is of no consequence to him.
That does not imply anything else.

The county executive has already assured that the investigation will continue unabated.

The tragedy of lack/delay of follow-up on information and physical evidence, in my opinion, is the fault of many but not the result of a conspiracy or corruption.

What you are calling "evidence" is so far, a lot of hearsay, when it comes to saying anyone in particular is an accomplice. But the task force is in place to investigate this information.
At any rate, in an ongoing investigation, we are not going to hear what has been found to be true or rumor any time soon.

Gilgo Beach probe will continue unabated after top cop Rodney Harrison's departure, Suffolk County executive says

"Justice has not been done for all of the families who have been impacted by these horrific crimes. So that will continue, but it will continue with the new police commissioner, and it will continue with the new administration as well," Steve Bellone said.

www.newsday.com

 

[Betty P]

My comment was only to do with what Huermann might think of the possibility of a new commissioner, not anyone else. I don't think he reacted with any "relief" at the announcement. The number of murders, beyond 3, that he is charged with is of no consequence to him.
That does not imply anything else.

The county executive has already assured that the investigation will continue unabated.

The tragedy of lack/delay of follow-up on information and physical evidence, in my opinion, is the fault of many but not the result of a conspiracy or corruption.

What you are calling "evidence" is so far, a lot of hearsay, when it comes to saying anyone in particular is an accomplice. But the task force is in place to investigate this information.
At any rate, in an ongoing investigation, we are not going to hear what has been found to be true or rumor any time soon.

Gilgo Beach probe will continue unabated after top cop Rodney Harrison's departure, Suffolk County executive says

"Justice has not been done for all of the families who have been impacted by these horrific crimes. So that will continue, but it will continue with the new police commissioner, and it will continue with the new administration as well," Steve Bellone said.

www.newsday.com

A witness statement about a large man who looked like an ogre and his green colored truck wasn’t much stronger thane hearsay evidence, yet it brought them the name of Rex Heuermann. The witness , a friend of victim Amber Costello, who gave that description to a NY State Police detective in 2010 had to wait until 2022 for LE to call him back.

Many other witnesses have told of valid tips and information called in to SCPD with no call back, no interview. Will that magically change, especially if the multi agency task force is disbanded?

Tierny has already been dismissing the tips given recently, since Rex’s arrest. We’ve seen this movie before.

 

[CuriousCricket]

Assuming the LISK Task Force will be disbanded once Harrison has left, who will track down, arrest and prosecute the others who were involved in the LISK murders? The same people who allowed Rex Heuerman to live as a free man for 12 years?

Maybe the task force won't be disbanded. Hasn't Tierney conducted the investigation using the Grand Jury? Since he is conducting this case and the upcoming trial himself, his career will rise or fall with this case. Maybe that's enough to ensure continuing investigation and pursuit of justice wherever it might lead.

 

[NoSpoonFeeding]

A witness statement about a large man who looked like an ogre and his green colored truck wasn’t much stronger thane hearsay evidence, yet it brought them the name of Rex Heuermann. The witness , a friend of victim Amber Costello, who gave that description to a NY State Police detective in 2010 had to wait until 2022 for LE to call him back.

Many other witnesses have told of valid tips and information called in to SCPD with no call back, no interview. Will that magically change, especially if the multi agency task force is disbanded?

Tierny has already been dismissing the tips given recently, since Rex’s arrest. We’ve seen this movie before.

I'm not saying that all hearsay is useless information or can't result in the discovery of usable evidence.
As I said, it is tragic that the information /evidence wasn't followed up on at the time it was known to LE.
The person who saw the green truck and suspect is a possible witness with important testimony, direct or circumstantial evidence, having not read their statement. This can't be compared to hearsay evidence, which is inadmissible.

People are not witnesses because they call in a tip, and since we can't judge the information they gave, it's not possible for us to claim it was "valid" or that they qualify as a witness, needed an interview, etc. LE has to work its way thru a lot of third-party stories and rumors. Is there a list of these "many"? Are we talking about the current task force?

Tierney does not personally screen tips, moo, I'm sure the task force has had to dismiss hundreds of tips. If he has responded to questions about tips, I suspect there was a reason for whatever his response was. He is not going to end his chance of re-election in 2025 by being cavalier about tips.

 

[Betty P]

I'm not saying that all hearsay is useless information or can't result in the discovery of usable evidence.
As I said, it is tragic that the information /evidence wasn't followed up on at the time it was known to LE.
The person who saw the green truck and suspect is a possible witness with important testimony, direct or circumstantial evidence, having not read their statement. This can't be compared to hearsay evidence, which is inadmissible.

People are not witnesses because they call in a tip, and since we can't judge the information they gave, it's not possible for us to claim it was "valid" or that they qualify as a witness, needed an interview, etc. LE has to work its way thru a lot of third-party stories and rumors. Is there a list of these "many"? Are we talking about the current task force?

Tierney does not personally screen tips, moo, I'm sure the task force has had to dismiss hundreds of tips. If he has responded to questions about tips, I suspect there was a reason for whatever his response was. He is not going to end his chance of re-election in 2025 by being cavalier about tips.

There have been many relevant tips from witnesses called in to the leaders of this investigation and many that were never investigated.

A tip from a person who saw Rex H at a swingers party in his home is not hearsay evidence, nor are tips from a cab driver who saw someone fitting Rex’s description attempting to violently attack a sexworker and, in another instance, heavily armed and attempting to threaten the same driver into taking them both to a dark secluded area.

Those are examples of direct testimony that can be verified, but were initially ignored by SCPD. They might be incidents that happened years ago, but that’s because Rex was only recently arrested. These witnesses then recognized him from those recent news reports.

 

[snarast]

Most Recognizable Player = Rex

 

[Ruminations]

My comment was only to do with what Huermann might think of the possibility of a new commissioner, not anyone else. I don't think he reacted with any "relief" at the announcement. The number of murders, beyond 3, that he is charged with is of no consequence to him.
That does not imply anything else.

The county executive has already assured that the investigation will continue unabated.

The tragedy of lack/delay of follow-up on information and physical evidence, in my opinion, is the fault of many but not the result of a conspiracy or corruption.

What you are calling "evidence" is so far, a lot of hearsay, when it comes to saying anyone in particular is an accomplice. But the task force is in place to investigate this information.
At any rate, in an ongoing investigation, we are not going to hear what has been found to be true or rumor any time soon.

Gilgo Beach probe will continue unabated after top cop Rodney Harrison's departure, Suffolk County executive says

"Justice has not been done for all of the families who have been impacted by these horrific crimes. So that will continue, but it will continue with the new police commissioner, and it will continue with the new administration as well," Steve Bellone said.

www.newsday.com

Okay, but most of us are not here to evaluate the impact of events or theories on a defendant.

we are focused on the victims.

how does it impact the victims if the commissioner changes? If nobody steps up and keeps the investigation going, many victims do not get justice.

that's what matters.

moo
MOO

 

[girlhasnoname]

All of those murder victims and their families deserve justice. Their cases shouldn't go cold without a thorough investigation, nor should they be dismissed as "probably a tragic accident" just because they might reveal other killers who are walking around as free men on Long Island.

Recent evidence has revealed that Heuermann didn't always work alone, that he was part of a "network" (for lack of a better term) of creeps. There's evidence that hints Rex may have known another possible suspect involved in the "accidental death" of Shannan Gilbert (both were involved in the Survivalist hobby world).

The evidence that clearly linked Rex Heuermann to the deaths of several women laid inactive in a file box for 12 years until it was researched and followed up by an agent from the NY State Police. They caught Rex in 1 month with evidence that had been around for more than a decade. Assuming the LISK Task Force will be disbanded once Harrison has left, who will track down, arrest and prosecute the others who were involved in the LISK murders? The same people who allowed Rex Heuerman to live as a free man for 12 years?

The World is watching this case, there will be no abandoning further investigation into it IMO. The LISK Task Force will continue I have no doubt, the handling of this case has been a major faux pas (putting it mildly) all these years that cannot and will not be overlooked anymore.

JMO

 

[Ruminations]

How I hope you're wrong about Tierney. He has very good reason to be on the opposite side of the Spota-Burke group having been squeezed out of a job in the Spota regime. However, you are absolutely correct, Tierney must play politics in order to stay in office.

I hope I'm wrong too.

it's important to stay positive.

Rodney Harrison IS all that, but he is also just a person. and the difficulty in these Gilgo cases appears to be about the corruption, not criminal genius. If anything, we seem to be looking at a band of people so arrogant they were more likely to leave evidence in our faces. Any police commissioner who is qualified and not corrupt can keep the investigation on track.

in some ways, the people who play both sides, like tierney, are the playable characters. We need a police commissioner who keeps the playable characters encouraging those who will always investigate in good faith with the tools they need, and keep those who will always interfere with the investigation as weak as possible. The reality is tierney has shown hostility to new info, while playing Superman with the incontrovertible. So we need to flood the Superman work for him, and make him unable to play defense with evidence.

MOO

 

[Baby baby Jane]

I’m curious now 1 what’s the link between the 2 in survivalist hobby world ? I can’t find it, or Survivalist Dynamics. <modsnip - do not bring unrelated people into this tragic case>. I’ve read Google on survivalist and I think I am one because I keep emergency supplies !

 

[Betty P]

I’m curious, after all the extensive research done, over a decade, into CPH, we are only now hearing about this survivalist angle. If it’s true, how in the world was it missed by 100s of us?

It was probably done by people who are local and who could look up information about his business. He may not have had a web site, etc.

Hackett was involved with LE. For years he served as the Director of EMS for Suffolk County. Maybe some of them did business with him or knew of his business.

In the years after Shannan's disappearance, WS members couldn't "sleuth" Dr. Hackett because he wasn't named as a suspect by LE.

This is where the real life Dr Hackett from Netflix's 'Lost Girls' is now

He was not treated as a suspect in Shannan's case

thetab.com

 

[CuriousCricket]

The reality is tierney has shown hostility to new info, while playing Superman with the incontrovertible. So we need to flood the Superman work for him, and make him unable to play defense with evidence.

MOO

Do we know it was new info? New to the public and perhaps John Ray, but we have no idea what the Task Force and Tierney know.

In my mind, the two roles played by lawyer/investigator John Ray and DA Tierney are so very different it is to be expected they see things differently. From what I've observed, each seems to have a healthy ego. We know nothing of their prior dealings, if indeed they've had any. I don't necessarily expect them to play well together, but am trusting each to succeed in his own job.

Harrison massaged Ray's ego at the press conference and encouraged anyone with any information to tell someone - any one - as who knows what might be important. Ray gave the public information we did not have before. The info is intriguing and provides fodder for much speculation.

However, it may be info the Task Force had already uncovered. Perhaps not the individual witnesses, but the swinger lifestyle, associates of the Heuermann couple, etc. etc. Again, it might be information Tierney does not need as it is already covered and the team is working new areas.

Tierney is handling a huge case that will make or break his career and reputation. No wonder he's guarding everything closely.

We know his team is ploughing through all the vastness of "stuff" which may or may not be evidence taken from the Heuermann home, two storage units (to which a medical examiner was called), the New York truck, the South Carolina truck and properties in South Carolina and Nevada (and perhaps other places we don't know about yet).

With the sheer mountain of possibilities before Tierney, I can understand that he would like for everything to come down one pipeline instead of hurtling in from all sides. However, John Ray seems to have an interest in claiming evidence, some of which he tells us can't go to court because the people are unwilling for their names to appear in public. Long time Websleuthers like and respect Ray for his presistance and dedication to keeping the case before the public. That's cool.

But why not give Tierney the benefit of an occasional doubt? Just because he and John Ray aren't twinning doesn't mean he's not got his job well in hand.