MASSAPEQUA PARK, NEW YORK: Authorities in Long Island are confident that they will bring forth additional murder charges against suspected Gilgo Beach serial killer Rex Heuermann as they continue to examine evidence recovered from his home, which includes a significant cache of weapons. Heuermann, 59, was arrested on Friday, July 14, outside his office in midtown Manhattan.
Heuermann currently faces three counts of first-degree murder and three counts of second-degree murder in the deaths of Melissa Barthelemy, Amber Lynn Costello, and Megan Waterman. Although not formally charged, he is also suspected of the murder of Maureen Brainard-Barnes, further deepening the investigation.
What weapons did cops find at Rex Heuermann's home?
According to police, Heuermann had approximately 200 guns in his home, along with other weapons. While all of the women he is charged with killing were strangled, Suffolk County Police expressed concerns that he may have targeted additional victims if he had not been apprehended. Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney, in an interview, expressed confidence that his office would soon charge Heuermann with Brainard-Barnes' murder.
Heuermann is also under investigation for the murders of six other women whose bodies were discovered near Gilgo Beach in 2011. Suffolk County Police Commissioner Rodney Harrison stated, "He had an arsenal in a vault that he had downstairs. It's concerning, regarding the guns being registered or legal or not, that's something we're still taking a look at. Anytime somebody has that type of arsenal we have some concerns." One of the items seized from Heuermann's home appeared to resemble a grenade, according to Daily Mail.
Married father of two, standing at 6 feet 6 inches and weighing 275 pounds, Heuermann's physical stature would have given him a significant advantage over the women he is accused of killing. Commissioner Harrison referred to him as an "ogre," emphasizing the suspect's intimidating size. Heuermann's wife Asa and their adult children are cooperating with the police investigation.
'I knew that this person was a demon!'
Suffolk County Deputy Police Commissioner Anthony Carter stated that "anything is possible" regarding the potential for additional murder charges against Heuermann. Carter also described the feeling of relief and accomplishment upon Heuermann's arrest, stating, "I knew that this person was a demon. The fact that we are able to bring some closure and some peace to the families as well as take a violent person off the streets is rewarding, I think, for everyone."
During the weekend, police searched two storage units in Amityville, a neighboring town, that belonged to Heuermann. Questions are now arising about why the original task force investigating the murders failed to connect Heuermann to the case. Heuermann was eventually tracked down because he drove a Chevrolet Avalanche similar to the one seen at Amber Costello's house on the night she disappeared. His name was registered to the vehicle, and he matched the physical description provided by the man who served as Amber's pimp.
The pimp also referred to Heuermann as an "ogre" who towered over Amber. Police utilized cell phone data from the victims' phones to trace their origins despite Heuermann's use of burner phones. The calls were consistently traced back to either his Manhattan office or his residence. The final piece of incriminating evidence was the DNA left on the victims' bodies inadvertently. Strands of Heuermann's own hair, as well as strands of his wife's hair, were discovered in the burlap in which the victims were found. Law enforcement obtained DNA samples from Heuermann and his wife by monitoring their home and collecting items such as pizza crusts and bottles. Heuermann pleaded not guilty to the murders and a judge ordered he be held without bail.