LONG ISLAND, NEW YORK: Gilgo Beach murder suspect Rex Heuermann’s family has blasted authorities for abandoning their cats at a "kill shelter” after tearing apart their Long Island home during an extensive 12-day search.

The 59-year-old Manhattan architect is currently held at the Suffolk County Sheriff's Office Riverhead facility after being charged with the deaths of three prostitutes — Melissa Barthelemy, Megan Waterman, and Amber Lynn Costello.

He has also been named the prime suspect in the case of Maureen Brainard-Barnes, who has not been seen since 2007.

Following Heuermann’s arrest on July 13, investigators launched an extensive search at his Massapequa Park home, forcing his family to abruptly evacuate the property.

As the search continued, his wife Asa Ellerup, and two adult children, Victoria and Christopher, were forced to sleep in a rental car until they were allowed back home.

How did Rex Heuermann's family find their cats?

After a 12-day-long search, Heuermann's family finally returned to their home to find it in a state of complete disarray.

While the property was entirely torn apart, one particular thing that Ellerup found missing was their beloved cat.

Melissa Moore, the daughter of the Happy Face Serial Killer, revealed to US Sun that when she went to meet Heuermann's family earlier this month, they told her how investigators instructed them to vacate the property immediately, without giving them enough time to locate their pets.

"They told the family to pack an overnight bag and leave. They also took the Avalanche [the family's car]. They took her to the rental car place. She rented a car. Then she made arrangements to stay with family and she had no choice,” Moore stated.

She also revealed that Christopher, who suffers from learning difficulties, managed to find his service dog Stewie before leaving the home but the family could not find their two cats.

"They left assuming the police would care for the animals as they left the home without any notice. Immediately, the authorities trapped the cats and sent them to a kill shelter,” Moore noted.

Thanks to their attorneys, Ellerup and her children were eventually able to find their cats and bring them home. "Lawyers representing Asa learned that her animals were in a shelter and arranged for them to be removed before they could be euthanized," Moore added.

Why is Rex Heuermann seeing a clergyman?

Moore’s claims came after it was reported that Heuermann has been seeing a clergyman once a week in jail as he continues to appear 'emotionless' after being taken off suicide watch.

Suffolk Sheriff Errol Toulon Jr previously told Newsweek that the murder suspect spent the first few days in jail isolated in his bunk inside his 60-square-foot cell, often looking up at the ceiling, but has since settled in.

"I have not seen any emotion from him. You wonder what is going on … Is there something going on inside that is brewing,” he stated.

Toulon also spoke about Heuermann’s five weeks in jail, sharing that he goes for walks alone in a small recreation area and spends his time reading and watching television.