LONG ISLAND, NEW YORK: A rare first-generation Chevrolet Avalanche, previously mentioned by a witness in the Gilgo Beach serial killings case, had reportedly emerged on Google Street View outside the residence of prime suspect Rex Heuermann over 12 years ago. The discovery has ignited widespread public scrutiny over why it took authorities so long to apprehend Heuermann, who has now been charged with the murders of three women. The connection between Heuermann and the vehicle has been hailed as the "turning point" that led to his arrest, although questions still linger about the lengthy investigation process.
Why did it take so long to capture Rex Heuermann?
The breakthrough in the case occurred in March 2022, twelve years after a witness account provided by the pimp of victim Amber Costello urged the police to investigate a suspect described as "the size of a mountain" and resembling an "ogre." Suffolk County Police Chief Rodney Harrison acknowledged the significance of this discovery, stating, "Once we got that car and connected it to someone, that's when the investigation gained traction."
However, the revelation that the distinctive Chevy Avalanche appeared outside Heuermann's residence on Google Street View as early as 2007 has left many questioning why law enforcement authorities took so long to track him down. It remains unclear what caused the investigation to stall and why this crucial information was not gathered after Amber Costello's discovery in 2010, which would have potentially put Heuermann on the police's radar much sooner.
The troubled history of the Gilgo Beach investigation
In 2010, witnesses claimed to have seen Heuermann driving a Chevy Avalanche on the day preceding the murder of sex worker Amber Costello. Nonetheless, it took an additional twelve years before a New York State investigator finally connected the vehicle to Heuermann. The Gilgo Beach investigation initially began in 2010 when sex worker Shannan Gilbert went missing, subsequently leading to the discovery of several other women's remains.
The case encountered significant controversy when former Suffolk Police Chief of Department James Burke was imprisoned in 2016 after pleading guilty to a civil rights violation stemming from an assault on Christopher Loeb in 2012. In 2016, an attorney representing victim Shannan Gilbert called for an investigation into Burke, presenting a sex worker who claimed to have had an aggressive encounter with him in 2011. Suffolk's Police Commissioner, Rodney Harrison, dismissed any speculation linking him to the case.
A breakthrough occurred in the investigation shortly after Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney formed a task force upon assuming office. This task force utilized advanced methods such as tracking burner phones and conducting DNA tests on hair found on the victims. Investigators scrutinized Heuermann's internet history, uncovering over 200 searches related to the Gilgo Beach investigation. Astonishingly, court papers revealed that Heuermann had even continued contacting sex workers, further raising suspicions.
Connecting Heuermann to the crime scene
Finally, the investigation gained momentum as Heuermann was connected to the rare Chevy Avalanche described by a witness. Bing Maps provided clear evidence of the black vehicle, which Chevrolet ceased producing in 2013, parked in Heuermann's driveway in 2021. This location is only a 25-minute drive from Gilgo Beach, strengthening the association between Heuermann and the crime scene.
Heuermann, a Manhattan architect renowned for his work with American Airlines and the New York City Department of Environmental Protection, stands at an imposing 6'6" tall and has been spotted wearing glasses in various images, including a Tinder profile picture and his 1981 yearbook photo. The witness who had been a pimp for Amber Costello described a customer between 6'4" and 6'6" with a broad frame and glasses, further aligning with Heuermann's appearance.
According to reports, the pimp had admitted planning to rob the client, posing as an enraged boyfriend. However, due to Heuermann's imposing size, he decided against it. The sex worker received a text message the following day expressing displeasure, which read, "That was not nice so do I [sic] credit for next time." Costello agreed to meet him again the next night but was never seen alive again.
Arrest and charges
On Thursday night, July 13, Heuermann was dramatically arrested outside his architectural office on Fifth Avenue in midtown Manhattan, thirteen years after the discovery of up to 18 human remains on an isolated Long Island beach. Heuermann has been charged with the murders of three Gilgo Beach victims: Melissa Barthelemy, Megan Waterman, and Amber Costello. He has pleaded not guilty to all charges. Additionally, Heuermann is considered the primary suspect in the death of a fourth woman, Maureen Brainard-Barnes, whose body was found bound and concealed in dense underbrush along a remote beach highway.