NEW YORK, NY – Rex Heuermann, an architect from New York, was charged Thursday with the murders of two additional women, expanding the timeline of the notorious Gilgo Beach serial killings. Prosecutors also revealed that Heuermann maintained a detailed document to meticulously plan his crimes.
Heuermann pleaded not guilty to charges connected to the deaths of Sandra Costilla, whose body was found in 1993, and Jessica Taylor, whose remains were discovered in 2003. In 2011, additional remains of Taylor were found near Ocean Parkway in Suffolk County, less than a mile from where the bodies of four other women, known as the “Gilgo Four,” were discovered. Heuermann had previously pleaded not guilty to charges related to the Gilgo Four.
The new charges suggest that the killings may have begun earlier than previously thought, casting a new light on a case that has baffled investigators for over a decade. Authorities had long suspected the Gilgo Beach killer in Taylor’s death, but the charge related to Costilla indicates a longer timeline of criminal activity.
Heuermann’s attorney, Michael Brown, did not immediately respond to requests for comment. However, outside the courtroom, Brown acknowledged the gravity of the new charges, stating that his client was in a difficult position.
The number of killings Heuermann is accused of now totals six, including the Gilgo Four. Over the years, authorities have discovered the remains of 11 individuals in the Gilgo Beach area, many of whom were involved in sex work. Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond Tierney noted that Heuermann is also a suspect in the death of 24-year-old Valerie Mack, whose remains were found in 2011.
Court documents filed Thursday revealed that a search of Heuermann’s home after his July 2023 arrest uncovered a document used to meticulously plan his crimes. The electronic document included lists with headers such as “problems,” “supplies,” and “DS,” believed to stand for “dump site.” Investigators noted that “Mill Rd,” where Mack and Taylor’s remains were found, was listed under “DS.”
The document also detailed various forensic evidence under the header “problems,” which prosecutors described as a guide to avoid apprehension. Tierney stated that the document showed Heuermann’s intent to locate, control, and kill his victims.
The Gilgo Beach case remained cold for years due to mismanagement and infighting among investigators. However, renewed efforts in 2022 led to significant breakthroughs. In January 2023, investigators linked Heuermann’s DNA from a pizza box to a sample found on Megan Waterman, a victim discovered in 2010. This led to his arrest and charges in the deaths of Waterman, Amber Lynn Costello, and Melissa Barthelemy. In January, he was also charged in the death of Maureen Brainard-Barnes.