Rex Heuermann Faces Murder Charges in Last ‘Gilgo Beach Four’ Case

Accused Long Island Serial Killer Linked to All “Gilgo Beach Four” Murders

Accused Long Island serial killer, Rex Heuermann, has been officially connected to the brutal slayings of all four women known as the “Gilgo Beach Four,” according to prosecutors. Heuermann, 60, was named in a new indictment unsealed in Suffolk County court, charging him with the murder of Maureen Brainard-Barnes, the last of the four former escorts whose remains were found along the Sound Shore in 2010. These killings had remained unsolved for 13 years.

Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney had previously identified Heuermann as the prime suspect in Brainard-Barnes’ death and stated that his office was close to linking him to the case. Heuermann has been held without bail since his arrest in July on charges related to the murder of the other three victims.

The Victims

Maureen Brainard-Barnes, 25, was the first of the “Gilgo Four” to disappear on July 9, 2007. Her body was found on December 13, 2010, and she was reportedly bound with a belt stamped with the initials “WH,” which may have belonged to Heuermann’s late grandfather, William Heuermann.

The other victims were Amber Lynn Costello, 27; Melissa Barthelemy, 24; and Megan Waterman, 22. They were all escorts and their remains were discovered along Ocean Parkway between December 2010 and April 2011.

Background of Maureen Brainard-Barnes

Brainard-Barnes grew up in Groton, Connecticut, where she was a straight-A student before dropping out at 17 due to pregnancy. She held various jobs, including working as a card dealer at the Foxwoods Resort Casino and at a local ShopRite and gas station. In 2006, she began working as an escort after responding to a modeling job ad in Manhattan.

When Brainard-Barnes went missing, her sister, Melissa Cann, stated that the police did not take her disappearance seriously. Cann expressed her frustration and anguish, stating that she drove herself to the point of despair while searching for her sister.

Reactions and Investigation

John Ray, an attorney representing Shannan Gilbert’s sisters, reacted with caution to the new charges against Heuermann. Gilbert, a Jersey City woman who went missing in May 2010, has not been linked to Heuermann. Ray emphasized the importance of continuing the investigation and not drawing premature conclusions.

Rodney Harrison, a former NYPD chief who became Suffolk County police commissioner in January 2022, reopened the Gilgo Beach case and identified Heuermann as the prime suspect within two months. Heuermann was linked to three of the victims through DNA found on a discarded pizza. Police also searched his home and discovered a cache of guns.

The arrest and connection of Heuermann to all four murders provide hope for closure, but the losses suffered by the victims’ families are immense. The investigation will continue to ensure justice is served.