Accused Gilgo Beach serial killer, Rex Heuermann, made a solemn appearance in a Long Island court on Tuesday, marking his first time back before Justice Timothy Mazzei since pleading not guilty to the indictment last month. Heuermann, a 60-year-old architect and married father of two, was indicted on charges of killing a fourth woman, Maureen Brainard-Barnes, a 25-year-old mother of two, in 2007.
The hearing aimed to provide the judge with an update on the progress of the case, which has already seen Heuermann behind bars since his arrest in July for the murders of Amber Lynn Costello, Melissa Bethelemy, and Megan Waterman. These women, along with Brainard-Barnes, are collectively known as the “Gilgo Four.” Heuermann’s connection to the previous three murders was established through DNA evidence found on a discarded pizza box.
Last month, officials revealed that Heuermann’s DNA was also linked to the 2007 slaying of Brainard-Barnes. The evidence was obtained from a Monster energy beverage, which his daughter, Victoria, had consumed. Heuermann faces three counts of first-degree murder and four counts of second-degree murder, to which he has pleaded not guilty.
The Gilgo Beach murders, which shook the local community and beyond, involved the discovery of 11 bodies, including the “Gilgo Four,” along a quiet stretch of Ocean Parkway between December 2010 and April 2011. The investigation had remained unsolved for 13 years until Heuermann’s arrest.
During the recent indictment, Heuermann’s disturbing online search history was exposed in court papers. The searches, conducted under the Gmail account “sandbagger303” and later a T/Hawk email account, included phrases such as “Tied up fat girl porn,” “Skinny white teen crying porn,” “medieval torture of women,” and “skinny black slave girl.” Heuermann also searched for updates on the Gilgo Beach murders and law enforcement techniques related to tracking cellphones and using DNA evidence to solve crimes.
Heuermann’s lawyer, Michael Brown, defended his client’s search history, arguing that many people engage in questionable web sleuthing. However, Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney revealed that Heuermann meticulously planned his killings, waiting for his daughter and estranged wife, Asa Ellerup, to be out of town.
Recently, victim lawyer John Ray raised doubts about the timeline, suggesting that Ellerup may have been present during one of the murders. Ray claimed to have spoken with a hotel manager in Atlantic City who indicated that Ellerup, Victoria, and the couple’s son arrived later than law enforcement believed. However, Ellerup’s lawyer, Bob Macedonia, expressed confidence that Tierney’s information was accurate.
