Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney commented on whether accused serial killer Rex Heuermann is being considered a suspect in cold cases that remain unsolved decades later.
Tierney told reporters that his office treats each crime scene as an “individual, separate, distinct case.”
“If we can prove something and take it to the grand jury, and it results in charges, we’ll talk about it,” Tierney said. “But as of right now, there are seven alleged crimes committed by this defendant.”
Why It Matters
Heuermann, 61, is accused of killing seven women in Long Island from 1993 to 2010.
He was initially charged in the deaths of the “Gilgo Four,” Maureen Brainard-Barnes, Melissa Barthelemy, Megan Waterman and Amber Lynn Costello. The four victims’ bodies were found in 2010 near Gilgo Beach in Long Island.
Heuermann was charged with additional counts for the killings of Jessica Taylor and Sandra Costilla in June of last year, and the killing of Valerie Mack in December.
What To Know
The Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office Cold Case Unit recently released new artist renderings and sketches for five individuals whose killings remain unsolved. The cases range from 1978 to 2012 in various parts of the county.
Tierney said his office investigates these cases using “a task force model” that partners with other agencies.
The district attorney spoke to reporters at a press conference following a court hearing in the Heuermann case.
The defense filed a motion challenging the prosecution’s use of nuclear DNA testing, arguing that the method is viewed as unreliable among the scientific community. They are asking for the evidence, which consists of rootless hairs found at six crime scenes, to be excluded from the trial.
Tierney defended the testing done by Astrea Forensics, a California laboratory.
Who is the Long Island Serial Killer?
The Long Island Serial Killer (LISK) is a term used to refer to the perpetrator of the Gilgo Beach killings. Heuermann is accused of carrying out seven of these killings.
Heuermann worked as an architect in New York City prior to his arrest. He is being held without bail in Suffolk County Jail in Riverhead.
Who are the Known Gilgo Beach Murder Victims?
A police dog found Barthelemy’s remains while searching for missing woman Shannan Gilbert in December of 2010. Police located the remains of Brainard-Barnes, Waterman and Costello while searching for more evidence.
Brainard-Barnes, 25, was last seen in 2007. She was a mother of two and worked as a sex worker.
Barthelemy, 24, went missing in 2009. She was living in the Bronx and working as a sex worker. She met with a client on the night she went missing and attempted to call an old boyfriend, but she did not get through. Her 15-year-old sister allegedly began receiving disturbing phone calls from someone using Barthelemy’s cell phone.
Waterman, 22, went missing in 2010 after posting advertisements as an escort on Craigslist. The night before she went missing, she told her boyfriend she was going out and would call him later.
Costello, 27, also went missing in 2010. She worked as a sex worker. The night she went missing, she reportedly went to meet someone offering $1,500 for her services.
Taylor, 20, went missing in 2003. She was last seen at the Port Authority Bus Terminal in New York City. She worked as a sex worker. Her remains were found in Manorville five days after she went missing.
Costilla, 28, was killed in November 1993. Her body was found in a wooded area in North Sea, New York, later that month. She is the earliest known victim.
Mack, a 24-year-old escort, was last seen in 2000, and her partial remains were found in Long Island later that year. Additional remains were found in 2011 near Gilgo Beach.
What People Are Saying
Tierney, speaking about DNA testing at a press conference: “I would submit that this is the next generation of the evolution of the technology. It’s exciting to be at the forefront of that and we look forward to proving the scientific acceptance and the effectiveness of this technology.”
Defense attorney Michael Brown, at a press conference: “This is a for-profit company. This is somebody who has yet to be challenged or tested in any courtroom on a criminal level. And my experts have indicated to me, and my experts are very well-qualified, they have indicated to me that this is magic.”
What Happens Next
Heuermann is scheduled to appear in court again on February 18. Judge Timothy Mazzei indicated he would schedule a hearing on DNA evidence, known as a Frye hearing, for late February or early March.
A trial date has not been set yet.
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