Prosecutors on Tuesday once again charged the man accused in the Gilgo Beach murders with murder, bringing the number of victims to seven. All were women murdered near New York City.
According to court documents, hair linked to Rex Heuerman’s wife or daughter was found near the left wrist of the victim, Valerie Mack, 24.
Heuerman’s daughter would have been 4 years old at the time of Mack’s murder, and his estranged wife is not considered a suspect in the killings.
Mack worked as a bodyguard between 2000 and 2011, when her skeletal remains were discovered, and it took years for her identity to be established.
Prosecutors said Mack’s attacker amputated his right leg, which had a tattoo of his son’s name on it.
A memo found on the suspect’s computer, which prosecutors have called a “planning document,” calls for the removal of “identifying marks on the victim’s body,” including tattoos, “before the body is packaged for transport.” Ta.
Investigators believe that the perpetrator “amputated Mr. Mack’s lower right leg in the mid-calf area in order to prevent or delay the identification of Mr. Mack’s tattoo,” prosecutors said. said in court documents.
Many of the victims are sex workers who allegedly met Heuerman after advertising his services.
“These women’s lives matter,” Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney told reporters in Riverhead.
“We investigators understand that. Obviously, no one understands that more than families. So, again, we work with these families. I’m really happy, honored and privileged.”
Heuerman, 61, spoke briefly in court Tuesday and denied any involvement in killing the woman and abandoning her body, which was found along Long Island’s south coast.
“Your Honor, I am not guilty of any of these charges,” he said.
Outside court, defense attorney Michael Brown said he planned to attack the company that performs DNA testing for investigators.
The defense is also considering whether to ask for the trial to be moved out of Suffolk County or to split the seven murder charges into separate cases.
“I know he’s very frustrated. He’s said from day one that he’s not responsible for these murders,” Brown told reporters. “He wants to have his day in court.”
Investigators are also investigating other unsolved homicides nearby to see if they are connected to Heuerman, officials said.
No one has yet been arrested in the murder of Karen Bergata, 34, once known as “Jane Doe Seven.” Her remains were discovered in 1996 and 2011.
Police are still investigating the victim’s killer, known as “Asian Doe.” The man whose body was found in 2011 has been described by authorities as a “biological male” of Chinese descent who was wearing women’s clothing when his body was found.
Tierney said it was unclear how many victims there may be and that an “army” of investigators were investigating a number of cold cases in the area.
Prosecutors spoke to reporters with loved ones of several victims standing behind them.
“Let me be clear: None of the victims deserved to die,” said attorney Gloria Allred, representing the families of several victims. “They were all innocent and just trying to earn money to support themselves and their families. They are still loved and will be missed every day.”
Officials said Mack’s loved ones were kept under constant surveillance in the investigation, which led to Heuerman’s indictment.
“They are so grateful,” Tierney said. “They are very grateful for the small amount of closure that the task force has provided.”
Charges related to Mack come from Suffolk County prosecutors, who say Heuerman is accused of killing Melissa Barthelemy, Megan Waterman, Amber Costello, Maureen Brainard Burns, Sandra Costilla and Jessica Taylor. This was done after being accused by a government official.
Costilla was killed in 1993, Taylor in 2003, Brainard Burns in 2007, Barthelemy in 2009 and Costello and Waterman in 2010, officials said.
Mr. Heuerman, a New York City architect, was arrested in July 2023 and initially charged in connection with the murders of Mr. Barthelemy, Mr. Waterman, and Mr. Costello.
