Alleged serial killer Rex Heuerman is set to face additional charges related to the death of a fourth woman, whose remains were discovered near Gilgo Beach. The 60-year-old architect, who has already been charged with the murders of three women, is expected to be charged in connection with this latest case, marking a sad development in the ongoing investigation.
He is scheduled to return to court in Riverhead next week on Tuesday, January 16, 2024. Herman has maintained his not guilty plea in the deaths of Megan Waterman, Melissa Barthelemy and Amber Costello.
The three women were found dead in December 2010, their bodies wrapped in burlap. Heuerman is currently being held without bail as authorities ramp up efforts to seek justice for the victims and their families. He is charged with three counts of first-degree murder and three counts of second-degree murder in the deaths of the three women.
The latest victim, identified as Maureen Brainard Barnes, adds another layer of complexity to the case. Brainard Barnes was discovered with a belt bearing a distinctive buckle bearing the initials WH, prosecutors revealed.
At this time, the Suffolk County District Attorney's Office, which is responsible for prosecuting Heuerman, did not provide immediate comments on these new developments.
Rex Heuerman faces charges in connection with the deaths of three women
Rex Heuerman is currently facing charges in connection with the deaths of three women, Megan Waterman, Melissa Barthelemy, and Amber Costello, whose bodies were discovered wrapped in burlap near Gilgo Beach in December 2010. He has pleaded not guilty to the charges and is now in custody. Without bail.
Rex Heuerman's connection to the victims, all of whom were reported to have been involved in sex acts, was proven through DNA evidence. Investigators traced links between Heuerman and the victims, uncovering important information from a DNA sample obtained from a pizza crust found in a trash can outside his Manhattan office.
Additionally, prosecutors consider him the prime suspect in the death of a fourth woman, Maureen Brainard Barnes, whose remains were found with a distinctive belt bearing the initials “WH,” possibly linked to Heuerman's father. The Suffolk County District Attorney's Office, which is in charge of prosecuting Rex Heuerman, is expected to announce more charges as a grand jury is scheduled to indict him in connection with the fourth murder.
Notably, the courtroom drama is expected to escalate Tuesday when prosecutors unveil the grand jury indictment, formally charging Heuerman with the fourth murder. The community remains on edge as the investigation continues, highlighting the disturbing pattern allegedly perpetrated by the accused serial killer.
The Gilgo Beach case has long been a haunting mystery, with the deaths of six other victims still unsolved.