The 60-year-old was first arrested in July 2023 in the deaths of four women whose remains were found in burlap sacks along a remote stretch of Ocean Parkway more than a decade ago. News 4’s Greg Cergol reports.
The New York City architect arrested in connection with a string of decade-old bodies found on Long Island's Gilgo Beach is expected to be arraigned on a new murder charge later this week, according to two sources familiar with the investigation.
Rex Heuermann, of Massapequa Park, is expected to be arraigned Thursday. The Suffolk district attorney's office confirmed the court date but declined to specify the charge. The sources didn't immediately say to which alleged victim it pertained.
Heuermann's attorney, Michael Brown, has said his client maintains his innocence. He declined to comment on the nature of Thursday's hearing.
"Just like the rest of us, we’re waiting to hear what the district attorney has to say," said Vess Mitev, the lawyer representing Heuermann's two adult children. "My clients, again, they’re going to take it day-by-day, minute-by-minute, hour-by-hour as the landscape shifts around them."
Mitev said his clients have yet to return to their home after the latest police search there — and even with this apparent new murder charge, says they stand by their father.
"If it’s one or 100, they are allegations and they are eager have the legal process play itself out. Not in the court of public opinion, but in the courtroom in front of a jury, in front of a judge," Mitev said. "These are allegations. They’re horrible allegations, horrific allegations and they’re dealing with an everyday process of trying to wrap their heads around it, the fact of allegations against their father. But they’re allegations nonetheless."
Get Tri-state area news delivered to your inbox. Sign up for NBC New York's News Headlines newsletter.
The 60-year-old Heuermann was first arrested in July 2023 in the deaths of four women whose remains were found in burlap sacks along a remote stretch of Ocean Parkway more than a decade ago. The bodies of Maureen Brainard-Barnes, Amber Lynn Costello, Melissa Barthelemy and Megan Waterman, were found during a search for a missing escort, Shannan Gilbert, who later was found dead in a marsh. Her case was inconclusive; it has not been linked to the others.
As officers searched for her, they found at least six additional sets of remains in addition to the four women's bodies. Not all of those people have been positively identified. At least two were believed to be escorts who fit the victim profile.
Local
Heuermann has pleaded not guilty to the charges. Word of the new one comes weeks after investigators returned to Heuermann's home with a search warrant. It wasn't clear what, if anything, they found, but that search came shortly after another unspecified search connected to the Gilgo investigation, this time in a wooded area in Manorville.
Some of the remains discovered in Manorville years ago, when the investigation started, were linked to the body parts of Jessica Taylor and Valerie Mack discovered along Ocean Parkway. No arrests have been made in those cases.
Robert Macedonio, a lawyer for Heuermann’s estranged wife, said the most recent search of the Massapequa Park home was primarily focused on the basement. He said the family was out of state when the search was conducted. Macedonio declined to say what was taken from the home and said the family has not yet received the search warrant affidavit that would spell out their reasons for conducting the search.
When asked Monday if Heuermann's upcoming court date is the result of the two recent searches, the Suffolk County DA said, "It’s the result of those and other investigative steps." However, the district attorney would not confirm the new murder charge.
"There were a number of investigative steps that were taken...Thursday you will see the fruits of that investigation," said Ray Tierney.
During the initial search of the home in July 2023, authorities tore up a wooden deck and used an excavator to dig up the backyard, which they scanned for buried objects using specialized equipment. The most recent search was far less disruptive, according to Macedonio.
Jake Offenhartz and Philip Marcelo of The Associated Press contributed to this report.
