Alleged Gilgo Beach Serial Killer Expected To Be Charged In Death Of Fourth Woman

BABYLON, NY – Suspected serial killer Rex Heuermann is scheduled to return to court next week on Long Island, where he anticipatively faces charges for the killing of a fourth woman, ABC News reported. The remains of this fourth woman were discovered in a marshy region near Gilgo Beach. Heuermann is currently facing charges for the murders of three other women, and is also considered the prime suspect in this newest case involving Maureen Brainard-Barnes.

An architect by profession, Heuermann was indicted in the deaths of Megan Waterman, Melissa Barthelemy, and Amber Costello. They were discovered deceased in December 2010, each of their lives tragically ended abruptly and their bodies carefully wrapped in burlap. The similarities in the disposal of victims have led investigators to link these murders to a serial killer. Heuermann pleaded not guilty to these charges and is awaiting trial; he is being held in custody without bail.

Heuermann is due to reappear in court in Riverhead next Tuesday. Prosecutors are expected, according to multiple sources, to officially announce that a grand jury has indicted him on an extra count: the murder of Maureen Brainard-Barnes. These charges stem from the discovery of Brainard-Barnes’s corpse, enveloped in burlap and adorned with a belt boasting a buckle with the distinct initials “WH.” Prosecutors posit that these initials could be linked to Heuermann’s father.

However, the Suffolk County District Attorney’s office, which is spearheading the prosecution of Heuermann, has declined to comment on the matter. The prosecuting office remains tight-lipped despite the increasing scrutiny of the case.

Investigators were led to Heuermann after a breakthrough in the case via DNA evidence. They were able to connect Heuermann to the slain sex workers through a sample taken from pizza crust thrown in the trash outside his office in Manhattan. The connectivity of this DNA evidence and the existing case details rounds out a chilling picture, linking Heuermann to these unspeakable acts.

Eerily, the grisly tale does not end there. Remaining are six other victims found at Gilgo Beach whose murders remain unsolved. It remains unclear whether Heuermann is connected to these cases.