Suspected Gilgo Beach serial killer Rex Heuermann charged with fourth woman's death
01/16/2024 12:35 pm PST
SUFFOLK COUNTY, N.Y. (TCD) -- Rex Heuermann, the man accused of killing several sex workers in Long Island in what became known as the Gilgo Beach murders, has been charged in connection with a fourth woman's death.
Heuermann was charged Tuesday, Jan. 16, with first-degree murder for allegedly killing 25-year-old Maureen Brainard-Barnes in 2007. The Associated Press reports Heuermann's attorney pleaded not guilty on his behalf.
He is already facing charges for the deaths of Shannan Gilbert, Amber Costello, and Megan Waterman. Those victims became known as the "Gilgo Beach Four."
On July 6, 2007, Brainard-Barnes took a train from her home in Connecticut to Grand Central Terminal in New York City and stayed at a motel in Midtown. Investigators said she worked as as an escort and advertised services on Craigslist, Backpage, and other similar sites. She reportedly sometimes traveled to Manhattan with another woman and they worked out of the same motel. They went to New York together around the time she went missing, but the friend left and Brainard-Barnes stayed in the city.
Suffolk County Police said she called a friend on July 9, 2007, and said she was meeting someone for an "out-call."
A friend reported Brainard-Barnes missing to the Norwich Police Department on July 14, 2007, but the New York Police Department eventually took control of the case. Her remains were discovered over three years later, on Dec. 13, 2010, near Gilgo Beach while investigators were searching for another victim.
The Associated Press reports Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond Tierney said the new charges against Heuermann mean a conclusion into the "Gilgo four" investigation.
Investigators reportedly discovered some of Heuermann's ex-wife's hair on Brainard-Barnes' body, though the ex-wife was reportedly out of town at the time of Brainard-Barnes' killing.
Heuermann allegedly deleted data and other evidence from his computer, including torture pornography. He reportedly searched topics on the internet such as "Long Island Serial Killer," "How cell phone tracking is increasingly being used to solve crimes," and more.
According to the original charging documents, Brainard-Barnes, Waterman, Costello, and Barthelemy all died from homicidal violence. They had been bound with tape or belts and three of the victims were wrapped in burlap.
There are several other Gilgo Beach victims, though The Associated Press reports investigators do not believe Heuermann was involved in all of their deaths.
Heuermann is due back in court Feb. 6.
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