Anthony Carter, the Suffolk County deputy police commissioner in New York, has described the alleged acts of suspect Rex Heuermann, who has been charged with three murders in the Gilgo Beach serial killings, as “the worst I’ve ever seen.” In an interview with CNN, Carter referred to Heuermann as “a demon” and expressed the difficulty of understanding the mindset of someone capable of committing such crimes. Heuermann, a 59-year-old architect, was arrested last week and has pleaded not guilty to the charges.

The three victims, Malissa Barthelemy, Megan Waterman, and Amber Costello, were among the 10 sets of remains discovered along Gilgo Beach, after the disappearance and subsequent death of Shannan Gilbert. Heuermann is also believed to be the primary suspect in the murder of another woman named Maureen Brainard-Barnes. The unsolved killings had puzzled authorities for a decade until Heuermann emerged as a possible suspect last year.

During the investigation, police discovered between 200 and 300 firearms in a vault behind a locked door in Heuermann’s home. The collection included pistols, revolvers, and semi-automatic rifles, nearly three times the number of permits Heuermann possessed. While no formal announcement has been made regarding the items seized from his property, forensic psychiatrist Carole Lieberman suggests that there is a possibility he collected trophies from his victims, commonly found among killers who take pleasure in the memories of their crimes.

Heuermann, an avid hunter, faced the court without bond and was ordered to be detained until his next hearing on August 1st. Carter acknowledged that there may be more victims connected to Heuermann, as there are still human remains to be investigated in the area.

In court papers opposing bail, prosecutors presented circumstantial evidence against Heuermann, including burner cell phone records, online searches, and a key vehicle, but the key piece of evidence that could directly link him to the crimes is DNA extracted from a discarded pizza box found near his home. Anna Cominsky, a law professor at New York Law School, emphasized the need for proof that the pizza was consumed solely by Heuermann and that the box was not contaminated in any way.

Despite the detailed case presented by the prosecutors, there is still much undisclosed information, such as evidence stored in bankers’ boxes and computers. The ongoing investigation aims to provide justice for the victims’ families and shed light on the extent of Heuermann’s alleged crimes.

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