Gilgo Beach: Suspect Linked to Serial Killings Through Discarded Pizza Box

Law enforcement authorities investigating the infamous Gilgo Beach serial killings reportedly made a breakthrough in the case with the help of a simple pizza box. Surveillance on Rex Heuermann, a Manhattan architect and prime suspect in the murders, led investigators to observe him disposing of a pizza box in a Manhattan trash can. The box was retrieved and analyzed by a forensics lab, which found a mitochondrial DNA match to a male hair collected from one of the victims, Megan Waterman. This key piece of evidence has now connected Heuermann to the crime scene.

Heuermann, 59, appeared in court and pleaded not guilty to six counts of murder. The Suffolk County District Attorney’s office released charging documents that confirmed Heuermann as the suspected serial killer responsible for targeting sex workers and dumping their bodies along remote Long Island beaches. He was held without bail as prosecutors cited his recent online searches for “sadistic materials, child pornography, images of the victims and their relatives.”

The first bodies associated with the Gilgo Beach killings were discovered in 2010 along a stretch of Ocean Parkway in Long Island. Three of the victims, Megan Waterman, Melissa Barthelemy, and Amber Costello, are among the known victims of the “Gilgo Four.” The fourth victim, Maureen Brainard-Barnes, is also believed to be connected to Heuermann, although no charges have been filed in relation to her death.

Heuermann’s attorney, Michael Brown, maintained his client’s innocence, emphasizing that the evidence against him is circumstantial. Brown shared that Heuermann tearfully asserted, “I didn’t do this,” during the court appearance. While Heuermann may continue to deny involvement, authorities are confident in their case against him.

Neighbors of Heuermann described him as a quiet family man who lived with his wife and two children in a close-knit community in Suffolk County. However, they maintained that one individual’s actions do not define the entire community.

The Gilgo Beach serial killings have remained a haunting unsolved case for over a decade. The killer or killers targeted escorts and sex workers, leaving their bodies concealed along the shoreline. It wasn’t until a chilling 911 call in 2010 that the police began their search and uncovered the horrifying truth. With the recent breakthrough in the case and the arrest of Heuermann, authorities hope to bring justice to the victims and their families.

Suffolk County Police Commissioner, Rodney Harrison, expressed determination in closing all the murder cases connected to Gilgo Beach. He condemned Heuermann as “an animal” and vowed to pursue all individuals involved in the crimes. The investigation continues as law enforcement officers remove items from Heuermann’s Long Island home in search of additional evidence.