Rex Heuermann: Suspect in Gilgo Beach Murders Charged with 4th Killing
TL/DR –
Accused serial killer Rex Heuermann was indicted on new charges related to the death of his fourth alleged victim, Maureen Brainard-Barnes, six months after his arrest. The link to Brainard-Barnes’ murder was made via DNA from a female hair found on a belt used to bind her, matching Heuermann’s wife or daughter with an eight trillion to one match probability. In addition to the DNA evidence, investigators found hundreds of electronic devices at Heuermann’s home, which revealed Google searches for the victims and software that could wipe or erase data.
Accused Gilgo Beach Serial Killer Faces New Charges
RIVERHEAD, N.Y. — Six months post-arrest, additional charges were filed on Tuesday against suspected Gilgo Beach serial killer Rex Heuermann.
Heuermann was indicted Tuesday for the murder of his fourth alleged victim, 25-year-old Maureen Brainard-Barnes of Connecticut, sparking public comments from her bereaved family for the first time.
“I was only 7 years old when my mother was murdered. Her loss drastically changed my life,” said daughter Nicolette Brainard-Barnes. “The indictment by the grand jury has brought hope for justice for my mom and my family.”
Investigators were able to link Brainard-Barnes’ murder to Heuermann through DNA from a female hair found in the buckle of a belt used to tie her ankles, feet and legs. The chances of it matching Heuermann’s wife Asa Ellerup or daughter Victoria are eight trillion to one, according to court documents.
Prosecutors argued that all hair transfers were made from Heuermann to his alleged victims, asserting that the family was out of town during the Gilgo Beach murders.
Heuermann showed no emotion during the court proceedings, barely making eye contact with anyone. “He’s a productive member of society. He’s supporting his family, and he’s incarcerated. And he’s claiming he didn’t do this. But he is looking forward to having his day in a courtroom,” commented Heuermann’s attorney Michael Brown.
DA Ray Tierney states that nuclear DNA has caught up and will help bring justice to the four murder victims.
New court documents also revealed that the accused killer used burner phones to contact sex workers as recently as last year. They uncovered hundreds of electronic devices from his home, some containing Google searches for the Gilgo victims, and software that could wipe or erase data.
“She was an intellectual. She was a writer. She was an artistic person. She cared very deeply about the people that she loved,” commented DA Ray Tierney. “It’s been an honor and a privilege to work these cases, and to provide that small measure of closure.”
When Heuermann was arrested in July, prosecutors claimed his DNA from discarded pizza and burner phone evidence linked him to three murdered women whose bodies were found along Gilgo Beach in 2010.
Police identified the victims as the “Gilgo Four.” They were all sex workers, wrapped in burlap, allegedly murdered by Heuermann. The DA shared that the grand jury will continue to try to solve the remaining murders at Gilgo Beach.
Forensic expert Dr. N.G. Berrill informed CBS New York that the investigation into Heuermann will continue, including into the six still-unsolved murders along Gilgo Beach. “Time will tell if they can make the link,” he said.
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