RIVERHEAD, NY – Accused Gilgo Beach serial killer Rex Heuermann is accused of a seventh murder.
Heuermann was charged with the 2000 murder of Valerie Mack, a 24-year-old from New Jersey who had worked as an escort in the Philadelphia area. Her partial remains were found in Manorville, Long Island, in 2000, and more of her remains remains were found more than ten years later on Gilgo Beach.
Heuermann spoke in court on Tuesday.
“Your Honor, I am not guilty of these charges,” he told the judge.
Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond Tierney was joined by the family of the seven victims at a news conference Tuesday morning to discuss the new murder charges. You can watch that press conference live in the video player above on CBS News New York.
According to court documents, the hairs found near Mack’s wrist and in trash bags were linked to Heuermann’s estranged wife Asa Ellerup and Heuermann’s daughter, excluding 99.65% of the North American population. Heuermann’s daughter is believed to have been a young child at the time of Mack’s murder, and neither has been charged with any wrongdoing in the case.
Court documents also show that pornographic sexual torture images found on Rex Heuermann’s electronic devices showed bindings similar to rope ligatures found on Mack’s remains.
Court documents further allege that Heuermann refers to a landfill as Mill Road in the planning document. Mack’s remains were discovered near Mill Road in Manorville.
Court documents allege a similar cutting instrument was used to dismember Mack and another victim, Jessica Taylor. The suit also alleges that Mack’s tattoos were removed. Tattoo removal is also reportedly on a document Heuermann allegedly had that authorities have described as a blueprint for how to get away with murder, complete with checklists of things to do before, during and after the killing from someone.
Court documents also show that they found many magazines and articles about the serial killer case in Heuermann’s office.
Heuermann accusations so far
Heuermann, 61, has done it before pleaded not guilty to murder charges in the deaths of six women between 1993 and 2011. During that period, the remains of eleven people were discovered around Gilgo Beach, and investigators believe Heuermann may be connected to other murders. The Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office has said charges could come in the future.
Four of the victims had their bodies discarded near Gilgo Beach. Two others were murdered in 2003 and 1993. They were all involved in sex work.
Prosecutors allege Heuermann has been linked to the killings through DNA, phone records from the burner, a description of his truck, Internet searches and what they described as a blueprint for how to get away with murder.
The women he is accused of murdering so far are Amber Lynn Costello, Megan Waterman, Melissa Barthelemy, Maureen Brainard-Barnes, Sandra Costilla, Taylor and now Mack.
Lawyers argue about DNA and the amount of evidence
An important point of contention in the new DNA evidence is called SNP, which prosecutors say links victims’ hair to Heuermann. The defense has called a third-party genetic testing laboratory’s methods unproven and “magical.”
Another obstacle for prosecutors is the enormous amount of evidence. Prosecutors say they are struggling to keep up with the costs of processing the 120 terabytes of data and 400 electronic devices seized.
Heuermann’s attorney says his client is looking forward to his day in court and will continue to do so pursue a change of locationclaiming that the jury pool in Suffolk is “poisoned.”
Heuermann is still in isolation in prison.
Read the superseding indictment
Rex Heuermann - Superseding Indictment 12.17.2024 by CBSNewYork Scribd on Scribd
Natalie Duddridge
Natalie Duddridge is an award-winning journalist. She joined CBS News New York as a reporter in February 2018.
