A young Long Island woman’s unsettling encounter on a nearly empty train has been linked to Rex Heuermann, the accused Gilgo Beach serial killer. The incident, captured on video just days before Heuermann’s arrest, adds a new layer to the chilling narrative surrounding the suspect.

As first reported by the New York Post, on July 1, 2023, now 21-year-old Kaylin Morales boarded a Long Island Rail Road train, anticipating a routine journey. However, her commute took a distressing turn when a middle-aged man chose to sit directly beside her despite the abundant vacant seats elsewhere on the train.

“Oh, you don’t have to move your pretty legs. I won’t bother you’”

The man, later identified as Heuermann, made unsolicited and inappropriate remarks, causing Morales to feel increasingly uneasy, she said. Sensing potential danger, she discreetly recorded videos and photos of the man, capturing his behavior as he drank beer and attempted to engage her in conversation, which she tried to avoid by wearing headphones.

According to Morales, Heuermann told her, “Oh, you don’t have to move your pretty legs. I won’t bother you.” She added, “I just thought he was this big, fat, ugly white man…I obviously didn’t know who he was at the time,” and she feared for her safety, “creeped out” by the whole situation. She said she considered moving, but she felt “trapped” by Heuermann’s body.

Morales later shared the footage on TikTok, expressing her discomfort and the fear she felt during the encounter. After Heuermann’s arrest, she submitted her recordings to Suffolk County Crime Stoppers and was interviewed by detectives, confirming the identity of the man in her videos as Heuermann. She only just recently felt safe releasing the footage to the public.

The Gilgo Beach murders and Heuermann’s arest

Heuermann, a 60-year-old architect from Massapequa Park, Long Island, was arrested on July 13, 2023, in connection with the infamous Gilgo Beach serial killings. He was initially charged with the murders of three women—Melissa Barthelemy, Megan Waterman, and Amber Costello—whose bodies were discovered along Ocean Parkway between 2010 and 2011. In January 2024, he was also charged with the murder of Maureen Brainard-Barnes.

Investigators linked Heuermann to the crimes through a combination of DNA evidence, cellphone data, and witness s. A significant breakthrough came when DNA from a discarded pizza crust matched hair found on one of the victims.

Expanding investigations and additional charges

The case against Heuermann has continued to evolve. In June 2024, he was charged with the murders of Jessica Taylor and Sandra Costilla, extending the timeline of his alleged crimes back to 1993. In December 2024, he was indicted for the 2000 murder of Valerie Mack. These developments suggest a broader scope of criminal activity than initially believed.

Authorities have also expanded their search for additional victims, combing through areas like the Otis Pike Preserve in Manorville. While Heuermann has pleaded not guilty to all charges, the ongoing investigations continue to uncover potential links to other unsolved cases.

In a significant development in the long-standing Gilgo Beach investigation, authorities have identified two previously unnamed victims: a woman known as “Peaches” and her young daughter. On April 23, 2025, Nassau County Police announced that “Peaches” was Tanya Denise Jackson, a 26-year-old U.S. Army veteran from Mobile, Alabama, and her daughter was 2-year-old Tatiana Marie Dykes. ​

A DNA match

Jackson’s dismembered torso was discovered on June 28, 1997, in a Rubbermaid container at Hempstead Lake State Park in Lakeview, New York. The distinctive tattoo of a heart-shaped peach with a bite taken out of it on her left breast led investigators to nickname her “Peaches.” 

In April 2011, during a broader search related to the Gilgo Beach case, investigators found skeletal remains of a toddler near Jones Beach State Park. DNA testing later confirmed that the child was Jackson’s daughter. Despite these findings, both victims remained unidentified for years. 

The recent breakthrough came through advanced DNA analysis and genealogical research. In 2022, Jackson’s relative, Elijah “Lige” Howell/Howard of Mobile, Alabama, provided investigators with a DNA sample, which eventually led to the identification of Jackson and her daughter.

Jackson was an army veteran

Nassau PD have identified “Peaches” whose torso was found in Hempstead Lake Park in 1997 and her 2 year old daughter who was found at Gilgo Beach in 2011. At this point, they are not ruling out a connection to the other Gilgo beach murders #nbc4ny pic.twitter.com/WWE3MYUH0h

— Pei-Sze Cheng (@PeiSzeCheng4NY) April 23, 2025

Tanya Jackson served in the U.S. Army from 1993 to 1995 and was living in Brooklyn at the time of her death. She was estranged from her family, and no one reported Jackson or her daughter missing. Tatiana was born on March 17, 1995, in Texas. At the time of their deaths, Jackson may have been working as a medical assistant. ​

The Gilgo Beach investigation began in 2010 after police searching for missing sex worker Shannan Gilbert found multiple sets of human remains along Long Island’s Ocean Parkway. Over time, more victims were discovered, many of whom were involved in sex work. 

While some victims have been linked to suspected serial killer Rex Heuermann, authorities have not connected Jackson and her daughter to him. Their deaths are being treated as separate investigations, despite the proximity to other victims. 

According to the AP, Homicide Det. Lt. Stephen Fitzpatrick said, “Although Tanya and Tatiana have commonly been linked to the Gilgo Beach serial killings because the timing and locations of their recovered remains, we are not discounting the possibility that their cases are unrelated from that investigation.”

Fitzpatrick added, “I’m not saying it is Rex Heuermann and I’m not saying it’s not,” he added. “We are proceeding as if it’s not, keeping our eyes wide open.”

The investigation continues

Authorities continue to seek information regarding the deaths of Jackson and her daughter. Authorities have offered a $25,000 reward for information leading to an arrest. Investigators hope that renewed public interest and advancements in forensic technology will provide further leads in this case.

The identification of “Peaches” and her daughter marks a significant step in the ongoing efforts to resolve the mysteries surrounding the Gilgo Beach case and bring closure to the victims’ families.​

Chalk up the count to seven. That’s how many bodies have been discovered and linked to the so-called Gilgo Beach Killer, a serial murderer who littered a remote stretch of Gilgo Beach’s Ocean Parkway with dead bodies. The latest victim was a young lady who was mutilated and tossed away like trash. Here’s what we know.

Rex Heuermann, 61, has been arrested and charged with the murders. He’s an architect from New York City and he’s pleaded not guilty to all the killings. He is suspected of, or accused of, the murders of Melissa Barthelemy, Megan Waterman, Amber Costello and Maureen Brainard-Barnes, collectively known as the “Gilgo Four,” in addition to Sandra Costilla, Jessica Taylor, and Valerie Mack.

Mack was an escort who disappeared in 2000. She was working in the Philadelphia area, and for a long time was only known as Jane Doe #6. Partial remains were discovered in Manorville, Long Island in 2000 and more were found on Gilgo Beach a decade later.

While he was previously considered a suspect, per NBC 4, the new evidence that points to him includes hairs found with Mack’s remains that link back to Heuermann’s wife and daughter.

In court, Heuermann spoke to the judge during his hearing: “Your honor, I’m not guilty of any of these charges.” Prosecutors say that in addition to the hairs found near Mack’s severed wrist, they found sexual torture porn on his electronic devices that show bindings that look like the ones found on Mack’s body. He also got a plumbing company to drain his pipes.

In a “planning” document discovered by police, references were found to the location where Mack’s body was discovered. The document was created in 2000, the same year Mack disappeared. It details how to kill and get away with it, complete with checklists for what to do before and after a murder.

Suffolk County DA Raymond Tierney said all of the evidence is “consistent with the murders occurring in the home.” Prosecutors have also tied a cutting instrument used on Mack with fellow victim Jessica Taylor. Heuermann allegedly cut off Mack’s tattoos to make it harder to identify her.

In Heuermann’s office, police found numerous magazines and clipped articles about all of the cases, and the ongoing search for the killer.

“People [Magazine]. There was a New York Times article in the safe, other news articles,” Tierney said. Heuermann’s lawyer, defense attorney Michael Brown, said the clippings were inconsequential.

“There are many people who are infatuated with this case, not just in Suffolk County but across our country,” Brown said. Other evidence against Heuermann includes burner phone data, a description of his vehicle and internet searches about how to get away with killing someone.

The new DNA evidence is contentious because it’s a new technique called SNP. The method, prosecutors say, ties Heuermann to six of the seven victims.

Brown said SNP is unreliable and akin to “magic.” He wants to separate the cases so they’ll all be tried on their own and move the venue for the trial away from Suffolk County because the jury pool there is “poisoned.”

DA Tierney said it’s possible more charges are on the way.

Suspected Long Island Serial Killer Rex Heuermann was charged Tuesday with the murder of a seventh woman, Valerie Mack, whose partial remains were recovered in 2000 in Manorville on Long Island, not far from where Heuermann lived.

More of Mack’s remains were found 10 years later, in 2010, on Gilgo Beach, where 11 other suspected Heuermann victims’ bodies have been recovered.

Mack and the other Gilgo Beach murders went unsolved for years, and were long thought to be the work of a previously unknown serial killer called the Long Island Serial Killer, or LISK.

Heuermann, a married father and Manhattan architect, was arrested in July 2023 and charged with murdering three women related to the Gilgo Beach case: Melissa Barthelemy, Megan Waterman, and Amber Costello.

When he was arrested, Heuermann was declared a person of interest in a fourth murder, that of Maureen Brainard-Barnes, whose body was found on Gilgo Beach in 2010.

Before Heuermann’s arrest, Brainard-Barnes, Barthelemy, Waterman, and Costello were known collectively as the “Gilgo Four,” because their bodies were found near each other in quick succession.

Barthelemy, Waterman, Brainard-Barnes, and Costello’s dismembered remains were all found near Gilgo Beach, close to Heuermann’s Nassau County home.

All four women were known sex workers whose cause of death was determined to be homicide.

The Castilla and Taylor indictments

In January this year, Heuermann was officially charged with Brainard-Barnes murder, and in June, he faced two more murder charges, bringing his total number of indictments at that time up to six.

This time, the bodies of the two women Heuermann allegedly killed were not found near Gilgo Beach but in another area close to where Heuermann lived. One woman had not previously been considered a potential LISK victim.

One of the women, Jessica Taylor, disappeared in 2003. Some of her body parts were discovered that year in Manorville on Long Island, and the rest of her body was found near Gilgo Beach eight years later.

Meanwhile, Susan Costilla’s body was recovered in the North Sea, Long Island area in 1993. Costilla’s death predated the earliest known Gilgo Beach murder. Heuermann’s indictment for Costilla’s murder raises the possibility that Heuermann had been active longer than investigators once thought.

Like Heuermann’s other suspected victims, Taylor was a known sex worker when she died. Costilla was born in Trinidad and Tobago, and lived in New York City. Little is known about her life before her death. Costilla had not previously been considered a potential LISK victim.

The Valerie Mack indictment

On Tuesday, Heuermann was officially charged with the murder of Valerie Mack, whose body was discovered in the Manorville area, where Taylor’s remains were found. Mack, known at first as “Jane Doe No. 6” was identified in 2020, and was also a sex worker when she died.

Heuermann was linked to the seven murders through DNA evidence, which included DNA from hair strands linked to Heuermann’s wife and daughter, as well as similarities in how the remains were disposed of and found, and where the body parts were recovered.

Investigators also found evidence recovered in Heuermann’s home, including alleged murder planning documents, and a collection of media coverage related to the Gilgo Beach investigation.

There remain three more victims potentially linked to the Long Island Serial Killer not yet identified: “Peaches,” or “Jane Doe No. 3,” “Baby Doe,” and “Asian Male,” all of whom were found in the Gilgo Beach area. DNA testing determined “Peaches” was the mother of “Baby Doe.”

An eleventh woman, Shannan Gilbert, a sex worker who disappeared near Heuermann’s home on Long Island in 2010, is another possible LISK victim. The Gilbert search led to a series of grisly discoveries that would culminate years later in Heuermann’s arrest.

Another man, Andre Jamal Isaac, from New York, who disappeared in 2002 and whose remains were found on Long Island, is also thought to be a potential LISK victim. Castilla’s 1993 murder, now linked to Heuermann, suggests the suspected murderer’s true number of victims may never be known. Heuermann has pleaded not guilty on all counts.

This article contains graphic descriptions of murder. Please take care while reading.

At best, Victoria Heuermann, Rex Heuermann‘s daughter, was not an atypical teenager, making questionable choices online while exploring a dark aesthetic. At worst, according to one theory, Victoria was complicit, or at the very least, knew about the gruesome murders her father allegedly committed.

That’s according to John Ray, who disclosed the speculation at a Long Island press conference on June 13. Ray is the attorney for the family of Shannan Gilbert, just one Gilgo Beach victim connected to Rex. Beginning in 2010, the remains of 11 people were found near Gilgo Beach, on Long Island not far from where the Heuermann family lived. After a years-long investigation, Rex is now accused of six murders linked to five victims recovered in the area. Authorities now think Rex also killed Sandra Castilla, whose body was found in 1993 elsewhere on Long Island, meaning his alleged murder spree could have been longer than expected.

Heuermann’s family have denied knowledge

Rex, a married Manhattan architect with two children, was arrested in July 2023, and at that time, “[His family] were shocked, embarrassed, and disgusted,” by the allegations against him, Suffolk County Police Commissioner Rodney Harrison told CBS New York. “I don’t believe they knew about this double life Heuermann was living,” Harrison said. Ellerup, Victoria, and Rex’s son, Christopher Sheridan have said they were out of town when some of the murders were committed.

Since Rex’s arrest, his wife Asa Ellerup, has filed for divorce but has visited Rex in jail, and been in court at some of her estranged husband’s hearings. “I will listen to all of the evidence and withhold judgment until the end of trial. I have given Rex the benefit of the doubt, as we all deserve,” Ellerup said through her attorney referring to Rex’s charges. Rex pleaded not guilty.

The Victoria Heuermann circumstantial evidence

On June 13, John Ray, who said he represents not only Shannan Gilbert’s family, but also other women who say they encountered Heuermann but survived, laid out the case that Victoria Heuermann at the very least had knowledge of, or could have been complicit in, at least some of the crimes the prosecution says Rex is guilty of, and may have even engaged in cannibalism, based on one image of artwork of what seemed to be the partially-eaten remains of a woman.

Among other forms of circumstantial evidence, Ray used Victoria’s Tumblr and Instagram history from when she was a teenager, including pieces of original artwork, and one image Victoria “reblogged” from another . Many show alarming similarities to how some of Heuermann’s victims were killed, how their bodies were mutilated, and how their remains were found. Victoria also allegedly viewed and read extreme “furry” and BDSM online pornography, Ray said, much like her father. Some examples referred to murder as “romantic,” Ray said.

Ray’s allegations came not long after a raid of the Heuermann Massapequa Park Long Island home when a digital “planning document” was discovered in which Rex seemed to make grim to-do lists for murder and give himself reminders for what to do next time, Newsweek reported. Ray and his legal team said Victoria and Asa Ellerup deleted their social media s after Rex was arrested. Victoria, however, missed certain images, discovered in the recent search.

“There are many pictures beside what I’m showing you that are equally bad or worse. We chose these pictures because of their significance in relation to Rex Heuermann as well as his daughter Victoria,” Ray added. “These people didn’t tell the truth. They’re misleading us,” Ray said.

Perhaps most tellingly, though, the Heuermann family’s alibi was that they were out of town when Jessica Taylor, a Gilgo Beach victim, was murdered. Evidence suggests that they did not check into a Virginia hotel until days after she died, based on phone and financial records, Ray said.

Ray stopped short of accusing the Heuermann family of murder

John Ray didn’t accuse Victoria Heuermann at the press conference of direct involvement in the crimes Rex Heuermann allegedly committed, and he urged viewers to make their own inferences. He also said he would not sue the Heuermann family. Ray did, however, strongly suggest that Victoria Heuermann, now 27, knew about her father’s crimes, witnessed him committing the act, or could have been involved, despite the Heuermann family insisting to the contrary. Victoria could have sought and created this content on her own, but the fact she was raised in a household with an accused serial killer was a coincidence too large to ignore, Ray suggested.

Dr. Gary Brucato, an expert on psychopathology, also testified at the press conference that David Parker Ray, or the Toy Box Killer, whose daughter helped him find victims, and John Wayne Gacy who murdered young boys, and who is now thought to have worked in a group, were examples of serial killers sometimes working in teams. “There was no double life,” Brucato said, referring to the Heuermann family.

Ray’s press conference was controversial

John Ray’s bombshell press conference and the implication that the Heuermann family was involved in Rex Heuermann’s alleged murders was greeted with controversy, given the circumstantial evidence and lack of hard proof. Kerri Rawson, among others, whose father is Dennis Rader, the BTK killer, ed the Heuermann family in an X post.

” … [The Heuermanns] are in shock. Still trying to grasp what is happening to them and their lives, and to their father, they knew. It is up to them to share their life when they are ready. They are absolutely victims of their father’s actions and choices,” Rawson wrote in part.

This article contains graphic descriptions of murder. Please take care while reading.

Rex Heuermann, the accused Long Island Serial Killer suspected of killing at least four women in Long Island’s Gilgo Beach area, has now been charged with two more murders. And Heuermann is now accused of killing one woman whose remains were not recovered near Gilgo Beach.

In the summer of 2023, Heuermann — a Manhattan architect — was arrested in connection with the Gilgo Beach murders, or 11 sets of remains found on Gilgo Beach beginning in 2010, near Massapequa Park, where Heuermann lived. Those cases remained unsolved for years, as some suspected that a serial killer dubbed the Long Island Serial Killer, or LISK was responsible.

Authorities arrested and charged Heuermann over DNA evidence and other clues linking him to the deaths of at least three women whose remains were found near Gilgo Beach: Amber Lynn Costello, Megan Waterman, and Melissa Barthelemy, and declared him a “prime suspect” and later charged him with murder in connection to another Gilgo Beach victim, Maureen Brainard-Barnes‘ death.

Heuermann’s new charges

As well as the four victims mentioned, on June 6, 2024, Rex Heuermann was charged with the 2003 murder of Jessica Taylor, whose skull was found in the Gilgo Beach area in 2011, and long suspected to be a LISK victim, CBS News reported. Taylor — a sex worker, like many of Heuermann’s alleged victims — was 20 years old when she died, and other parts of her body were found in 2003 in a wooded area in Manorville, Long Island, not far from Massapequa Park.

Sandra Costilla, meanwhile, who was 28 when she died in 1993, had not been previously linked to LISK. Her remains were found that year, also in the Manorville area, and now that Heuermann has been charged with Costilla’s murder, authorities now think he may have been killing women much longer than once thought. Authorities said Heuermann’s DNA likely matched DNA taken from hair recovered near both Costilla and Taylor’s bodies.

The Heuermann murder “blueprint”

At the same time Rex Heuermann’s new charges were announced, authorities said they found a digital “planning document” or “blueprint” for murder in a recent search of his house. Included were chilling details of how he planned and executed his killings, with reminders for what to do next time, including to sleep well before the next attack.

In the all-caps document, Heuermann referred to a murder’s aftermath as “playtime,” and the level of callous detail included in the document has helped authorities connect Heuermann to the murders of all six women, based on similarities to how their remains were found, according to the Associated Press.

In 2000, Valerie Mack’s remains were also discovered in the Manorville area, near where Costilla and Taylor’s body parts were recovered, and based on an entry in the “planning document,” Heuermann is now linked to her death. When asked if he was a “suspect,” District Attorney Ray Tierney responded, “That’s fair to say.” Heuermann has pleaded not guilty to all charges.

Cold cases have long fascinated both law enforcement and the public, leaving lingering questions and a sense of injustice. However, recent advancements in forensic technology, combined with persistent investigative efforts, have led to breakthroughs in several unsolved mysteries.

The Golden State Killer

One of the most notorious cold cases in recent history, the hunt for the Golden State Killer spanned decades. This elusive serial rapist and murderer terrorized California in the 1970s and 1980s. In 2018, investigators used DNA evidence and genealogy databases to identify Joseph James DeAngelo as the perpetrator. This groundbreaking approach marked a turning point in cold case investigations, showcasing the power of genetic genealogy in solving crimes.

The Lady of the Dunes

In 2018, Richard Hanchett embarked on a journey to uncover the identity of his birth mother, who had placed him for adoption in 1958. Using Ancestry.com, he submitted his DNA and identified his mother as Ruth Marie Terry from Tennessee.

Tragically, he discovered that she had been reported missing many years ago. Fast forward to 2022, the FBI officially matched the Lady of the Dunes to Ruth Marie Terry through DNA testing. Although her remains had been exhumed in 2000 for DNA collection, it wasn’t until advancements in genetic genealogy that her identity was established. Hanchett, who had initiated the search for his unknown biological mother four years prior, willingly provided a DNA sample at the investigators’ request, confirming Ruth Marie Terry as his biological mother. Subsequent investigations revealed that Guy Rockwell Muldavin, Terry’s now-deceased husband, was likely responsible for her death. Muldavin was also suspected in the deaths of his wife and stepdaughter in 1960.

The Murder of Vickie Lynn Belk

In Charles County, Maryland, authorities have used advanced forensic DNA technology to solve a 44-year-old murder case, providing closure to the family of the victim, Vickie Lynn Belk. A hardworking single parent from a notable Alexandria family, Vickie’s mysterious disappearance and subsequent discovery, raped and shot, haunted her family for decades.

The arrest of 63-year-old Andre Taylor was made possible by new DNA technology, marking a significant development for a family that created a foundation in Vickie’s name, awarding scholarships to over 100 students. For them, the murder had been a persistent cloud, and now, with a name and face attached to the crime, there’s a semblance of closure and progress in the healing process. Taylor had a history with the law, having faced murder charges in 1980 and 1989.

The Long Island Serial Killer

The Long Island Serial Killer case involves the discovery of numerous bodies along Gilgo Beach in New York. Rex Heuermann was charged with murder in the deaths of three victims in 2023 more than 15 years after the first victim disappeared. The charges were brought forth after DNA extracted from a pizza consumed by Heuermann matched a male hair discovered on the remains of one of the victims. The victims identified in the case are Melissa Barthelemy, 24, Megan Waterman, 22, and Amber Costello, 27, whose bodies were discovered along a Long Island beach roadway in 2010. Heuermann entered a plea of not guilty to three counts each of first- and second-degree murder.

The Zodiac Killer

One of the most infamous serial killers in American history, the Zodiac Killer terrorized California during the late 1960s and early 1970s, taunting authorities with cryptic letters and codes. The case remained unsolved for decades until a breakthrough in 2020. Using forensic genealogy, investigators identified Gary Francis Poste as a likely suspect. Though the case is not officially closed, this development represents a significant step forward in demystifying the identity of the Zodiac Killer.

The Boy in the Box

One of America’s oldest unsolved mysteries involves the discovery of an unidentified young boy in a cardboard box in Philadelphia in 1957. Despite extensive efforts to identify the child, the case remained cold for over six decades. In 2022, forensic genealogy played a pivotal role in identifying the boy as 4-year-old Steven Damman. The breakthrough serves as a poignant example of how technology can bring closure to even the oldest and most perplexing cases.

The Bear Brook Murders

In 1985, a hunter stumbled upon two barrels in Bear Brook State Park in Allenstown, New Hampshire, each containing the bodies of a woman and a young girl. The case went cold for years, and the victims remained unidentified until 2019. Breakthroughs in forensic genetic genealogy led to the identification of the victims and the discovery of two additional bodies in a second barrel, unveiling a family mystery spanning decades. The identification of the killer as Terry Peder Rasmussen, known as the “Chameleon Killer,” showcased the power of genetic genealogy in solving complex cases and brought closure to a long-standing enigma.

The Grim Sleeper

Dubbed the “Grim Sleeper” due to the extended periods of apparent dormancy between murders, the case haunted Los Angeles for more than two decades. Lonnie David Franklin Jr. was linked to a series of murders dating back to the 1980s, primarily targeting African-American women. Despite an extended investigation, the trail went cold, leaving the perpetrator at large. In 2010, familial DNA searching and advancements in forensic genealogy brought new leads. By analyzing DNA collected from crime scenes, investigators were able to connect Franklin’s relatives, eventually leading to his arrest. In 2016, Franklin was convicted of ten counts of murder and one count of attempted murder, providing justice to the victims and their families.

The Murder of Valerie Reyes

In 2017, the body of an unidentified woman was discovered in a suitcase near Times Square in New York City, sending shockwaves through the community. The victim, later identified as Valerie Reyes, had been strangled, and the case initially baffled investigators. In 2019, technological advancements in surveillance footage analysis and forensic techniques played a crucial role in identifying Javier da Silva as the perpetrator. Da Silva’s subsequent arrest and confession brought closure to a case that had unnerved residents and underscored the role of modern investigative methods in solving crimes.

The reopening of cold cases is a testament to the relentless pursuit of justice and the evolving capabilities of forensic science. Advancements in DNA technology, forensic genealogy, and a commitment to solving unsolved mysteries have brought closure to some families and renewed hope for others. As technology continues to progress, we can anticipate more breakthroughs in cold case investigations, providing answers to questions that have lingered for years.

Rex Heuermann, aged 60, stands accused of the long-unresolved murders of three women, Melissa Barthelemy (24), Megan Waterman (22), and Amber Lynn Costello (27), after human remains were discovered on Long Island. Heuermann was charged with first-degree murder on July 14, shedding light on cases that had baffled investigators for over a decade.

Former escort-turned-hair stylist Nicole Brass shared a chilling encounter on NBC News that she had with Heuermann eight years ago, expressing little surprise at his arrest. Brass had recounted her eerie experience to people over the years, claiming she went to dinner with the alleged Gilgo Beach killer, but her warnings were often dismissed.

Brass recounted a date with Heuermann, describing him as a divorcee interested in true crime. During their conversation, Heuermann displayed a particular interest in the Gilgo Beach murders, discussing the grim discoveries along Ocean Parkway. Brass found his demeanor alarming, noting a stark contrast between a true crime enthusiast and someone who had a direct connection to the events.

Concerned, Brass took precautions by having a friend wait for her in the restaurant parking lot. When Heuermann invited her to his home near Gilgo Beach, Brass declined, citing discomfort with driving at night. Reflecting on the encounter, Brass emphasized how, in a different scenario, she might not have made it home safely.

A lawyer for Heuermann did not respond to inquiries about Brass’ .

Authorities in Suffolk County have labeled Heuermann as the “prime suspect” in the killing of a fourth sex worker, Maureen Brainard-Barnes (25), according to information from a bail application. The victims’ remains were found along Ocean Parkway, a coastal road on Long Island.

Heuermann, who has two children and faced marital troubles with his wife filing for divorce after his arrest, has pleaded not guilty, vehemently denying any involvement in the murders. Notably, he has not been charged in the disappearance of Shannan Gilbert, a fifth sex worker who vanished in 2010 in Oak Beach, triggering the investigation that led to the discovery of the other victims.

Gilbert’s skeletal remains were found in 2011, with authorities suggesting she may have drowned, while an independent autopsy hinted at strangulation, according to a lawyer representing Gilbert’s family. Heuermann has also not been charged in connection with the deaths of others found along Ocean Parkway, including Jessica Taylor and Valerie Mack.

Suffolk County Police Commissioner Rodney Harrison, in an interview with Dateline, indicated that authorities are still exploring potential links between Heuermann and additional victims found along Ocean Parkway. Investigations are ongoing, and no possibilities are being ruled out.

In August, South Carolina authorities began probing a potential connection between Heuermann and a woman who disappeared in 2017 from Sumter County, east of Columbia.

From around 1996, several women disappeared along U.S. Route 29 in Virginia, and many cases remain unsolved today. The pattern caused some to speculate a serial killer called the Route 29 Stalker could be responsible, and one victim’s family now thinks accused LISK, Rex Heuermann, might be to blame.

In 1996, Alicia Showalter Reynolds, the first possible Route 29 Stalker victim, disappeared while driving from Maryland to Virginia on Route 29. Her body was found two months later, and her murder remains unsolved.

The witness description

According to the Daily Mail, witnesses reported seeing Alicia Showalter Reynolds, then 25, speaking with a clean-cut white man driving a truck. Her car was later found with a white napkin under the windshield wiper, a signal often used to indicate mechanical problems with the vehicle. In Reynold’s case, however, there were none.

Based on witness descriptions, a police sketch artist created a rendering of what the Route 29 Stalker might look like. In July 2023, Rex Heuermann of Long Island was arrested in connection with a series of murders in the Gilgo Beach area, near where Heuermann lived, possibly the work of a serial killer dubbed the Long Island Serial Killer, or LISK.

With Heuermann’s image in the press, Reynolds’ family noticed a similarity between Heuermann and the Route 29 Stalker police sketch and have called for an investigation into whether Heuermann could also be responsible for Reynolds’ death.

Other Heuermann Route 29 connections

As well as possible similarities noticed between Rex Heuermann and the Route 29 stalker police sketch, Heuermann’s mother lives near where Alicia Showalter Reynolds’ body was found, offering further evidence he might have been in the area. Heuermann has itted he traveled to Virginia.

In addition to the women who disappeared, around two dozen others reported they were approached by a man along Route 29 in 1996 or that a man aggressively tried to get them to stop and pull over in the Route 29 area while driving a truck.

That man was reportedly between 35 and 45 years old and wore a wedding ring. Heuermann was 59 when he was arrested in 2023, making him about 32 years old in 1996.

Could Heuermann and Route 29 be connected?

On the likeness between Heuermann and the Route 29 police sketch, Reynolds’ sister, Barbara Josenhan, told The U.S. Sun, “It’s the cheeks, there’s something about the cheeks … I wonder if [Heuermann’s] ever been questioned about it. If he hasn’t, he should be.”

Another possible Route 29 Stalker suspect and known serial killer, Richard Evonitz (pictured above), died by suicide in 2002. The investigation into the 1996 Reynolds murder is ongoing.

Are you worried Rex Heuermann might be lonely while awaiting trial? If the alleged LISK is guilty of even some of the crimes he’s accused of committing, you shouldn’t be. Reports have emerged, though, that Heuermann has a new pen pal, and his new friend’s identity proves that convicted and (alleged) psychopaths have a lot in common.

In July 2023, Heuermann was arrested in connection with a series of murders near Gilgo Beach on Long Island and linked to several more sets of human remains found in the area. Collectively, the crimes Heuermann is accused and suspected of have come to be known as the Gilgo Beach murders, and many speculate a serial killer dubbed the Long Island Serial Killer, or LISK, could be responsible.

Heuermann was a 59-year-old New York architect when he was arrested, and once in custody, some think at least some of the Gilgo Beach murders might be solved, according to The New York Times.

Heuermann’s new friend is the “Happy Face Killer”

News of accused LISK Rex Heuermann‘s new pen pal came from Keith Jesperson, the “Happy Face Killer,” on The Lighter Side of Serial Killers podcast, hosted by Keith Rover. Jespersen is serving a life sentence in Oregon for the murders of at least eight women, The Independent reports.

Like many serial killers, Heuermann taunted law enforcement and the media with letters marked with happy faces, hence the nickname. And if you were born this century, “pen pal” is a 1900s term for a friendship maintained through letters, like a social media friend through snail mail.

Heuermann and Jespersen have a lot to talk about

From an Oregon prison, Jespersen appeared on The Lighter Side of Serial Killers podcast and said Heuermann wrote him several letters, at least one dated about a month after his arrest. Heuermann talked about life in jail and said he suspected his mail was read. Jespersen wrote Heuermann first, and Heuermann said he was the only person he had responded to. Jespersen also showed the letter to Florida authorities investigating a murder he is suspected of in their area.

In one letter, Heuermann wrote:

“I have gotten a number of [letters] asking for interviews, to be friends, pen-pals, and one guy who sent me three letters asking me to write back to add to his collection of letters.”

In response, Jespersen encouraged Heuermann to confess to be transferred to prison more quickly, where conditions are better, he said.

And referring to Jespersen’s response, Heuermann added:

“I do understand what you have said and taken it to heart” (via The Independent).

Good to know, we guess?

The Gilgo Beach murder trial is well underway, and true crime fans are glued to their seats. Not only has Asa Ellerup, the ex-wife of the accused Rex Heuermann, managed to cash in on the whole ordeal with a million-dollar documentary series, but he is also reportedly a millionaire in his own right.

Heuermann stands accused of killing three women, and a possible fourth lacks enough evidence to try. Despite the police’s best efforts and extensive sweep of the house didn’t turn up as much trial-specific evidence as prosecutors were hoping.

What was found in Rex Heuermann’s home?

One thing is for sure, the authorities absolutely mangled the family’s Massapequa home. Ceilings and walls were sawed through, every container in the house upturned, and the backyard ripped to shreds.  The back deck of the home was dismantled to allow authorities to search underneath it. The bathtub was sawed in half and the drainpipes removed – even the bathroom sink was taken as evidence. Investigators are looking for evidence to the idea that Heuermann killed one or more of his victims in the home. The Police Commissioner, Rodney Harrison, declared the investigation a “fruitful” one.

All that remains for his estranged family is a nightmare mess and the broken remnants of what was once a happy family home.

The most disturbing piece of evidence collected was from a reportedly soundproof room in the basement – though Heuermann’s lawyer claimed it was simply a room to store the collection of almost 300 guns. Authorities later disputed the “soundproof” claims, saying they believed that the gun vault’s true purpose was lost in translation. Less than half of the firearms collection is legal.

What any of these items mean for the trial has yet to be seen, but the daughter of the “Happy Face” killer has set up a GoFundMe to help rebuild their lives.

Ever since Rex Heuermann was arrested in July 2023, his family has been suffering. The former Manhattan architect is the primary suspect in the Gilgo Beach murders, a grisly set of homicides spanning from 2014 – 2022. The women, all in the prime of their lives, we found just a few miles away from Heuermann’s childhood home, where he lived with his unsuspecting wife Asa Ellerup, his stepson, and his daughter.  

Asa Ellerup might not fully believe her husband was capable of such horrific things, but she’s definitely being proactive – just 6 days after Heuermann was arrested, Ellerup filed for divorce.

Who is Asa Ellerup?

Asa Ellerup is the ex-wife of Rex Heuermann. The 59-year-old has kept incredibly mum since news broke about her husband, and little is known about her personal life. She’s a native of Farmingdale, New York where she lived for most of her life. She attended college in Long Island, but her degree is unknown. Most recently she worked at the Long Island Jewish Medical Center, but other than that, Ellerup is a mystery.

Since his arrest, she has spoken to him via phone call but has made no attempts to visit him in jail. She was left “depressed and Traumatized” after authorities raided her home for evidence. The families home was left in a horrific state after the search, which, turned up no human remains on property.

While female DNA was found in the key piece of evidence for the case, Ellerup’s lawyer claims that she was never involved. No charges have been levied against her at the time of this article.  

What happened with Asa Ellerup in Court?

While Ellerup adopted a stance of silence after her husband’s arrest, she’s finally speaking out about her experience. Well, maybe “speaking out” isn’t the right way to phrase it. Ellerup has refused to speak to the media in the months since her former husband was charged. Instead, she is leveraging the misfortune into a small fortune. The recently divorced 59-year-old sold the rights to her story to a documentary crew for a whopping $1 million. The crew will follow her throughout the trial, and she is under contract to appear in court every day while they film.  

When Heuermann appeared in the courtroom on Monday, Ellerup offered him the barest hint of a smile. Her ex-husband’s lawyer isn’t sure if his client actually saw Ellerup, but he knows Heuermann appreciated her presence saying, “…They were married for so many years, and they raised a family together. And my understanding is, is that she doesn’t believe that he was capable or committed these acts.”

She may still have faith in her husband of more than 25 years, but Ellerup is ready to face the evidence and decide for herself. Since his arrest, she has spoken to him via phone call, but has made no attempts to visit him in jail. Despite the lucrative payout coming her family’s way, Ellerup can use all the help she can get.

Though her ex-husband is said to be worth millions, Ellerup’s recent struggles with breast and skin cancer have quickly drained her remaining funds. She also has a special needs adult son, who remains in her care. Add that to the absolutely horrendous state her home was left in after police finished their search, and it’s doubtless the money is going to help her rebuild her and her children’s lives.