Gilgo Beach Serial Killer Update: Police Eliminate Some Evidence

Officials began returning some of the items seized from accused serial killer Rex Heuermann’s Long Island home and storage units to his family last month.
Heuermann, 60, is facing multiple murder charges in the killings of six women from the 1990s to 2011. He was initially charged in the deaths of the “Gilgo Four,” Maureen Brainard-Barnes, Melissa Barthelemy, Megan Waterman and Amber Lynn Costello. The women’s remains were found near Gilgo Beach in New York more than a decade ago.
Additional murder charges were added for the killings of Jessica Taylor and Sandra Costilla in June.
The items were initially taken as potential evidence from Heuermann’s Massapequa Park home and storage units he was renting.
“The family is thankful and relieved that they’re starting to get some of their personal property back,” Bob Macedonio, the attorney for Heuermann’s estranged wife, Asa Ellerup, told Newsday.
Macedonio said the returned items will not be used in evidence in the case.
“We’ve been in constant contact with the district attorney’s office, and last month we started to receive the return of personal items that prosecutors determined did not have evidentiary value in the prosecution of Rex Heuermann,” he said.
Newsweek reached out to Macedonio for comment.
Suffolk County officials searched the residence for the first time in the summer of 2023 after he was arrested and charged with the deaths of Costello, Waterman and Barthelemy. Police said they found a “huge list” of items at the time, including more than 200 weapons.
During that time, officials also searched two Omega Storage lockers in Amityville.
Law enforcement searched the home again in May of this year.
Heuermann is expected to appear before New York Supreme Court Justice Timothy Mazzei on October 16. The Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office previously told Newsweek that Mazzei “made it clear” that Heuermann must be present at every hearing “just in case.”
At the last hearing on July 30, prosecutors shared “voluminous” amounts of evidence with the defense including DNA records, data from electronic devices and notes from searches of his home.
A date for the trial has not been set. Heuermann is being held without bail in Suffolk County Jail in Riverhead.
Several other bodies were found near Gilgo Beach, including some that have not been identified. Last month, officials asked for the public’s help in identifying one of the victims, known as “Asian Doe.” The body of the unidentified Asian person was discovered in 2011. The victim was a biological male but wearing women’s clothing. The victim was likely of Han Chinese descent. No suspects have been named.
Anyone with information is urged to contact Crimestoppers at 1-800-220-TIPS, or via email or mobile app at https://suffolkpd.org/Alerts/Crime-Stoppers. Tips can be submitted in an individual’s native language and translators are available. A reward of up to $2,500 is being offered for information leading to the identification of “Asian Doe.”
Do you have a story Newsweek should be covering? Do you have any questions about this story? Contact [email protected]