A Long Island architect accused in a string of long-unsolved slayings known as the Gilgo Beach killings is expected to plead guilty on Wednesday, closing a case that has bedeviled investigators, agonized victims' relatives, and captivated a true-crime obsessed public for years.
Rex Heuermann, 62, is charged with murdering seven women, many of them sex workers, over a 17-year span. A guilty plea would result in a life sentence in prison.
Heuermann's decision to plead guilty has been confirmed by three anonymous sources familiar with the matter. He is expected to be sentenced at a later date.
Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney has scheduled a news conference for Wednesday afternoon, following a morning hearing, where he will be joined by victims' families and members of the Gilgo Beach Homicide Investigation Task Force, which cracked the case using evidence such as DNA from a discarded pizza crust.
Heuermann's attorney has not responded to requests for comment.
The Gilgo Beach investigation began in earnest in 2010 when police discovered several sets of human remains along a remote beach highway on Long Island’s South Shore, triggering a search for a potential serial killer.
In total, the remains of six victims were found along Ocean Parkway near Gilgo Beach, including Melissa Barthelemy, Maureen Brainard-Barnes, and Megan Waterman. The investigation intensified over the years, yet efforts to solve the case faced numerous setbacks.
Investigators used DNA and other evidence to connect the victims and identify leads. Heuermann was ultimately identified as a suspect through a vehicle database connection and extensive investigation that included tracking his online behavior and DNA sampling from pizza crusts.
Following his arrest in July 2023, detectives searched his property, uncovering numerous weapons and evidence suggesting a calculated plan for the murders. Advanced DNA techniques were also pivotal in strengthening the case against Heuermann.
This plea is poised to provide a sense of closure to victims' families and the broader community, which has been waiting for answers for over a decade.
