RIVERHEAD, N.Y. – Rex Heuermann, a suspect in the murders of three Long Island sex workers and a potential suspect in a fourth, is set to appear in Suffolk County Supreme Court next week, fueling speculation that he may face charges in a new killing. He has already pleaded not guilty to the murders of three women whose remains were discovered on Long Island more than a decade ago. He was also named as a suspect in the murder of Maureen Brainard-Barnes, whose body was found alongside the others in December 2010.
Though the reason for the new court date has not been confirmed, prosecutors had previously mentioned that a grand jury was being asked to consider an indictment in the killing of Brainard-Barnes. Heuermann, 60, has been held without bail since his arrest. The victims, who all worked as escorts advertising their services on Craigslist, were found on a desolate stretch of Long Island beach. The remains were wrapped in camouflage burlap and bound with belts or red tape.
Heuermann was linked to the killings through DNA evidence found on the burlap, which was compared to samples taken from discarded items outside his Manhattan architectural firm. The samples were a 99.96 percent match. The suspect has been accused of using multiple burner phones to contact each of his victims and of using one victim’s phone to make taunting calls to her family. He has also been linked to the deaths of two additional sex workers. The suspect’s ex-wife, Asa Ellerup, filed for divorce less than a week after his arrest.
The families of the victims have criticized Ellerup for accepting a $1 million documentary deal related to the case. Authorities have also ransacked the family home during their investigation. Heuermann had previously been placed on suicide watch but has since been described as emotionless. The suspect’s next court date is scheduled for February 6 for a conference on the original indictment. He is expected to appear before Justice Timothy Mazzei.