RIVERHEAD, N.Y. – Alleged serial killer Rex Heuermann is set to appear in court next week on Long Island where he is expected to face charges in the death of a fourth woman. This comes after her remains were discovered in a marshy area near Gilgo Beach, according to multiple sources familiar with the case.
Heuermann is already accused of killing three women whose bodies were found wrapped in burlap in close proximity. Prosecutors have identified him as the prime suspect in the death of a fourth woman, Maureen Brainard-Barnes. He has pleaded not guilty to killing Megan Waterman, Melissa Barthelemy, and Amber Costello, and is currently being held without bail.
During his court appearance in Riverhead on Tuesday, prosecutors are expected to announce that a grand jury has returned an indictment charging him with a fourth murder, the sources said. Brainard-Barnes was found wrapped with a belt that had a distinctive buckle bearing the initials WH, which prosecutors believe could stand for Heuermann’s father.
Investigators linked Heuermann, an architect, to the women, all of whom were sex workers, through DNA evidence, including a sample taken from a pizza crust in the trash outside his Manhattan office. The Suffolk County District Attorney’s office, which is handling the prosecution, has not commented on the case.
The discovery of the fourth victim’s remains further deepens the mystery surrounding the unsolved deaths of six other Gilgo Beach victims. The case has continued to raise questions and concerns about the safety of the area, leaving the community on edge as authorities work to bring closure to the victims and their families.
As the legal proceedings against Heuermann move forward, the case remains a stark reminder of the ongoing efforts to seek justice for the victims of these tragic and senseless crimes. It is a story that continues to unfold, with the hope that the truth will eventually come to light as the justice system works to hold those responsible accountable for their actions.