Gilgo Beach Killings Timeline: Rex Heuermann Murder Case

Rex Heuermann, a New York architect, faces murder charges for the Gilgo Beach killings, a series of deaths spanning from 1993 to 2010. After a decade-long investigation, he was arrested in 2023 and is set to stand trial in 2025 for seven murders.

The Initial Disappearances

• Multiple women, primarily sex workers advertising on Craigslist, went missing on Long Island over nearly two decades.
• Key victims include:
  • Sandra Costilla (1993)
  • Valerie Mack (2000)
  • Jessica Taylor (2003)
  • Maureen Brainard-Barnes (2007)
  • Melissa Barthelemy (2009)
  • Megan Waterman (2010)
  • Amber Costello (2010)

Discovery of the Gilgo Four

• In December 2010, during the search for Shannan Gilbert, police found remains of Melissa Barthelemy along Ocean Parkway.
• Two days later, remains of Maureen Brainard-Barnes, Megan Waterman, and Amber Costello were discovered nearby, wrapped in camouflaged burlap.
• These four victims became known as the "Gilgo Four."

Cold Case and Renewed Investigation

• The case went cold for over a decade, with police corruption issues in 2015 leading to FBI involvement.
• In 2020, a black leather belt embossed with "WH" or "HM" was released as potential evidence.
• A multiagency task force formed in 2022, using DNA analysis and surveillance to identify Rex Heuermann as a suspect.

Arrest and Additional Charges

• Heuermann was arrested on July 13, 2023, and charged with three murders.
• By June 2024, he faced seven murder charges, including all Gilgo Four victims and others from 1993 and 2003.
• DNA evidence, such as hair samples and a pizza crust, linked him to the crime scenes.

Trial and Legal Proceedings

• Heuermann has pleaded not guilty to all charges.
• In September 2025, a judge ruled that whole genome sequencing DNA evidence is admissible at trial.
• The trial, starting in September 2025, will handle all seven charges in one proceeding.

Other Victims and Ongoing Queries

• Additional remains found include a toddler, her mother, and "Asian Doe," but direct links to Heuermann are unconfirmed.
• Authorities continue to seek public assistance in identifying other potential victims.