Authorities in New York express satisfaction with the apparent surprise of Rex Heuermann upon his arrest in connection with the Gilgo Beach murders. Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney believes Heuermann didn't anticipate being apprehended despite his online scrutiny of the investigation.
Heuermann, a 59-year-old Manhattan architect, is accused of killing three of the "Gilgo Four" in 2010 and is the prime suspect in the fourth woman's death. Tierney revealed Heuermann's extensive Google searches related to the investigation, including queries about phone evidence and the victims themselves. He even reportedly searched for information about the victims' families and made disturbing comments online.
A crucial turning point in the case came from a witness description of a large individual driving a Chevy Avalanche seen with victim Amber Costello before her disappearance. This description, coupled with DNA evidence from a pizza Heuermann consumed, linked him to the crimes. Hair samples found on the victims matched Heuermann and his wife's DNA profiles.
Further solidifying the case against Heuermann, investigators uncovered phone records connecting him to the murders through burner phones and cellphone tower pings matching calls made to the victims. These pings placed him in Massapequa Park, where he lives, and Midtown Manhattan, where he works, aligning with locations relevant to the case.
Following Heuermann's arrest, authorities conducted a thorough search of his Massapequa Park residence, located near where 11 sets of human remains were discovered. Heuermann has pleaded not guilty and faces life in prison without parole if convicted. The investigation into the death of Maureen Brainard-Barnes, in which Heuermann is the primary suspect, remains active.
