The Suffolk County police are currently investigating new witness accounts that have emerged, connecting Rex Heuermann, the accused Gilgo Beach serial killer, to the unsolved deaths of two sex workers, Shannan Gilbert and Karen Vergata.
Attorney John Ray, accompanied by Suffolk County Police Commissioner Rodney Harrison, held a press conference on Wednesday to discuss their decision to come ahead after Heuermann's arrest for the murder of three sex workers in July, as per New York Post.
Gilgo Beach Killer's Victims
The case began with the discovery of Shannan Gilbert's disappearance, which ultimately led to a chilling revelation. Though police initially believed Gilbert's death was accidental, her vanishing act unraveled a string of grim discoveries, unveiling a total of ten sets of human remains.
Four sets were found at Gilgo Beach in December 2010, while six more, including Karen Vergata's, were recovered along Ocean Parkway the following spring. In July, police arrested Rex Heuermann, a disgraced architect, in Manhattan, suspecting him in the 2009 and 2010 murders of three women at Gilgo Beach: Melissa Barthelemy, 24; Megan Waterman, 22; and Amber Lynn Costello, 27.
Heuermann has pleaded not guilty to these charges and is also the prime suspect in the death of 25-year-old Maureen Brainard-Barnes, though he has not been charged in connection with her death. The new evidence is linked to two other women, Karen Vergata and Shannan Gilbert, whose remains were discovered across Long Island.
The first witness is described as a 'swinger' in the New York City sex club scene. In her chilling testimony, she recalls a night in February 1996 when she visited Heuermann's house for a swingers party, accompanied by her police partner.
She claims to have had an uneasy feeling about leaving a frightened woman, identified as Karen Vergata, behind at Heuermann's home that night. Vergata's remains were identified as the seventh victim in the Gilgo Beach murders in August 2023.
The second witness, a single mother and female banker who worked as a taxi driver at night, recounted a disturbing encounter with a young woman, later identified as Shannan Gilbert, who had escaped from a motel where Heuermann was involved in her exploitation, according to Crime Online.
New Witnesses Shed Light on the Long Island Serial Killer Case
The witness remembered Gilbert's unusual eye droop, and her testimony may provide crucial insights into the circumstances leading up to Gilbert's disappearance. The third witness, a former street walker from Oklahoma, shared her harrowing experience with Heuermann, who allegedly assaulted her before releasing her.
Her account suggests Heuermann's propensity for violence and exploitation of sex workers. The fourth witness, also a sex worker, claimed to have serviced Heuermann numerous times during the period when the killings occurred. Her statements indicate that Heuermann was a frequent user of sex workers, even bringing them to his home while his wife was upstairs.
These new witnesses and their sworn statements add significant weight to the ongoing investigation, providing fresh perspectives and potentially crucial leads for law enforcement. Suffolk County Police Commissioner Rodney Harrison will attend an upcoming press conference to shed further light on the new evidence.
The Long Island serial killer case has perplexed investigators for years, and while these new developments are promising, it remains uncertain whether they will lead to a breakthrough. District Attorney John Ray acknowledged the challenges faced by law enforcement and the difficulty of predicting when the case will be solved.
The press conference also served as a reminder for potential witnesses to come forward and speak to the police, rather than reaching out to private attorneys with an interest in the case's outcome. Rex Heuermann, who has been charged with the deaths of Melissa Barthelemy, Megan Waterman, and Amber Costello, is at the center of this ongoing investigation.
With the new evidence and witnesses coming forward, there is renewed hope that the elusive Long Island serial killer may finally be brought to justice, bringing closure to the families of the victims and the community that has been haunted by these unsolved murders for years, Mail Online reported.
