Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney announced on Tuesday that Massapequa Park resident Rex Heuermann, the man who has been charged with the murders of three sex workers on Gilgo Beach, New York, has been charged with a fourth killing after evidence in the form of DNA from his daughter’s discarded energy drink can assisted in tying the suspect to the killings.
Heuermann, 59, made national headlines when he was arrested on July 13, 2023, as a suspect in the Gilgo Beach case; he was charged the following day in the murders of three of “the Gilgo Four” victims: Amber Lynn Costello, 27, Melissa Barthelemy, 24, and Megan Waterman, 22.
On Tuesday, DA Tierney unsealed additional charges against Heuermann at the Suffolk County Courthouse in Riverhead, tying him to the murder of Maureen Brainard-Barnes, 25, a fourth woman whose remains were discovered near Gilgo Beach; Heuermann was already the prime suspect in her death.
Tierney noted that Heuermann may have have been responsible for other victims discovered at Gilgo Beach, although he is not currently suspected in the deaths of all 11 individuals whose remains have been discovered there between the years of 1996 and 2011.
Heuermann, who attended Tuesday’s court appearance, pleaded not guilty to the new charges. Also in attendance was Asa Ellerup, his estranged wife who filed for divorce after her husband was initially charged in July.
Heuermann’s attorney, Michael Brown, later said at a news briefing that his client intended to prove his innocence in a court of law.
“He’s looking forward to fighting these charges and we’re doing that,” Brown said.
DA Tierney also held a news conference after the new charges were unsealed, saying that the fourth victim, suspected sex worker Maureen Brainard-Barnes, was a good person who was mounred by her family, including a daughter who was only 7 years-old at the time of her disappearance.
“She was a devoted sister, mother, daughter,” Tierney said. “She is sorely missed by those that loved her. It has been an honor and a privilege to work these cases and provide that small measure of closure for the family members.”
According to court documents released by the DA ‘s office Tuesday, Heuermann was tied to Brainard-Barnes’ murder via hair discovered on the buckle of one of his belts.
The documents also noted other evidence that authorities used to implicate the former NYC architect to the killings he has been accused of, including cellphone data, DNA obtained from a discarded slice of pizza, and even DNA from a can of Java Monster energy drink discarded by his 26-year-old daughter after undercover officers followed her onto a Long Island Rail Road train.
The documents also revealed other disturbing information about Heuermann, including an internet search history on his computers rife with violent, bondage, and torture pornography, in addition to numerous searches related to prostitution.
Heuermann is due back in court on February 6.
