The accused Gilgo Beach serial murderer was charged with murder again on Tuesday, increasing the total number of alleged victims to seven, all of whom were women who were killed close to New York City.
According to court documents, a hair belonging to suspect Rex Heuermann’s wife or daughter was discovered close to victim Valerie Mack’s left wrist. Mack is 24 years old.
Heuermann’s estranged wife is not regarded as a suspect in any of these killings, and their daughter would have been four years old when Mack was killed.
Prior to the discovery of her skeletal remains in November 2000, Mack was employed as an escort.
According to authorities, Mack’s killer sliced off her right leg, which bore a tattoo of her son’s name.
Prosecutors claim that notes discovered on the suspect’s computer, referred to as his “planning document,” were made “for the removal of identifying marks on the victim’s body,” including tattoos, “prior to packaging the body for transportation.”
The killer allegedly severed “Mack’s lower right leg at mid-calf to inhibit and/or delay the identification of Ms. Mack’s tattoo and therefore, Ms. Mack,” according to court documents filed by the prosecution.
Numerous victims were prostitutes who supposedly met Heuermann after promoting their services.
“The lives of these women matter,” Ray Tierney, the district attorney for Suffolk County, told reporters in Riverhead.
As investigators, we are aware of that. Families are obviously the ones who understand it the best. Therefore, once more, we are incredibly happy, humbled, and grateful to have the opportunity to work with these families.”
Heuermann denied any role in the killings of the woman and the disposal of her remains, which were discovered on Long Island’s southern shore, during a brief court appearance on Tuesday.
“I am innocent of all these charges, your honor,” he added.
According to police, investigators are still looking into other unsolved homicides in the area to see if Heuermann is connected to them.
According to Tierney, a “army” of investigations is pursuing a large number of cold cases in the area, and it’s impossible to predict how many potential victims might be out there.
“We said, we are not limiting this investigation to Gilgo Beach,” Tierney stated. “We’ve moved off of the beach.”
Prosecutors addressed reporters while the relatives of many victims stood behind them.
Gloria Allred, a lawyer who represents the families of multiple victims, stated, “Let’s be clear, none of the victims deserve to die,” “They were merely attempting to make some money to sustain themselves and their families, and they were all innocent. Every day they are missed, loved, and remembered.
According to officials, Heuermann was charged after Mack’s close ones were kept informed about the investigation.
“They are very grateful,” Tierney stated. “They are very grateful for the small bit of closure that the task force has been able to provide.”
Mack’s accusation follows Heuermann’s alleged murders of Melissa Barthelemy, Megan Waterman, Amber Costello, Maureen Brainard-Barnes, Sandra Costilla, and Jessica Taylor by Suffolk County prosecutors.
According to officials, Costello and Waterman were killed in 2010, Brainard-Barnes in 2007, Barthelemy in 2009, Taylor in 2003, and Costilla in 1993.
In July 2023, Heuermann, an architect from New York City, was arrested and first charged with the murders of Barthelemy, Waterman, and Costello.
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