In the extensive case, the New York architect accused of murder in the Gilgo Beach crimes is contesting the DNA evidence used against him and requesting two trials.
Rex Heuermann’s attorneys contend that the DNA evidence used by the prosecution should not be used in the trial since it is not generally acknowledged in the scientific world. Additionally, the defense team for the Long Island resident seeks to divide the case against him into several trials.
The remains of at least ten people, predominantly female prostitutes, were found along a remote highway near Gilgo Beach on the south shore of Long Island, and authorities have been looking into their deaths since late 2010.
In 2023, Heuermann was taken into custody and accused with the murders of Melissa Barthelemy, Amber Lynn Costello, and Megan Waterman, who perished between 2009 and 2010.
He was then charged with the murders of Sandra Costilla in 1993, Maureen Brainard-Barnes in 2007, Jessica Taylor in 2003, and Valerie Mack in 2000 while he was in detention.
Huermann entered a not guilty plea to all counts and has insisted on his innocence.
Following a court hearing on Wednesday, Heuermann’s lawyer, Michael Brown, stated that his client could be wrongfully convicted due to the cumulative effect of the evidence presented by the prosecution.
Additionally, he stated that there is a significant discrepancy in the evidence supporting some of the fatalities, citing varying time periods, methods of death, and places where the remains were disposed of.
According to Brown, the risk of having victim after victim and count after count in the same trial is that “if there’s smoke, there’s fire mentality.” It is not advisable to try them together. There is no connection between the two problems.
In a brief response to the DNA challenge submitted on Wednesday, prosecutors stated that they would address the demand for two trials at a later date. The next court date for Heuermann is February 18.
Prosecutors have presented several important pieces of evidence in the case, including DNA results from hair strands discovered at three of the crime scenes.
Ray Tierney, the district attorney for Suffolk County, has defended the DNA research and stated that his office will not support separate trials.
Prosecutors contended in their brief on Wednesday that the whole genome sequencing method used in the case has been approved by federal authorities, virologists, paleontologists, and the medical community in addition to peer-reviewed scientific journals.
Prosecutors claimed that mitochondrial DNA testing, a technique that has long been approved by New York courts, independently supported the conclusions made by the California lab Astrea Forensics.
Prosecutors noted that whole genome sequencing allows for more thorough DNA collection and analysis. There doesn’t seem to be any doubt about its acceptance in the relevant scientific community given how frequently it is utilized for forensic, medicinal, and scientific purposes.
Heuermann allegedly kept a blueprint of his alleged crimes on his computer, according to the prosecution, which contained a number of checklists with chores to perform prior to, during, and following the killings as well as useful lessons for the future.