Probes into Gilgo Beach serial killings suspect Rex Heuermann now reach across the country as investigators are examining his connections to Las Vegas and South Carolina, where the suspect has owned property.
In Las Vegas, police are sifting through their roster of unsolved cases for any sign that Heuermann may have been involved. Property records obtained by CNN show that Heuermann and his wife purchased two timeshare condos in Las Vegas between 2003 and 2005, but it is unclear whether they still own the second property.
Heuermann, a 59-year-old architect and father of two, was arrested last week in New York City and charged with the murders of three of the “Gilgo Four,” a group of four women whose remains were found along a short stretch of Long Island’s Gilgo Beach in 2010. He has pleaded not guilty in the murders of Melissa Barthelemy, Megan Waterman, and Amber Costello. He remains the prime suspect in the killing of the fourth victim, Maureen Brainard-Barnes, but has yet to be charged in the case.
Authorities are operating under the assumption that Heuermann may have continued his alleged killing spree after the bodies of the Gilgo Four were discovered. They are scouring his home, office, and storage unit for evidence. Heuermann’s connections to Las Vegas and South Carolina are also being investigated.
In South Carolina, tax records show that Heuermann owns four large parcels of land in Chester County. The sheriff’s office in that county has been gathering evidence for the Gilgo Beach investigative task force since before Heuermann’s arrest. Authorities were seen towing a truck belonging to Heuermann’s brother last week, and a Chevy Avalanche truck seized from the property is being combed for evidence.
The multi-agency cold case task force is actively investigating whether Heuermann may have had more victims. They are reviewing tips and new evidence and searching for forensic evidence in Heuermann’s home. They are also looking for possible souvenirs kept from the killings.
So far, the search of Heuermann’s home has revealed a cache of between 200 and 300 firearms hoarded in a vault behind a locked metal door. This is significantly more than the 92 firearms authorities initially knew Heuermann had registered in the state.
Prosecutors have detailed a trove of evidence used to connect Heuermann to at least three of the Gilgo Four killings, including credit card bills, cell phone data, and DNA evidence. The four victims’ bodies were found bound in camouflaged burlap along the same quarter-mile stretch of Ocean Parkway. They had all worked as escorts and advertised their services on Craigslist.
It took over a decade for investigators to match DNA from a male hair found on the burlap wrapping to a sample of Heuermann’s DNA. Heuermann’s use of burner phones to contact the victims was also a crucial piece of evidence. Investigators were able to use cell phone and credit card records to place Heuermann in the general location when the phones were used to call the victims.
Heuermann remains the prime suspect in the killing of Maureen Brainard-Barnes, but authorities say it may take some time to bring a charge in that case. The hair follicle investigators have as evidence has been damaged and needs to undergo DNA testing. Police Commissioner Rodney Harrison said, “It’s a very good thing that we got this animal off the streets.”