Rex Heuermann
Architect Rex Heuermann was arrested in July 2023 for the Gilgo Beach serial killings. DNA from pizza crusts and digital evidence linked him to victims dating back to the late 1990s.
On July 14, 2023, Rex Heuermann, a 59-year-old architect from Massapequa Park, Long Island, was arrested and charged with the murders of three women whose remains were found near Gilgo Beach in 2010. He was later charged with additional murders.
Heuermann had hidden in plain sight for over a decade. He commuted to Manhattan for work, lived with his wife and children in a suburban home, and appeared to be an ordinary professional.
The breakthrough came from DNA evidence obtained from pizza crusts discarded by Heuermann, matched against DNA found on a burlap sack containing one victim. Digital forensics revealed burner phones used to contact victims.
Heuermann was initially charged with four murders: Melissa Barthelemy, Megan Waterman, Amber Costello, and Maureen Brainard-Barnes. Additional charges followed for Jessica Taylor and Sandra Costilla.
Curated starting points for verifying and researching this case. Direct references are checked; search links are provided as further-reading aids. ColdCaseIndex is an index of public information — see a case correction? Email info@coldcaseindex.com.
Have Information About This Case?
Cold cases are solved when someone comes forward. Even a detail that seems minor can matter. If you have any information about this case, contact law enforcement through one of these channels:
- FBI Tips (tips.fbi.gov) — submit a tip online to the Federal Bureau of Investigation
- FBI Tip Line: 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324)
- The local police department or sheriff's office in New York, or the state bureau of investigation
Tips can usually be submitted anonymously. To report an error on this page, email info@coldcaseindex.com.