Alleged so-called Long Island Serial Killer Rex Heuermann went before State Supreme Court Justice Timothy Mazzei in Riverhead today and was charged in two additional murders in the growing list that brings the count to six in total.
According to court records received by LITrueCrime.com, Heuermann was indicted on the murders of Jessica Taylor, who authorities say was killed in July 2003 and Sandra Costilla, whose death tracks back to November 1993. All of the previous murders occurred between 2007 and 2010. This extends the killing spree over 30 years.
Previously, Heuermann was indicted for the murders of Melissa Barthelemy, Megan Waterman, Amber Costello, and Maureen Brainard-Barnes.
Investigators say that Taylor was a sex worker in Manhattan when she disappeared in July 2003. Court documents show that Taylor’s skull, hands, and forearm were discovered along Ocean Parkway on March 29, 2011 just east of Gilgo Beach, Her remains were located on the same side of the road and less than a mile away from where Maureen Brainard-Barnes, Melissa Barthelemy, Megan Waterman, and Amber Costello had been found just several months prior in December 2010.
The Gilgo Homicide Task Force established that Heuermann’s wife and children were out of state at the time of Taylor’s disappearance and murder. Court documents say that this is “a consistent theme attributable to the Defendant for each of the charged homicides thus far, which would have allowed the Defendant unfettered time and opportunity to execute these crimes.”
Costilla’s remains were discovered by two hunters in a wooded area in Southampton in November 1993. She was 28-years old at the time. Costilla was a native of Trinidad and Tobago but had been living in New York prior to her disappearance and murder.
Among the evidence presented was a digital file that investigators retrieved from a computer in Heuermann’s home that seemed to outline a plan on how to avoid getting caught, including a list of problems, supplies, amd others like DS, which investigators think might stand for dump site, and TRG, which appears to be a reference to target or victim. The investigators also found a “significant collection of violent, bondage, and torture pornography, currently dating back to 1994” on devices taken from his house.
“We are not going to stop,” said Ray Tierney on continuing the investigation of other murders. “We can’t stop. We owe that to the victims.”
Update via the live stream of a press conference by Ray Tierney via his Instagram account:
- “This whole case in general is alarming.” – Ray Tierney
- “Meticulously planned and executed 6 murders.” – Ray Tierney
- On more charges:Tierney said he would talk about them “when and if we bring those charges.”
- A document found at Heuermann’s home outlines thoughts of the alleged murderer was discovered March 7, 2024
- Heuermann’s document referenced specific page numbers that match up to the book Mindhunter by John Douglas: “Referinging to use as a means to improve his methodology and avoid being captured by authorities.” – Ray Tierney
- He allegedly used the book to improve his tactics and took notes
- Tierney said Heuermann was “obsessively searching” for pornography
- On whether there are other suspects? “[Evidence] points to the defendant acting alone.”
This story is still unfolding and we will update with more information as it becomes available.
