New York police have apprehended a suspect believed to be connected to the unsolved murders of at least 10 women, whose bodies were discovered on Long Island’s Gilgo Beach over a decade ago. Law enforcement sources have confirmed that the individual taken into custody is Rex Heuermann, as reported by CBS News. In a morning raid, officers descended upon a dilapidated red house in Massapequa, where Heuermann resided. Neighbors described the house as conspicuous due to its overgrown shrubs and disrepair, expressing feelings of unease towards it. The breakthrough in the investigation comes more than a year after the release of a crucial piece of evidence—a 911 call made by Shannan Gilbert shortly before her disappearance in 2010.
The hunt for the perpetrator, commonly known as the “Long Island serial killer,” gained momentum following the discovery of additional remains on Gilgo Beach in December of the same year. These remains were identified as those of Maureen Brainard-Barnes, who went missing in 2007, Melissa Barthelemy in 2009, and Megan Waterman and Amber Costello, both reported missing in 2010. Subsequently, six more sets of remains were found along Ocean Parkway the following spring, collectively referred to as the “Gilgo Four.” The Suffolk County Police Department released the complete audio of Shannan Gilbert’s 911 call and other evidence, hoping to elicit new leads in the investigation. Despite declaring Gilbert’s death as non-murder and unlikely to be criminal, authorities expressed optimism that the released information would aid in solving the long-standing mystery.
Suffolk County Police Commissioner Rodney Harrison commended the progress made in the case in May 2022, announcing a doubled reward of $50,000 for information related to the Gilgo Beach murders. The recent arrest of Rex Heuermann has provided a significant breakthrough in the investigation that had puzzled law enforcement for over a dozen years. As investigators swarmed Heuermann’s residence, neighbors described him as an incongruous figure—an individual who appeared as a businessman commuting daily to New York City, while residing in a rundown house. The arrest of Heuermann has renewed hope for justice for the victims and their families, as authorities continue to gather evidence and seek further leads to bring closure to this notorious crime spree.
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