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Biography[]
The Long Island Serial Killer (LISK), also known as the Gilgo Beach Killer, is an unidentified (or possibly identified) individual responsible for a series of unsolved murders discovered along the South Shore of Long Island, New York. The crimes date back to the early 2000s and have left investigators and the public searching for answers.
Discovery of Bodies[]
The investigation began in December 2010 when a police officer and his cadaver dog were searching for a missing woman, Shannan Gilbert, in the Gilgo Beach area. Instead of finding Gilbert, they uncovered the remains of four women, later identified as Melissa Barthelemy, Maureen Brainard-Barnes, Megan Waterman, and Amber Lynn Costello. These women would collectively be called "the Gilgo Four." As authorities continued their search, more bodies were discovered, bringing the total to at least ten victims.
Modus Operandi[]
The Long Island Serial Killer targeted women, many of whom were involved in sex work. The killer's dumping ground appeared to be a remote stretch of beach along Ocean Parkway. The victims were often strangled or suffered other forms of violence, and their bodies were left in burlap sacks.
Suspects and persons of interest in the case[]
There have been numerous individuals associated with the Long Island Serial Killer case, prior to the mention of Rex Heuermann.
- James Burke, also known as "Jimmy the Burke," was a former police chief in Suffolk County, Long Island. While he was not directly implicated as a suspect in the murders, his connections to the case raised suspicions. Burke faced legal troubles for unrelated matters, including assault and obstruction of justice. However, there was no definitive evidence linking him to the Long Island Serial Killer case.
- John Bittrolff, a Suffolk County resident, was convicted in 2017 of the murders of two women in the 1990s. While his crimes involved the killing of women, there was no conclusive evidence connecting him to the larger series of murders attributed to the Long Island Serial Killer.
- Joseph Brewer was initially connected to the case as the last person seen with Shannan Gilbert, whose disappearance led to the discovery of the first set of remains in the Gilgo Beach area. Brewer was cleared of any involvement in the murders, and his connection was primarily focused on Gilbert's case.
- Dr. Peter Hackett, a former physician, was also associated with the case due to his connection to the property where Shannan Gilbert's belongings were found. Hackett denied involvement, and investigators did not find evidence linking him to the murders.
- James Bissett was initially considered a person of interest in the case. He owned a house near where some of the victims' remains were discovered. However, he was later cleared of any involvement, and his property did not yield evidence connecting him to the murders.
While these individuals were connected to the investigation or considered persons of interest, none were formally charged or named as suspects in the Long Island Serial Killer case.
Rex Heuermann[]
In July 2023, authorities apprehended Rex A. Heuermann, a resident of Massapequa Park in Long Island, in Midtown Manhattan. He faced charges related to the murders of three victims known as "the Gilgo Four": Megan Waterman, Melissa Barthelemy, and Amber Costello. Additionally, Heuermann emerged as the primary suspect in the murder of the fourth victim of the group, Maureen Brainard-Barnes. The arrest marked a significant development in the investigation into the Long Island Serial Killer case, bringing attention to Heuermann's alleged involvement in the notorious unsolved crimes.
Jessica Taylor[]
Jessica Taylor, a 20-year-old resident of Manhattan, disappeared on July 21, 2003. Just five days later, on July 26, 2003, her dismembered and headless torso was found 45 miles east of Gilgo Beach in Manorville, New York. DNA analysis later that year confirmed the identity of the remains. Taylor's torso was discovered on a pile of scrap wood at the end of a paved access road off Halsey Manor Road, near its intersection with the Long Island Expressway. Plastic sheeting was found beneath the torso, and a tattoo on her body had been defaced with a sharp instrument.
On March 29, 2011, additional remains were discovered and matched to Taylor. These included a skull, a pair of hands, and a forearm. Taylor had been working as a sex worker in both Washington, D.C., and Manhattan. She was last seen in the vicinity of the Port Authority Bus Terminal in Manhattan between July 18 and 22, 2003.
Murder of Sandra Costilla[]
Rex Heuermann has been charged with the murder of Sandra Costilla, a 28-year-old woman from Trinidad and Tobago who was living in New York City at the time of her disappearance. Costilla was killed on November 19 or 20, 1993. Her body was discovered by hunters in a wooded area in North Sea, Long Island, later that month.
According to the indictment, DNA evidence from hairs found on Costilla's body matched Heuermann's.
Costilla is the earliest known victim among the murder charges against Heuermann, suggesting that his alleged killing spree began at least 30 years ago, much earlier than previously understood by the police.[9][10]
Victims[]
Confirmed victims[]
✔=The first four ("The Gilgo Four") victims that were officially attributed to LISK.
| Name | Age | Date of Death | Body Found | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sandra Costilla | 28 | November 19-20, 1993 | November 20, 1993 | |
| Valerie Mack[note 2] | 24 | October-November 2000 | November 19, 2000; April 4, 2011[note 3] | |
| Jessica Taylor | 20 | July 23-24, 2003 | July 26, 2003; March 29, 2011[note 4] | |
| ✔ | Maureen Brainard-Barnes | 25 | July 9, 2007 | December 13, 2010 |
| ✔ | Melissa Barthelemy | 24 | July 12, 2009 | December 11, 2010 |
| ✔ | Megan Waterman | 22 | June 6, 2010 | December 13, 2010 |
| ✔ | Amber Lynn Costello | 27 | September 2, 2010 | December 13, 2010 |
Suspected victims[]
Victims with credible evidence or circumstances suggesting they may be linked to LISK, though definitive proof remains lacking.
| Name | Age | Date of Death | Body Found |
|---|---|---|---|
| Karen Vergata | 34 | February 14, 1996 | April 20, 1996[note 5]; April 12, 2011 |
| "Peaches" | 16-30 | June 25, 1997 | June 28, 1997[note 6]; April 11, 2011 |
| "Baby Doe"[note 7] | 1-4 | 1997-2010 | April 4, 2011 |
| "John Doe" | 17-23 | 2001-2006 | April 4, 2011[note 8] |
Possible Victims[]
Victims discovered in proximity to confirmed LISK cases, with some factors indicating a potential connection, though attribution remains speculative.
| Name | Age | Date of Death | Body Found |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tina Foglia | 19 | February 1, 1982 | February 3, 1982 |
| Jacqueline Smith | 16 | August 7, 1999 | June 20, 2000 |
| Andre Isaac | 25 | November 2002 | December 17, 2002; January 25, 2003; April 10, 2004 |
| Jamie Seymour | 21 | July 22, 2005 | Never |
| "Cherries" | 35-50 | February-March 2007 | March 3, 2007 |
| Tanya Rush | 39 | June 23, 2008 | June 27, 2008 |
| Shannan Gilbert | 23 | May 1, 2010 | December 13, 2010 |
| "Nassau County Jane Doe" | 20-50 | 2003-2008 | January 21, 2013 |
| Natasha Jugo | 31 | March 16, 2013 | June 24, 2013 |
Timeline[]
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| November 19, 1993 | Sandra Costilla last seen, New York City, New York. |
| November 20, 1993 | Remains of Sandra Costilla found, North Sea, New York. |
| February 14, 1996 | Karen Vergata last seen. |
| April 20, 1996 | "Fire Island Jane Doe" / "Jane Doe No. 7"'s partial remains found on Fire Island. |
| June 28, 1997 | "Peaches" / "Jane Doe No.3"'s partial remains found at Hempstead Lake State Park. |
| Spring/summer 2000 | Valerie Mack last seen by family members. |
| November 19, 2000 | Valerie Mack's partial remains found in Manorville. |
| July 2003 | Jessica Taylor last seen. |
| July 26, 2003 | Jessica Taylor's partial remains are found in Manorville. |
| July 9, 2007 | Maureen Brainard-Barnes last seen. |
| July 2007 | A friend of Brainard-Barnes's, Sara Karnes, receives a phone call from a man claiming that he had just seen Brainard-Barnes and that she was alive and staying at a "whorehouse in Queens." |
| July 10, 2009 | Melissa Barthelemy last seen. |
| July – August 2009 | Amanda Barthelemy, sister of Melissa Barthelemy, receives a series of "vulgar, mocking and insulting" calls from a man using Melissa Barthelemy's cell phone. The caller eventually tells Amanda that her sister is dead. |
| May 2, 2010 | Shannan Gilbert makes a panicked phone call to 911 at 4:51am after fleeing a client's house in Oak Beach. She bangs on the doors of several neighboring houses and disappears. |
| June 6, 2010 | Megan Waterman last seen. |
| September 2, 2010 | Amber Lynn Costello last seen. |
| December 11, 2010 | Melissa Barthelemy's remains are found by Suffolk County Police canine at Gilgo Beach while searching for Shannan Gilbert. |
| December 13, 2010 | Megan Waterman, Amber Lynn Costello, and Maureen Brainard-Barnes's remains are found in the same location, all within 500 feet of each other. |
| December 15, 2010 | The FBI offers to help in the investigation. Police seize a white van from the client's Oak Beach residence. |
| December 16, 2010 | Suffolk County Medical Examiner's office reports that the remains found are female victims and Shannan Gilbert is not one of four the bodies discovered. |
| January 24, 2011 | Police release the identities of the three remaining victims: Maureen Brainard-Barnes, Melissa Barthelemy, and Amber Lynn Costello. Suffolk County District Attorney Thomas Spota declares that a serial killer is responsible for these young women's deaths. Spota also reveals that all four victims worked as escorts using Craigslist. |
| March 29-31, 2011 | Jessica Taylor's further partial remains found at Gilgo after police return to Gilgo Beach to search for Shannan Gilbert. About a mile east from the original location, police search teams find a skull, forearm, and hands. |
| April 4-5, 2011 | Valerie Mack's further partial remains found, "Baby Doe," the 16-24-month-old daughter of "Peaches," and "Asian male" are also found. |
| April 11, 2011 | "Peaches" / "Jane Doe No. 3"'s further partial remains found near Jones Beach State Park and "Fire Island Jane Doe" / "Jane Doe No. 7"'s further partial remains found at Tobay Beach. |
| December 13, 2011 | Shannan Gilbert's remains are found in a marsh at Oak Beach, about a mile away from her belongings. |
| December 2016 | "Peaches" and "Jane Doe No. 3" are positively identified as being the same person. |
| September 2017 | John Bittrolff, a carpenter from Manorville convicted of the murders of two other prostitutes, is named as a suspect in the LISK cases. Biltroff had been convicted of murdering Rita Tangredi and Colleen McNamee, whose bodies were found in 1993 and 1994 respectively. |
| May 28, 2020 | Confirmation announced of forensic identification of formerly unidentified remains of Valerie Mack. |
| July 13, 2023 | Suspect Rex Heuermann was arrested, in Manhattan, in connection to the killings. |
| July 14, 2023 | Suspect Rex Heuermann was charged in three of the killings: Megan Waterman, Melissa Barthelemy, and Amber Costello. |
Bibliography[]
Literature[]
- Benigno, Thomas. The Criminal Lawyer,. ISBN 978-1533109088
- Kolker, Robert. Lost Girls: An Unsolved American Mystery,. ISBN 978-0062183651
Articles[]
- Rachel Sharp (December 14, 2023). How did they catch the Gilgo Beach killer?. The Independent.
Documentaries[]
Television[]
- 48 Hours: "Long Island Serial Killer" (July 12, 2011) on IMDb
- People Magazine Investigates: "The Long Island Serial Killer: The Lost Girls" (November 7, 2016) on IMDb
- People Magazine Investigates: "The Long Island Serial Killer: New Revelations" (November 7, 2016) on IMDb
- The Killing Season (2016) on IMDb
- "Who is the Long Island serial killer?" (2020), 60 Minutes Australia on YouTube
- Grim Tide (2021), a five part series on Fox Nation.[link needed][11]
- Unraveled: The Long Island Serial Killer (2021) on IMDb
- Investigation Discovery Special Report: The Long Island Serial Killer (August 13, 2023) on IMDb[12]
- HUNT: The Gilgo Beach Killer (2023) on IMDb
- People Magazine Investigates S7E13: "Long Island Serial Killer: Mystery at Oak Beach" (Oct 2, 2023) on IMDb
- People Magazine Investigates S7E14: "Long Island Serial Killer: Caught" (Oct 2, 2023) on IMDb
- Peacock has announced plans to make a docuseries following Heuermann's ex-wife Asa Ellerup over the course of his trial.[13]
YouTube Documentaries[]
Before Rex Heuermann was Arrested:
- LISK: The Long Island Serial Killer, Biographics on YouTube
- GILGO BEACH: UNSOLVED, News 12 on YouTube
After Rex Heuermann was Arrested:
- FULL TIMELINE leading up to Rex Heuermann's Arrest (16 YEARS OF MURDER) MUST WATCH - STAY SAFE!, PSYCHO Neighbor on YouTube
- The Gilgo Beach Serial Killings, Full Episode, 48 Hours on YouTube
- Watch the full 'Eyewitness to Gilgo Beach' documentary, Eyewitness News ABC7NY on YouTube
- Gilgo Beach killings: Deep dive on accused serial killer Rex Heuermann's planning documents | Banfie, NewsNation on YouTube
Podcasts[]
- "SERIAL KILLER: L.I.S.K" Episode 21. Crime Junkie (April 16, 2018).
- The Long Island Serial Killer - Part 1. Serial Killers with Greg Polcyn & Vanessa Richardson (December 3, 2018).
- The Long Island Serial Killer - Part 2. Serial Killers with Greg Polcyn & Vanessa Richardson (December 10, 2018).
- LISK: Long Island Serial Killer (2020).
- Unraveled. discovery+ (2022 — 2023).
In popular culture[]
Film adaptations[]
- The Long Island Serial Killer (2013) on IMDb, also known as The Gilgo Beach Murders
- Lost Girls (2020) on IMDb (Trailer on YouTube)
- The Long Island Serial Killer: A Mother's Hunt for Justice (2021) on IMDb
Music[]
- Lyrics of the 2014 Panama Wedding song "Feels Like Summer" reference the events of the murders in Gilgo Beach.
Trivia[]
Hollywood actor Billy Baldwin and serial killer Rex Heuermann were high school classmates.[14][15]
Related Articles[]
See also[]
- Cleveland Torso Murderer
- Joel Rifkin operated in Long Island in the 1980s and 1990s.
- Robert Shulman operated in and around Long Island in the 1990s.
Links[]
- Gilgo Beach serial killings at Wikipedia
- Rex Heuermann on IMDb
- GilgoNews.com. Archived from the original on September 12, 2023.
- GilgoCase.com.
- Profiling Evil Storymaps.
- r/LISKiller. Reddit page — discussion board for the case
- New video related to Gilgo Beach murders released by police, CBS New York on YouTube
- Long Island Serial Killer? Shannan Gilbert 911 Calls Released, COURT TV on YouTube
- L'INTERVIEW with Rex, Dept. Of Buildings consultant & facilitator, Bonjour Realty on YouTube
- Rex Heuermann's private Instagram account.
- Bail application Rex Heuermann Gilgo Beach.
- SERIAL KILLERS Walk Among Us: ft. Rex Heuermann, The Behavior Panel on YouTube
Notes[]
- ↑ Heuermann was the owner and founder of the Midtown architecture firm RH Consultants and Associates.
- ↑ Once known only as "Jane Doe No. 6," she was identified using genetic genealogy in May 2020.
- ↑ Her partial remains were first discovered in Manorville, NY, in November 2000, and later on Gilgo Beach in April 2011.
- ↑ Her partial remains were first recovered on July 26, 2003 in Manorville, New York, and later on Gilgo Beach in March 2011
- ↑ The remains of Jane Doe No. 7, as called "Fire Island Jane Doe," were recovered near Tobay Beach in April 2011. These remains were linked by DNA testing to a set of remains found on Fire Island in April 1996. The victim had a surgical scar on her left leg.
- ↑ On June 28, 1997, the dismembered torso of "Jane Doe No. 3". Investigators reported the victim had a tattoo of a peach on her left breast. In April 2011, investigators discovered more of her remains inside a plastic bag near Jones Beach State Park, nicknamed "Jane Doe No. 3". DNA analysis later identified this victim as the mother of "Baby Doe."
- ↑ DNA tests revealed that the child's mother was "Jane Doe No. 3" or "Peaches."
- ↑ According to investigators, he had been dead for between five and ten years.
References[]
- ↑ Tucker Reals, Stephen Smith (July 14, 2023). "Suspect charged in Gilgo Beach serial killings cold case that rocked Long Island". CBS News.
- ↑ Maria Cramer (July 17, 2023). The Gilgo Beach Serial-Killing Case: What We Know. The New York Times.
(subscription required)
- ↑ Jamel Valencia (July 14, 2023). Suspected serial killer arrested: Long Island architect linked to the 'Gilgo Four' murders through burner phones and DNA evidence. WPDE.
- ↑ Rex Heuermann Custody Record. VINELink.
- ↑ Rex Heuermann: Evidence Against Serial Killer, Tom Webster on YouTube
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 Jessica McBride (July 15, 2023). Asa Ellerup, Rex Heuermann’s Wife: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know. Celebsweek.
- ↑ Charline Charles (July 14, 2023). "Timeline of the long-unsolved Gilgo Beach serial murders investigation". PIX11. Archived from the original on July 15, 2023.
- ↑ New Details about Gilgo Beach Murder Suspect Rex Heuermann's Life Behind Bars Revealed. Oxygen (May 16, 2024).
- ↑ Emma Bowman (june 8, 2024). The Gilgo Beach killings suspect is charged with two more murders. Here's what to know. NPR.
- ↑ Carolyn Gusoff; Dick Brennan; Jennifer McLogan; Katie Houlis; Renee Anderson (June 7, 2024). Gilgo Beach suspect Rex Heuermann charged with killing 2 more women. Indictment describes "blueprint" for murders. CBS News.
- ↑ Amy Nelson (October 22, 2021). Fox Nation's 'Grim Tide' investigates the hunt for the Long Island serial killer. Fox News.
- ↑ ID Special Report: The Long Island Serial Killer. Investigation Discovery (August 7, 2023).
- ↑ Corey Kilgannon (November 28, 2023). Wife of Gilgo Beach Suspect Gets a Documentary Deal. The New York Times. (subscription required)
- ↑ LI Cohen (July 14, 2023). Billy Baldwin says Gilgo Beach murders suspect was his high school classmate: "Mind-boggling". CBS News.
- ↑ Sean Neumann (July 14, 2023). Billy Baldwin Says He Was High School Classmates with Long Island Serial Killer Suspect. People Magazine.