Arrest of Suspect in Long Island Serial Killings; Victims’ Families Seek Justice

Families of several women who were slain and dumped along the coastline of New York’s Long Island are trying to find closure after the capture of a man who authorities say is responsible for the Long Island serial killings.

The 59-year-old architect, Rex Heuermann, was believed to be responsible for the Long Island serial killings. (Photo: NBC New York)

Long Island Serial Killings Suspect Arrested

The Long Island serial killings case haunted investigators for over a decade and the capture of a 59-year-old architect Rex Heuermann, believed to be responsible for the deaths has provided a glimmer of hope for the grieving families.

According to U.S. News, the arrest of the Long Island serial killings suspect, announced by authorities on Friday, reawakened a mix of emotions—anger, grief, but also the prospect of closure.

Gilgo Beach became the focal point of the investigation, where 11 sets of remains, including that of a toddler, were discovered, strewn along the parkway that winds through Jones Beach Island’s remote and desolate stretches.

While the toddler and three other victims remain unidentified, authorities state that all 10 adult victims, including the toddler’s mother, were sex workers.

However, investigators caution that the arrested suspect of the Long Island serial killings, Rex Heuermann, might not be responsible for all the deaths.

He is also considered the prime suspect in the death of Maureen Brainard-Barnes, who disappeared three years earlier. Heuermann maintains his innocence, according to his lawyer.

Apart from the Barthelemy case, Heuermann has, so far, only been accused of killing two others—Megan Waterman and Amber Costello—who went missing in 2010.

If convicted on all charges, Heuermann could face multiple life sentences without the possibility of parole.

Read Also: Murder Suspect Of Gilgo Beach Serial Killings After DNA Found On Pizza Box

For Amy Brotz, whose cousin Melissa Barthelemy was the first victim to be discovered accidentally during a search for another missing woman, the news of the Long Island serial killings arrest came as a shock.

According to ABC News, the killer left behind traces of evidence—a burlap wrapping, strands of hair, and a belt adorned with possible initials. Additionally, the haunting phone calls made from Barthelemy’s cellphone on the day she vanished were traced to a location near Heuermann’s residence in Massapequa, a town on Long Island.

Lynn Barthelemy, the victim’s mother, expressed her feelings, saying, “Death is too good for him… I’d like him to suffer at the hands of other inmates.” Nevertheless, she conveyed a sense of relief that a suspect had finally been apprehended.

However, a question looms large: why did it take so long to make an arrest? This is a question that the suspect himself seemingly pondered, as prosecutors revealed his online inquiry, “Why hasn’t the Long Island serial killer been caught?”

Megan Waterman, discovered near Gilgo Beach in December 2010, had boarded a bus from Maine to New York six months prior. Her mother, Lorraine Ela, passed away last year without ever knowing if her daughter’s killer would be brought to justice.

Another victim, Valerie Mack, 24, vanished from her family’s home in Port Republic, New Jersey. Initially known as “Jane Doe No. 6,” some of her remains were discovered in 2000 in Manorville, New York, approximately 50 miles away from where more of her remains were found on Gilgo Beach over a decade later.

It was only three years ago that genetic testing revealed her identity. Danielle Mack, Valerie’s sister, expressed her family’s shock at the arrest, saying, “It’s a lot to process.” She also expressed uncertainty about Heuermann not being charged in Valerie’s death.

The case of Shannan Gilbert, another 24-year-old sex worker, remains surrounded by conflicting theories. It is unclear whether she was killed or drowned while fleeing from a beachfront home through a marsh. Gilbert’s frantic call to the police before her disappearance in May 2010 inadvertently led to the discovery of the first four bodies, known as the Gilgo Four, and subsequent remains.

New York Governor Kathy Hochul acknowledged that many families, whose lives were turned upside down, can finally rest easier.

READ ALSO: Gilgo Beach Murders: Police Arrested The Suspect Of The Serial Killings Found In Long Island’s Gilgo Beach