Rex Heuermann, the alleged serial killer of Gilgo Beach, suffered a significant setback in his legal battle.
A New York judge ruled that prosecutors could use incriminating DNA evidence against him in his upcoming trial. This decision, according to law enforcement officials, could have far-reaching implications for numerous other cases.
As reported by Fox News, Heuermann was arrested in a shocking turn of events, more than a decade after the demise of his last known alleged victim. He was a New York City architect, commuting daily from his suburban residence in Massapequa Park. Prosecutors claim that he tortured and murdered his victims in his basement while his family was away on vacation.
The legal teams have been embroiled in a dispute over the evidence since March. The judge conducted a Frye hearing to ascertain the admissibility of a new type of DNA testing. Michael Brown, Heuermann's attorney, challenged the validity of this new testing on hair samples without roots, comparing it to "magic" and noting that it had not been previously used in New York state.
Prosecutors argue that this cutting-edge technology connected hairs found on six of the seven murder victims to Heuermann. Brown expressed skepticism, finding it "a little weird" that each body is linked to his client by a single hair.
Not all the hairs belonged to Heuermann; some were linked to his wife and daughter. Authorities do not suspect their involvement in the crimes, but they believe Heuermann transferred their hairs to the victims.
Judge Timothy Mazzei ruled in favor of the new testing, stating that it is accepted by the scientific community and therefore valid as evidence. Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney praised both sides for their aggressive and effective litigation. "The reason why we were able to prevail was one simple reason: The science was on our side," he said.
Tierney hailed this as a "significant step" in forensic DNA analysis, stating that it examines hundreds of thousands more data points than traditional DNA testing. He also revealed that this new method is already being implemented by county cold case detectives.
Joseph Giacalone, a retired NYPD cold case investigator and a professor of criminal justice at Penn State Lehigh Valley, lauded the judge's decision as "awesome news." He told Fox News Digital, "This DNA is leading the way to closing more cases," although he anticipates an appeal if Heuermann is convicted.
Heuermann, who entered the courtroom in a black suit, blue shirt, and green tie, stood tall as the judge delivered his decision. His ex-wife, Asa Ellerup, who divorced him after the charges but has publicly stated her disbelief in his guilt, sat quietly in the gallery. Their daughter, Victoria Heuermann, was not present at Wednesday's hearing.
Prosecutors accuse Heuermann of murdering seven women over at least two decades, discarding most of their remains near Long Island's Gilgo Beach. Some victims were dismembered, with parts of their bodies found in wooded areas approximately 50 miles to the east.
The oldest case in which he's been charged dates back to 1993. The alleged crimes include torture and mutilation, with Heuermann reportedly taking notes on the crimes, the victims, and measures to evade detection.
The victims were all described as "petite" women, most of them around 5 feet tall and barely over 100 pounds. An eyewitness in the case, who was the last to see one of them alive, described Heuermann, whose identity was unknown at the time, as an "ogre" driving a Chevrolet Avalanche.
On July 13, 2023, Suffolk County police arrested Heuermann, then 61, outside his Manhattan office in connection with three cold case murders. Over the next 12 months, they added charges for four more killings. Heuermann has pleaded not guilty to all the charges.
However, Tierney stated that his office has a wealth of evidence ready to be introduced at trial. "So we have now nuclear DNA, we have mitochondrial DNA, we have phone records, we have witness statements, we have financial records, we have internet searches, we have phone activity and we have other [evidence]," he told reporters. "When you look at the interaction of all of that evidence, it's, we would submit, compelling."
The next step for Heuermann is a hearing to determine whether he should be tried on all of the cases together. His lawyer wants them split up, but Tierney believes they are all "intertwined" and should be tried simultaneously.
The case that sparked this entire investigation was the disappearance of another woman, which shocked the residents of Long Island. In 2010, Shannan Gilbert made a frantic and incoherent 911 call, pleading for help and claiming someone was pursuing her.
The search for her lasted for months, and before police found her remains, they discovered 10 other bodies along Ocean Parkway. Her death is the only one that police believe was accidental.
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