5-20-2024 12:21pm

Police Conduct Extensive Search at Home of Alleged Gilgo Beach Killer

Samantha Hespos Editor

LONG ISLAND, NY — A substantial number of investigators returned to the Massapequa home of accused Gilgo Beach killer Rex Heuermann on Monday, continuing their exhaustive search of the property.

The specific items investigators were seeking at the house were not immediately disclosed.

A spokesperson for District Attorney Ray Tierney's office reiterated that the Gilgo Beach homicide task force's efforts are ongoing, emphasizing their policy of not commenting on investigative actions during active cases.

Robert Macedonio, the attorney representing Heuermann's estranged wife, Asa Ellerup, verified the presence of New York State Police and Suffolk County Police at the residence.

"I presume it's the execution of another warrant," Macedonio informed Patch, noting that he had yet to receive a duplicate of the warrant.

Macedonio stated that neither Ellerup nor her son were present at home during the search. Ellerup and her son are currently in South Carolina, and Victoria, who was initially at home, is no longer there, he added.

"I can't fathom what they're searching for, considering nearly a year ago they conducted one of the most thorough searches I've ever witnessed," he remarked.

And, Macedonio added that he believed, "They are not looking to arrest anyone. I'm sure they would have notified us if they wanted to make an arrest."

Michael Brown, Heuermann's attorney, also did not immediately comment.

Last year, the search of the Heuermann property went on for 12 days and included the home, an excavator on the grounds, and an Amityville storage facility.

In April, after Heuermann's most recent court date, Brown said that he'd requested records recently that he said could shed light on a possible new suspect — and provide insight into former Suffolk County Police Chief James Burke, who he said had shown a "lack of cooperation" in the Gilgo investigation.

At that time, the judge in the case said he'd like to see discovery completed by July.

Heuermann, the Massapequa Park man originally charged in three of the Gilgo Beach murders, was also charged with the murder of a fourth woman, Maureen Brainard-Barnes, in January. New DNA evidence helped connect Heuermann to all four of the deaths, said Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney, who is prosecuting the case.

Heuermann was charged with second-degree murder, an A-1 violent felony, in the death of Brainard-Barnes on July 9, 2007.

Heuermann has pleaded not guilty.

Last July, Heuermann was indicted on three counts of first-degree murder charges and three counts of second-degree murder charges in the deaths of sex workers Melissa Barthelemy, Megan Waterman, and Amber Costello, whose remains were found along Ocean Parkway in 2010. Heuermann also pleaded not guilty to those charges.

A total of 11 sets of remains were found in the Gilgo Beach murders, which rocked Long Island. The remains included that of a toddler and an Asian male.

Wearing a gray suit and staring straight ahead, Heuermann appeared before Judge Timothy Mazzei at the Arthur M. Cromarty Court Complex in Riverhead in April. Ellerup, Heurmann's estranged wife, also appeared at court, wearing sunglasses and walking alongside her attorney Macedonia.

During the appearance, the prosecution stated that they have been consistently furnishing information to Brown, Heuermann's attorney, which includes 388 complete leads, lab reports, and more. Brown requested the prosecution to prioritize disclosure, and it was provided on Wednesday, the prosecution affirmed, with the commitment to supply additional leads in the future.

Mazzei emphasized that while he comprehends the "complexity and volume" of the discovery process, he aims to conclude this phase by July to pave the way for Heuermann's trial. He noted that some of the discovery items recently requested by Brown were deemed "irrelevant" by the District Attorney's office.

Heuermann's next court appearance date is scheduled for June 18. Brown assured that if subpoenas were necessary, he would facilitate their issuance.

In April, Tierney disclosed that more discovery had been provided. "It's voluminous," he remarked. "Today we provided a tremendous amount of discovery, including all the underlying DNA data from our DNA analysis in this case, our nuclear DNA analysis in this case—that took up an entire hard drive by itself."

When questioned about the discovery items labeled as "irrelevant," Tierney emphasized that the prosecution is legally obligated under statute to furnish "every single piece of paper that comes across our desk, which we will continue to do."

Tierney highlighted that just since the last court date, there have been at least 15 disclosures. The prosecution has supplied the defense with victim Maureen Brainard-Barnes' missing person's investigation and thousands of pages of documentation, including 7,000 pages related to "other persons of interest," along with 12 terabytes of nuclear DNA data stored on a hard drive.

Digital evidence extractions were derived from approximately 422 digital devices recovered from locations associated with Heuermann, encompassing phones, smart devices, Palm pilots, and more.

In response to inquiries about the duration of the discovery process, particularly since Heuermann's arrest last July, Tierney remarked, "Is it typical for a case that's 12 years old and involves this much scrutiny? I would say yes. But this case sort of stands alone." He emphasized the immense volume of information involved, stating, "When you're talking about terabytes upon terabytes upon terabytes of information, it doesn't happen overnight, it can't. It's impossible."

Regarding the investigation into the other murdered women, Tierney affirmed that it remains ongoing within the DA's office. He clarified, "If the DA's office speaks about that, it will be through an indictment."

The DA's office recently commented on an ongoing search in areas of Suffolk County, including Manorville, Calverton, and Southampton, stating, "DA Tierney has repeatedly publicly stated that the task force would continue to investigate additional murders beyond Gilgo."