Amityville, New York – Rex Heuermann, the man accused in the Gilgo Beach serial killings, may have started targeting young women earlier than initially thought, not limited to just the South Shore of Long Island. Records suggest that Heuermann, who was 29 and three years away from gaining his architecture license, was connected to the 1993 murder of Sandra Costilla on the east end of Long Island, near Fish Cove Road in Southampton. This revelation raises concerns among criminologists about the extent of Heuermann’s alleged crimes.
The remains of five additional women linked to Heuermann’s killings were discovered in and around Gilgo Beach starting from 2010. This leads experts, such as Joseph Giacalone, to believe that there could be as many as 50 more unsolved cases possibly connected to Heuermann based on his modus operandi and the time frame of the crimes. Heuermann, 60, is also a suspect in the 2000 death of Valeria Mack, according to his indictment.
Living a seemingly ordinary life in Massapequa Park with his family, Heuermann drew little attention to himself, making his alleged crimes even more shocking to the community. Despite his unassuming demeanor, the recent charges against him shed light on a dark and sinister past. The oldest case tied to Heuermann is that of Sandra Costilla, a 28-year-old woman from Trinidad and Tobago who was found murdered in 1993. Detectives connected DNA evidence found on her body to Heuermann.
Aside from Costilla, Heuermann faces accusations of murdering Jessica Taylor, a 20-year-old sex worker who disappeared in 2003. Her dismembered body was located near Gilgo Beach in 2011. Heuermann’s hairs were found on Taylor’s body as well. Heuermann has been linked to the deaths of several other women, including Melissa Barthelemy, Megan Waterman, Amber Lynn Costello, and Maureen Brainard-Barnes.
The search for the Gilgo Beach killer commenced in 2010 after the remains of 11 people, including sex workers, were discovered in the area. Subsequent investigations were hindered by delays and cultural biases, but the case was reignited in 2022 under the direction of Suffolk County’s new police commissioner, Rodney Harrison. Despite his alleged crimes, Heuermann managed to maintain a low profile within his community, working as an architect and keeping to himself.
After authorities searched his home, they uncovered Heuermann’s fascination with unsolved murder cases, further deepening the complexity of his character. His office contained a book titled “The Cases That Haunt Us,” shedding light on his disturbing interests. As the investigation unfolds, more details about Heuermann’s past and potential connections to other unsolved murders continue to emerge, painting a chilling picture of a man living a double life.