RIVERHEAD, N.Y. – Authorities have charged Rex Heuermann, a former New York architect, with two additional murder counts in connection with the deaths of Jessica Taylor and Sandra Costilla. This brings the total number of potential victims to at least six in a case that has spanned over a decade.
Heuermann, 60, appeared in front of Suffolk County Superior Court Judge Timothy Mazzei in Riverhead to face the new charges of second-degree murder. He was initially taken into custody in July last year while walking on a busy New York City street, unaware that he was being followed by police.
Previously, Heuermann had been charged with the murders of Melissa Barthelemy, Megan Waterman, and Amber Lynn Costello, with an additional charge earlier this year for the killing of Maureen Brainard-Barnes. The discovery of victims around Gilgo Beach on Long Island’s South Shore had remained unsolved for years.
One of the victims, Jessica Taylor, disappeared in July 2003 while working as an escort in New York City. Her remains were unearthed during a search of the beach areas in 2011. Sandra Costilla, 28, was believed to have been killed in November 1993 before her body was discovered in a wooded area near Fish Cove Road. Prosecutors revealed that Costilla had suffered sharp force injuries.
Following the new charges, Heuermann was ordered to remain in custody without bail, with a court date scheduled for July 30. The ongoing investigation continues to uncover details surrounding the case, shedding light on the tragic events that have haunted the community for years.