MASSAPEQUA PARK, NY — Rex Heuermann is expected to make his first appearance in court Tuesday after he was arrested and charged earlier this month in the killings of three sex workers, whose remains were found along Ocean Parkway.
Heuermann, 59, of Massapequa Park, was charged with six counts of murder in the slayings of Amber Costello, Melissa Barthelemy, and Megan Waterman.
Last week, Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney announced he would prosecute Heuermann at trial. Heuermann previously pleaded not guilty.
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Patch contacted Michael Brown, Heuermann’s attorney, multiple times for comment and will update when we hear back.
Heuermann was set to appear at Riverhead court Tuesday afternoon, a representative from Tierney’s office confirmed. Online court records showed a conference is planned. However, further details couldn’t immediately be provided.
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Since 2010, at least 11 sets of remains have been found, believed to be related to the Gilgo Beach killings. Police have searched for a serial killer ever since. At least four of the killings included strangulation, and two showed signs of blunt-force trauma. The cause of death remains inconclusive for some victims.
Similarities in the deaths led investigators to believe that Heuermann could also be responsible for the 2006 deaths of four Atlantic City sex workers. But on Monday, police announced they no longer believe there to be a connection between the Gilgo Beach killings and similar killings of Atlantic City sex workers.
Tierney’s announcement came after a 12-day investigation had concluded in Heuermann’s Massapequa Park home. Heuermann’s wife, Asa Ellerup, who filed for divorce days after his indictment, moved back into the house along with her son and daughter once the investigation concluded, ABC reported.
Macedonio & Duncan, the law firm representing Ellerup, said in a statement obtained by Patch that their client and her children are “enduring a profound and indescribable catastrophe.”
Through her representation, Ellerup also shared this statement:
“On behalf of my family and especially my elderly neighbors, who have also had their lives turned upside down by the enormous police presence, in addition to the spectators, and news crews. They deserve to live peacefully; they should be able to walk their dogs and go to the grocery stores without cameras shoved in their faces,” Ellerup said. “I am pleading with you all to give us space so that we may regain some normalcy in our neighborhood.”
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