Rex Heuermann, the suspect in the Gilgo Beach murders, is under investigation for allegedly torturing his victims while they were still alive, as reported by law enforcement and crime analysts.
The 60-year-old has been charged with the murders of six women spanning from the 1990s to 2011. Initially implicated in the deaths of the “Gilgo Four”—Maureen Brainard-Barnes, Melissa Barthelemy, Megan Waterman, and Amber Lynn Costello—whose bodies were found near Gilgo Beach in 2010, Heuermann’s charges expanded to include Jessica Taylor and Sandra Costilla as of June.
Prosecutors discovered a planning document that allegedly outlines methods of torture, suggesting that it acts as a “blueprint” for Heuermann’s actions. Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney emphasized its unsettling revelations during a press briefing.
According to the document, concepts like “play time” and “noise control” were mentioned, with Tierney explaining that having participants rest could maximize their ordeal. This document, deleted in 2002 but found on a device from Heuermann’s residence, implies detailed planning behind the suspected crimes.
Chilling Insights into the Victims’ Suffering
Evidence suggests that both Taylor and Costilla endured severe torture; Costilla’s body exhibited signs of mutilation, while Taylor was dismembered. Proven timelines indicate that Taylor may have been held captive for up to four days prior to her death.
The planning document included disturbing references like using “push pins to hang drop cloths from the ceiling,” hinting at possible bondage techniques. Former NYPD detective Joseph Giacalone described the contents of this document as among the most sadistic he had encountered.
Retired FBI profiler Gregg McCrary noted that some serial killers often keep victims alive for their own gratification, prolonging torment before ultimately killing them to avoid detection. Meanwhile, Heuermann’s attorney, Michael J. Brown, downplayed the significance of the planning document, suggesting it is merely one piece of a larger narrative.
The document even cites the book Mindhunter by FBI profiler John Douglas, which Brown insists is often read widely, claiming it doesn’t uniquely implicate his client. However, Tierney highlighted that Heuermann appeared notably interested in sections about mutilation and sexual substitution.
Investigators were able to gather more concrete evidence concerning Taylor and Costilla, whose remains were found shortly after their deaths, unlike the Gilgo Four, whose skeletonized remains left many questions unanswered.
Heuermann remains incarcerated at Suffolk County Jail in Riverhead, facing charges that paint him not merely as a common criminal, but as an alleged orchestrator of horrific crimes. His next court date is set for October 16, with a trial date yet to be determined.