Long Island police have returned to the Massapequa Park home of suspected serial killer Rex Heuermann, who is accused of killing four women whose remains were found in the brush along Ocean Parkway in 2010. The latest search on his property comes weeks after police K-9s were seen digging through a forest in Manorville, about 40 miles away, in an investigation that may be linked to the Gilgo Beach murders. Heuermann’s wife, Asa Ellerup, filed for divorce shortly after his arrest last summer, and their adult children were not at home during the recent police activity. Investigators are believed to have obtained a new search warrant for the home, where they spent nearly two weeks searching last year.
The “Gilgo Four,” as Heuermann’s alleged victims have become known, were among 11 bodies discovered after police received a haunting 911 call from Shannan Gilbert in 2010. Two of the other victims, Jessica Taylor and Valerie Mack, were dismembered and dumped in separate locations. Police first discovered their partial remains in Manorville in 2000 and 2003. Additional remains of both victims were uncovered in the search for Gilbert in 2011. Heuermann faces three counts of first-degree murder and four counts of second-degree murder for the deaths of the four women found on Ocean Parkway. He has pleaded not guilty and is being held without bail.
Despite the allegations against him, Heuermann’s wife has maintained that he is not capable of committing such heinous crimes. Heuermann was born and raised in Massapequa Park, New York, and bought his childhood home from his mother in the 1990s, where he moved his family. Neighbors described him as a quiet businessman who carried a briefcase to the nearby train station and wore a three-piece suit to head into his Manhattan office, where he worked as an architect. However, Heuermann’s lawyer has defended his client’s internet search history, describing it as “sadistic” but not indicative of guilt in the Gilgo Beach case. Heuermann has pleaded not guilty to the Gilgo Four murders and has not been named a suspect in the other deaths.
The search for evidence in Heuermann’s home and the forest in Manorville is ongoing, as investigators continue to piece together the timeline of events leading up to the discovery of the bodies on Ocean Parkway. The police are working diligently to gather as much information as possible to build a solid case against Heuermann and bring justice to the victims and their families. It remains to be seen if the recent search will yield any new evidence that could further incriminate Heuermann or provide insight into the circumstances surrounding the Gilgo Beach murders. As the investigation unfolds, more details are expected to emerge, shedding light on the tragic events that have haunted the Long Island community for years.
