Family of serial killer suspect are 'disgusted & embarrassed' as cops raid home
The family of the suspected Long Island serial killer say they are 'shocked, disgusted, and embarrassed' after police raided their home in the search for more clues and bodies.
Rex Heuermann, 59, was last week charged with killing three women after their remains were discovered near Long Island's Gilgo Beach in 2010.
While living with his two children and second wife, Heuermann is accused of leading a secret double life for decades.
Police say his family claimed to have no idea about his crimes. His wife, Asa Ellerup, was away from home each time that Heuermann committed murder, it is alleged in his bail documents.
Rex Heuermann allegedly led a secret double life (Suffolk County District Attorney/ZUMA Press Wire/REX/Shutterstock)“When we initially informed them about their husband, their father, they were shocked,” Suffolk County Police Commissioner Rodney Harrison told CNN Monday. “They were disgusted — they were embarrassed."
Man in 30s dies after being stabbed in park sparking police probe
“So, if you ask me, I don’t believe they knew about this double life that Mr Heuermann was living. They have been cooperative — there hasn’t been any resistance."
While the alleged serial killer took the stand on Friday, tearing up before the judge and telling the courtroom that he was innocent. Authorities released a bail document specifying the many pieces of evidence they had, including DNA taken off a pizza crust that connected him to the bodies of at least three victims - though he remains the prime suspect in a fourth case.
DNA off a pizza crust connected the suspect to the bodies of at least three victims (County Court of Suffolk County State of New York)The 59-year-old architect, who is charged with killing three women of the so-called 'Gilgo Four' after their remains were discovered near Long Island's Gilgo Beach in 2010, has pled not guilty to the murder of Melissa Barthelemy, Megan Waterman and Amber Costello. He is also a suspect in the killing of a fourth woman, Maureen Brainard-Barnes, but he has not been charged for that one yet, according to prosecutors.
Authorities searched the home, which is just across South Oyster Bay from where the bodies of the so-called “Gilgo Four" were found, for more clues and potential items that may have been kept as trophies, a common practice for serial murderers.
They are also searching a Long Island storage locker linked to the accused and have gone as far as 700 miles away to South Carolina, where the FBI and local cops have raided properties tied to Heuermann and his relatives.
This combination of undated image provided by the Suffolk County Police Department, shows Melissa Barthelemy, top left, Amber Costello, top right, Megan Waterman, bottom left, and Maureen Brainard-Barnes (AP)Authorities are looking for body parts in addition to "trophy" items everywhere that they can, as initial reports show that the Heuermann house was stuffed to the brim with stuff, Suffolk County Police Commissioner Rodney Harrison told WPIX11 News.
“He’s a monster,” Harrison said. He added that the suspect’s home is “a very cluttered house,” saying Heuermann “was like a pack rat.”
The search area includes around four lots of land Heuermann bought in Chester County exactly two years ago, insisting he planned to retire to the secluded area, according to Fox Carolina.
Google street view images show the alleged murder conversing with random women near his office, where he also made terrifying phone calls to the family members of at least one woman he assaulted and killed (google maps)In total, 11 victims have been linked to the unsolved so-called Gilgo Beach serial killings, although authorities say it is unlikely all of the women were killed by Heuermann - they believe some bodies were dumped by other killers.
“The one thing about an arrest, obviously, [is] it brings a lot of attention,” Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney told “CNN This Morning.”
Russian model killed after calling Putin a 'psychopath' was strangled by her ex
“The other thing is, we have executed a number of search warrants,” he said, as officers also scoured a local self-storage unit looking for possible body parts or other “trophies” kept by the suspect."
"So right now we have a flood of information and a flood of evidence coming in,” Tierney said. “And it’s going to take us a while to … go through all of that.”
Detectives are searching anything and everything that ever belonged to Heuermann, while his family is horrified at what's been happening behind their backs for decades (AP)Witnesses say that when Heuermann was arrested last week, he asked his jailers, "Is it in the news?" according to CNN, reporting a source familiar with the case. If convicted, which is likely considering the amount of evidence, police will also continue to question him about his doings.
Many serial killers use their knowledge of these 'missing persons' cases as leverage against officers, sometimes securing better cells or a day outside 'helping' authorities 'look' for bodies.
“We’re just in the infancy of the work that needs to be done going forward,” Deputy Commissioner Anthony Carter said Monday. “Tips are still coming.”
Read more similar news:
Comments:
comments powered by Disqus
