In brief
Rex Heuermann, the suspect in the notorious Gilgo Beach serial killings, is poised to change his plea from not guilty to guilty at a court hearing scheduled for April 8. Heuermann, who has been in custody since his arrest in July 2023, allegedly murdered seven women over 17 years, using DNA evidence and cell phone data as confirmation of his connection to the victims. The investigation into the killings ignited public interest in 2010, and renewed efforts led authorities to link Heuermann to the crimes through various clues, including discarded DNA and internet searches.
NEW YORK (AP) — Rex Heuermann, the man charged in the infamous Gilgo Beach serial killings on Long Island, is set to change his plea next month, transitioning from not guilty to guilty, according to insiders familiar with the case. Heuermann, a former architect, has faced accusations of murdering seven women over the span of 17 years. The court is scheduled to discuss his plea on April 8, though insiders indicated that family members of both the victims and Heuermann have already been informed.Heuermann, currently 62, has been in custody since July 2023 following his arrest. His previous claims of innocence have not deterred the evidence against him, which includes DNA samples, cellphone records, and material recovered from his home in Massapequa, New York. The victims, all young women reportedly involved in sex work, were discovered along the Ocean Parkway near Gilgo Beach, prompting a significant investigation that began in 2010.As authorities resumed investigations into the cold case in 2022, they identified Heuermann as a suspect. Key pieces of evidence include a pizza crust discarded by Heuermann, which matched DNA collected from one of the victim's remains, and cellphone data indicating he had contact with some of the victims shortly before their disappearances.In the investigation's course, detectives have also uncovered a disturbing collection of material from Heuermann's property, described as a 'blueprint' for the crimes, complete with notes on how to evade detection and destroy evidence.Pending developments could alter Heuermann's planned plea, as any admission of guilt would require judicial approval. Meanwhile, prosecutors have yet to comment on the matter, alongside representatives for the victims' families.
