The Long Island Serial Killer: A Comprehensive Timeline of Rex Heuermann

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Here is a detailed timeline of the main events covered in the sources, followed by a cast of characters:

Detailed Timeline: The Long Island Serial Killer Case with Rex Heuermann

This timeline spans from the earliest identified victim to the presumed trial of Rex Heuermann, highlighting key discoveries, investigative shifts, and legal developments.

Pre-2000s: Early Activity (Unconfirmed)

• 1997: Unidentified woman, nicknamed "Peaches," is found dismembered in Hempstead Lake State Park. DNA later confirms she is the mother of "Baby Doe" found in 2011.

2000s: Early Murders & Hunting Ground Established (The "Dismemberment Phase")

• 2000: Valerie Mack (24), an escort, disappears from Philadelphia. Her torso is found in Manorville. Her head and hands would be discovered along Ocean Parkway in 2011. This marks the earliest confirmed victim of the pattern, suggesting the killer was active since at least this year.

• 2003: Jessica Taylor (20), an escort, disappears. Her torso is found in Manorville. Her skull and hands would be discovered along Ocean Parkway in 2011. Similar to Mack's case, suggesting the same perpetrator during an early "dismemberment phase."

• Circa 2005-2006: Rex Heuermann allegedly begins renting a storage unit in Amityville under the alias "R. Henderson," paid for with money orders. This unit would later be found to contain evidence.

• 2006: Maureen Brainard-Barnes begins supplementing her income through escort work via Craigslist.

• July 9, 2007: Maureen Brainard-Barnes (25), a mother of two and escort from Connecticut, disappears after taking a train to New York City for client meetings. Her phone goes dark by 11 PM. She is the first of the "Gilgo Four." Her disappearance coincides with Rex Heuermann's family being out of town.

• 2008: An escort ("Witness F") has a concerning encounter with a client matching Heuermann's description, who insists on an outcall to Long Island and asks about other escorts' safety protocols. She keeps a "bad date" journal.

• July 10, 2009: Melissa Barthelemy (24), a hairdresser and escort from Buffalo, NY, leaves a Times Square motel at 10:30 PM for an outcall to Long Island. Her phone goes dark almost immediately. Her disappearance coincides with Rex Heuermann's family being out of town.

• July 16, 2009: The killer begins a series of taunting phone calls to Melissa Barthelemy's 15-year-old sister, Amanda Barthelemy, from Melissa's phone. Calls are brief, from crowded Manhattan locations, and contain personal, sadistic, and racist taunts.

• August 26, 2009: The last taunting phone call is made to Amanda Barthelemy. The caller states, "This is the last time you'll hear from me."

2010s: Discoveries, Obstruction, and Advocacy

• May 1, 2010: Shannan Gilbert (23), an escort, makes a desperate 911 call at 4:51 AM from Oak Beach, Long Island, reporting someone is trying to kill her. She flees, banging on doors for help, but is not found. Her disappearance triggers the initial search.

• June 5, 2010: Megan Waterman (22), a mother and escort from Maine, takes a routine trip to New York. She calls her daughter that evening. Her phone goes dark after receiving a call for an outcall to Long Island. Her disappearance coincides with Rex Heuermann's family being out of town.

• September 2, 2010: Amber Lynn Costello (27), an escort from North Carolina, living in North Babylon, Long Island, disappears after agreeing to meet a client offering $1,500. Her roommate, Dave Schaller, sees her get into a first-generation green Chevrolet Avalanche. Her disappearance coincides with Rex Heuermann's family being out of town.

• December 11, 2010: During a K-9 training exercise for Shannan Gilbert, Officer John Mallia and his German Shepherd, Blue, discover the skeletal remains of a woman wrapped in burlap near Gilgo Beach. Over the next hours, three more bodies are found within a quarter-mile stretch, all wrapped in burlap. These four women are identified as the "Gilgo Four": Melissa Barthelemy, Maureen Brainard-Barnes, Megan Waterman, and Amber Lynn Costello. None of them are Shannan Gilbert. The Long Island Serial Killer investigation officially begins.

• December 2010 - March 2011: Initial DNA analysis attempts on the degraded samples from the Gilgo Four have limited success. Hair comparison microscopy is conducted.

• March 29, 2011: The search for Shannan Gilbert resumes with renewed intensity. A human skull is found near Jones Beach.

• April 4, 2011: Officer John Mallia and Blue discover the skeletal remains of a child, designated "Baby Doe," near Cedar Beach. Later, an unidentified Asian male wearing women's clothing is found in the same area.

• April 11, 2011: The official search along Ocean Parkway is suspended. Remains from at least ten individuals have been found, including Valerie Mack, Jessica Taylor (whose partial remains were found in Manorville in 2000 and 2003, respectively, and other parts found along Ocean Parkway), "Peaches" (whose torso was found in 1997), "Baby Doe" (confirmed to be Peaches' daughter), and the unidentified Asian male.

• December 13, 2011: Shannan Gilbert's remains are finally found in a marsh near Oak Beach. Her death is officially ruled an accidental drowning, a conclusion strongly disputed by her mother, Mari Gilbert.

• January 2012: James Burke is appointed Chief of the Suffolk County Police Department. He allegedly obstructs the FBI's involvement in the Gilgo Beach investigation.

• December 2012: Christopher Loeb breaks into Chief James Burke's vehicle and steals a duffel bag containing pornography and sex toys. Burke assaults Loeb, leading to a federal investigation into Burke's conduct.

• December 2015: James Burke is arrested. He is later sentenced to 46 months in federal prison for civil rights violations and obstruction of justice.

• 2016: Mari Gilbert's advocacy helps pass "Shannan's Law," requiring law enforcement to share information about unidentified remains with NamUs.

• July 23, 2016: Mari Gilbert is tragically killed by her daughter, Sarra, who suffers from schizophrenia.

• 2017: A multi-agency task force is formed to reinvestigate the Gilgo Beach murders, with new leadership, including Detective Lieutenant Timothy Sini, who later becomes Police Commissioner. The FBI is now welcomed to assist.

• September 2017: "Witness F," an escort who had a concerning encounter with a client matching the killer's pattern, comes forward, providing valuable "bad date" journal entries.

• 2018: Digital forensics specialists begin intensive analysis of phone records, internet history, and other electronic data from the time of the murders. They develop a "heat map" of the killer's likely residence, pointing to Massapequa/Massapequa Park.

2020s: Breakthrough and Arrest

• 2020: Valerie Mack is identified through genetic genealogy.

• Early 2022: Investigators identify Rex Heuermann as a person of interest through burner phone purchases traced to a Target store in Midtown Manhattan. Surveillance footage captures a tall man matching the description purchasing prepaid phones. A crucial mistake in 2012, using a personal email linked to his firm for an escort ad, provides a direct link to Heuermann.

• September 2022: Discreet surveillance of Rex Heuermann begins.

• January 26, 2023: Surveillance teams collect discarded pizza crusts from Rex Heuermann at a Manhattan pizzeria. DNA analysis from the crusts is sent for STR testing.

• March 2023: DNA from the pizza crusts is confirmed to be consistent with DNA evidence (hair) found on the burlap wrappings of some of the Gilgo Four victims. This match provides probable cause for arrest.

• July 13, 2023: Rex Heuermann (59), an architect, is arrested in Manhattan near his office. Simultaneously, massive search warrants are executed at his Massapequa Park home, his Manhattan office, and a storage unit in Amityville.

• July 14, 2023: Rex Heuermann is arraigned in Suffolk County, pleading not guilty to first and second-degree murder charges for Melissa Barthelemy, Megan Waterman, and Amber Lynn Costello. He is held without bail.

• July 19, 2023: Asa Ellerup, Heuermann's wife, files for divorce.

• July 28, 2023: An anonymous tip leads investigators to a storage unit in Amityville rented by Heuermann under an alias.

• August 3, 2023: A search warrant is executed on Heuermann's storage unit, revealing documents, old electronics, potential victim trophies (jewelry, IDs), and additional burner phones.

• September 2023: Prosecutors are preparing their case for trial, developing a comprehensive timeline of evidence.

• January 2024: Rex Heuermann is indicted for the murder of Maureen Brainard-Barnes, completing the charges for the "Gilgo Four."

• October 2024: Defense files a Frye challenge, attempting to exclude novel DNA technology used in the case.

• November-December 2024: Expert testimony begins in the Frye hearing regarding the DNA evidence.

• 2025 (Projected):March-July: Extended Frye hearings continue.

• July 23: Judge's ruling date set on the admissibility of the novel DNA evidence.

• September 3: Judge's decision on DNA admissibility is due.

• Late 2024 / Early 2025: Trial of Rex Heuermann is expected to begin.

Cast of Characters: Long Island Serial Killer Case

This list includes the principal people mentioned in the sources, with brief biographical details.

The Alleged Perpetrator

• Rex Heuermann: (Born ~1964) A 59-year-old architect from Massapequa Park, Long Island, who owned RH Consultants & Associates in Manhattan. Arrested in July 2023 and charged with the murders of Melissa Barthelemy, Megan Waterman, Amber Lynn Costello, and Maureen Brainard-Barnes (the "Gilgo Four"). Described as 6'4" and over 250 pounds, socially awkward, and maintaining a meticulously compartmentalized double life. He is presumed innocent until proven guilty.

The Victims (The Gilgo Four & Others)

• Maureen Brainard-Barnes: (25 at time of disappearance, disappeared July 9, 2007) A mother of two from Norwich, Connecticut, who worked as an escort to support her children. She was the first of the "Gilgo Four" whose remains were found in December 2010.

• Melissa Barthelemy: (24 at time of disappearance, disappeared July 12, 2009) A hairdresser and escort from Buffalo, New York. Her remains were found in December 2010. Her sister, Amanda, received taunting phone calls from the killer.

• Megan Waterman: (22 at time of disappearance, disappeared June 6, 2010) A mother from Scarborough, Maine, who worked as an escort. Her remains were found in December 2010.

• Amber Lynn Costello: (27 at time of disappearance, disappeared September 2, 2010) An escort from North Carolina, living in North Babylon, Long Island. Her remains were found in December 2010. Her roommate, Dave Schaller, witnessed the vehicle that picked her up.

• Shannan Gilbert: (23 at time of disappearance, disappeared May 1, 2010) An escort whose 911 call from Oak Beach initiated the search that led to the discovery of the Gilgo Four. Her remains were found in December 2011, and her death was officially ruled an accidental drowning, though her family disputes this.

• Valerie Mack: (24 at time of disappearance, disappeared 2000) An escort whose partial remains were found in Manorville in 2000 and along Ocean Parkway in 2011. Identified in 2020 through genetic genealogy.

• Jessica Taylor: (20 at time of disappearance, disappeared 2003) An escort whose partial remains were found in Manorville in 2003 and along Ocean Parkway in 2011.

• "Peaches": An unidentified woman whose torso was found in Hempstead Lake State Park in 1997. DNA testing confirmed she was the mother of "Baby Doe."

• "Baby Doe": An unidentified child (estimated 16 months to 4 years old) whose skeletal remains were found in 2011 along Ocean Parkway, wrapped in a blanket. Later confirmed via DNA to be the daughter of "Peaches."

• Unidentified Asian Male: An unidentified male, believed to be in his late teens or early twenties, found in 2011 near Cedar Beach, wearing women's clothing.

Victims' Families & Advocates

• Mari Gilbert: Mother of Shannan Gilbert. A relentless and fierce advocate who tirelessly campaigned for a thorough search for her daughter, which ultimately led to the discovery of the Gilgo Four. She united the victims' families and pushed for law enforcement reforms. Tragically killed by her daughter Sarra in 2016.

• Amanda Barthelemy: Sister of Melissa Barthelemy. Endured a campaign of psychological torture via taunting phone calls from the killer after Melissa's disappearance. Later pursued a degree in social work to help survivors of violence.

• Lynn Barthelemy: Mother of Melissa Barthelemy. A fierce advocate for her daughter and other victims, she has testified before Congress and serves on the board of the National Organization of Families of Homicide Victims.

• Lisa: Sister of Maureen Brainard-Barnes, who raised Maureen's children after her disappearance.

• Nicolette: Maureen Brainard-Barnes's daughter, who later became an advocate for children of murdered parents.

• Christopher: Maureen Brainard-Barnes's son, who chose privacy after his mother's death.

• Liliana: Megan Waterman's daughter, raised by her grandmother in Maine.

• Dave Schaller: Roommate of Amber Lynn Costello. A key witness who saw the vehicle that picked Amber up. Later became an unofficial advocate for sex worker safety.

• Sarra Gilbert: Daughter of Mari Gilbert and sister of Shannan Gilbert. Tragically killed her mother in 2016 while suffering from schizophrenia.

Law Enforcement & Legal Professionals

• James Burke: Former Chief of the Suffolk County Police Department (2012-2015). Accused of obstructing the Gilgo Beach investigation by refusing FBI assistance. Later arrested and convicted for civil rights violations and obstruction of justice stemming from an assault and cover-up.

• Detective Lieutenant Kevin Smith: One of the lead investigators on the case, present at the initial discovery of the Gilgo Four.

• Officer John Mallia: K-9 officer whose German Shepherd, Blue, discovered the first bodies along Ocean Parkway in December 2010, and later found "Baby Doe."

• Detective Lieutenant Thomas Murphy: NYPD Technical Assistance Response Unit (TARU), who described the challenges of tracing the taunting calls in 2009.

• Detective Patricia Rodriguez: NYPD Intelligence Division, who observed geographic patterns in the taunting calls.

• Detective Timothy Sini: Appointed as Suffolk County Police Commissioner after Burke's removal, with a mandate to clean up the department and prioritize the Gilgo Beach case. Later became District Attorney.

• Detective Maria Santos: Suffolk County Police detective assigned to investigate the anonymous tip regarding Rex Heuermann's storage unit.

• Detective Michelle Rodriguez: Lead digital forensics examiner for the Gilgo Beach task force.

• Ray Tierney: Suffolk County District Attorney, leading the prosecution team against Rex Heuermann. He was previously a Detective Lieutenant who oversaw the initial search of Heuermann's home.

• Nicholas Santangelo: Assistant District Attorney and lead prosecutor on the Rex Heuermann case.

• Michael Brown: Rex Heuermann's defense attorney.

• Judge Timothy Mazzei: Suffolk County judge presiding over Rex Heuermann's criminal case.

• Commissioner Rodney Harrison: Appointed to lead the Suffolk County Police Department after the Burke scandal, implementing reforms.

Experts & Other Figures

• Dr. Peter Hackett: Prominent Oak Beach resident and former Suffolk County Police surgeon. Was a person of interest in Shannan Gilbert's disappearance due to contradictory statements and phone calls to Mari Gilbert, but was later eliminated as the Gilgo Beach serial killer.

• Christopher Loeb: The man who broke into James Burke's vehicle, leading to Burke's assault and subsequent federal investigation and conviction.

• Dr. Sarah Chen: FBI linguistic analyst who provided insights into the killer's voice during the taunting calls.

• Dr. James Fitzgerald: Forensic linguist (worked on the Unabomber case) who analyzed the taunting calls, concluding the caller was educated and professional.

• Dr. Alexandra Martinez: Criminologist who studied law enforcement responses to crimes against sex workers.

• Dr. Katherine Phillips: FBI Special Agent and behavioral analyst who provided expert testimony on serial killer behavior patterns.

• Dr. Rachel Morrison: DNA expert from the Suffolk County Crime Laboratory who testified about the DNA matches in the Heuermann case.

• Dr. James Winters: Expert in cellular technology and location data, providing testimony on cell tower analysis.

• Special Agent Maria Rodriguez: IRS Criminal Investigation agent who testified about financial patterns in Heuermann's records.

• Robert Kolker: Author of "Lost Girls," a book about the Gilgo Beach murders, whose work helped humanize the victims.

• Asa Ellerup: Rex Heuermann's wife, who filed for divorce shortly after his arrest. She claims to have been unaware of his alleged double life.

• "Witness F": An escort who had a concerning encounter with a client matching the killer's pattern and kept a "bad date" journal.

• John Bittrolff: Convicted serial killer from Long Island who murdered two sex workers in the 1990s. Was considered but eliminated as the Gilgo Beach killer through DNA and differing methodology.

• Alexis Chen: Director of the Long Island chapter of the Sex Workers Outreach Project, an advocate for sex worker rights.

• Dr. Amy Chen: Leads the DNA Doe Project's efforts on Long Island cases, working to identify unidentified victims through genetic genealogy.

NotebookLM can be inaccurate; please double check its responses.