Rex Heuermann, the architect accused in the Gilgo Beach serial killings, faced new charges on Thursday for two additional murders, expanding the timeline of his alleged crimes to span three decades. The 60-year-old suspect pleaded not guilty to killing Jessica Taylor in 2003 and Sandra Costilla in 1993 during a court appearance in Riverhead, New York.
Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney announced the new charges, stating, “The defendant’s intent was to locate these victims, hunt them down, bring them under his control and kill them.” Tierney revealed that investigators discovered a “planning document” on a hard drive in Heuermann’s basement, which they believe was used to “methodically blueprint” his killings.
The document, written in all capital letters, included checklists for tasks to be completed before, during, and after the killings. It contained disturbing entries such as reminders to clean the bodies, destroy evidence, and “have story set.” One section titled “things to remember” appeared to highlight lessons from previous killings, including using heavier rope and limiting noise to maximize “play time.”
Prosecutors believe that an entry in the document about removing heads and hands may connect Heuermann to another victim, Valerie Mack, whose partial remains were discovered near Taylor’s body. While Heuermann has not been charged in Mack’s death, Tierney confirmed that he is a suspect in her case.
The new charges significantly expand the timeline of the Gilgo Beach case, with the first murder Heuermann is now accused of committing dating back to 1993. This development has led investigators to reexamine other cold cases in the area.
Heuermann was initially arrested in July 2023 and charged with killing three women whose bodies were found near Gilgo Beach in 2010. He was later charged with a fourth murder. The victims, known as the “Gilgo Four,” were all sex workers whose remains were discovered wrapped in burlap.
Defense attorney Michael Brown stated that Heuermann maintains his innocence and looks forward to defending himself in court. The suspect remains in custody without bail.
The investigation into the Gilgo Beach murders, which has spanned over a decade, gained momentum in early 2022 when authorities formed an interagency task force to review the evidence. The case has drawn national attention and has been described as one of Long Island’s most notorious unsolved crimes.
As the investigation continues, authorities are urging anyone with information related to these cases to come forward. The Suffolk County Police Department has set up a dedicated tip line for the Gilgo Beach investigation.
Citations:
[1] https://edition.cnn.com/2024/06/06/us/gilgo-beach-killings-rex-heuermann-indictment/index.html
[2] https://abcnews.go.com/US/gilgo-beach-murders-timeline-investigation/story?id=101428812
[3] https://abc7ny.com/post/gilgo-beach-suspect-serial-killer-rex-heuermann-murders/14917073/
[4] https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/gilgo-beach-serial-killings-complete-timeline-events-rcna94350
[5] https://www.cbsnews.com/news/rex-heuermann-gilgo-beach-serial-killings-suspect-48-hours/
[6] https://www.nytimes.com/article/gilgo-beach-serial-killing-heuermann.html
[7] https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/long-island-serial-killer-gilgo-beach-rex-heuermann-new-murders/5482303/
Last modified: June 20, 2025
