Rex Heuermann, the 59-year-old man suspected of being the notorious Gilgo Beach Serial Killer, has a history of terrorizing his Massapequa Park neighbors with eerie behavior, according to residents of the Long Island community. Known to be a menacing figure, he reportedly unnerved children, made inappropriate advances towards local women, and even bragged about the infamous killings he is now charged with.
Nearly 13 years after the remains of ten individuals were found along Gilgo Beach, Heuermann, a towering 6-foot-4 figure, has been pinpointed as the perpetrator behind at least three of these murders.
In the quiet suburban block where Heuermann lived, neighbors recollected him as a menacing, eccentric figure who occupied a home that children instinctively avoided. "We refused to let our kids trick-or-treat at his house. We were like, 'Skip that one.'" said a local resident. The house, a jarring sight amidst neatly arranged single-family residences, was once even jokingly referred to as a probable hiding place for bodies.
Despite appearing like an ordinary businessman commuting to Manhattan each day, authorities accuse Heuermann of leading a double life as the demented murderer of sex workers Megan Waterman, 22, Melissa Barthelemy, 24, and Amber Costello, 27.
Nicholas Ferchaw, a neighbor, recalled being intimidated by Heuermann's unsettling demeanor. Others revealed that Heuermann grew up and lived in the same house with his second wife, Asa Ellerup, and their two adult children, including a special needs son. Yet, he was far from an ordinary family man, keeping to himself and often arousing suspicion.
One neighbor, Etienne Devilliers, even had to confront Heuermann for inappropriate behavior towards his wife. Nicole Brass, a former escort, disturbingly recalled dining with Heuermann nearly a decade ago. She remembered him fervently discussing the Gilgo murders, describing it as if he was "visualizing it in his head."
While Heuermann is currently charged with three murders, authorities name him the primary suspect in the death of Maureen Brainard-Barnes, 25. The discovery of nine additional bodies, including a man, a toddler, and Shannan Gilbert, 24, an aspiring actress and escort, has investigators attempting to link Heuermann to the remaining deaths.
Prosecutors allege Heuermann, who has pleaded not guilty and remains in custody without bail, used burner phones to communicate with his online victims. The police traced calls he made to cell towers near his residence and his Manhattan office. Compelling DNA evidence allegedly linking Heuermann to the victims has also surfaced, from a strand of hair found on Waterman to genetic material retrieved from a discarded pizza crust.
Suffolk County Police Commissioner Rodney Harrison referred to Heuermann as a "demon that walks among us, a predator that ruined families."
As this suburban nightmare unfolds, one neighbor aptly reflects, "You don't expect something like this to happen in a town like Massapequa. This is as suburban as it gets."