Attorney in Gilgo Beach serial killer case suggests cannibalism may have been involved: Live updates

An attorney suggested during today’s press conference that cannibalism may have been involved in the Gilgo Beach killings.

John Ray, who represents the family of Shannan Gilbert, whose disappearance led to the discovery of 10 sets of remains, said the “new and important evidence” regarding Heuermann’s family was recently uncovered.

Heuermann’s estranged wife, Asa Ellerup, filed for divorce in July 2023 after he was charged, but has still shown up at several of his hearings.

News of the evidence comes exactly a week after Heuermann, 60, was arraigned on murder charges in the 2003 dismemberment death of Jessica Taylor, 20, and the 1993 death of Sandra Costilla, 28.

Ellerup and the couple’s two children were out of state at the time of the hearing, according to their attorney, Robert Macedonio, but were expected to be back this week.

The Manhattan architect has already been charged with the 2009 and 2010 murders of Megan Waterman, Melissa Barthelemy, Amber Lynn Costello and Maureen Brainard-Barnes — known as the “Gilgo Four.” He pleaded not guilty.

Last month, Gilgo Beach Task Force investigators completed a second search of Heuermann’s home in Massapequa Park and a search of an area of Manorville.

Key Points

• Suspected Gilgo Beach serial killer Rex Heuermann charged in slayings of two more women

• District Attorney confirms new charges against suspected Gilgo Beach killer

• Prosecutors say they found evidence of new killings on Heuermann’s hard drive

• District Attorney says ‘fair’ to say Heuermann is suspect in seventh murder

• Victim’s family speaks out as Heuermann hit with new charges

23:55 , Andrea Cavallier

Press conference has ended

17:45 , Andrea Cavallier

Attorney Ray’s press conference has ended.

Ray says he does not plan to sue the family.

‘It’s BDSM to the max’

17:07 , Andrea Cavallier

Attorney Ray said Victoria Heuermann attempted to delete all of her social media, as did her mother Asa Ellerup.

“We found that it appears that she has erased all of her sites that she has, all of her social media,” Ray said. “She just missed these ones.”

Ray said Victoria was “brought up in this sickness.”

“When you take all of these things collectively, are you going to be able to reasonably say who knows if the mother really knew what was happening in the house? Who knows if Mr. Heuermann knew what was going on with his daughter?”

“It’s BDSM to the max,” he added. “It’s demonic.”

He then pointed to their run down house in  Massapequa Park, which the family plans to stay in for now.

“It matches the demonic life,” Ray said. “Why do you think they have not left?”

Images show a ‘strange familiarity’ to Heuermann’s alleged victims, attorney says

16:57 , Andrea Cavallier

The images on Victoria’s alleged account show a “strange familiarity” to Heuermann’s alleged victims, Ray said, referring to Jessica Taylor.

Including one that shows someone with their limbs and hands that are cut off.

Taylor’s torso was found in July 2003 in the wooded area of Manorville. Her skull, hands and forearm, were found on Gilgo Beach in 2011.

Heuermann was charged with Taylor’s murder last week.

Another image shows a woman laying on her back. Ray, who represents Shannan Gilbert, pointed out that this is exactly how she was found.

“Make of that what you will,” he said.

Attorney reveals graphic images from Victoria's alleged Tumbler blog

16:52 , Andrea Cavallier

Images from Victoria’s alleged Tumbler blog are being shown at the presser.

One image shows a hanged person with a shoe is missing . Another image appears to show remains that are “half eaten,” according to Ray .

“There are many pictures beside what I’m showing you that are equally bad or worse,” he added.

“We chose these pictures because of their significance in relation to Rex Heuermann as well as his daughter Victoria.”

‘We have been sold a story’

16:36 , Andrea Cavallier

Attorney Ray says Heuermann’s daughter Victoria has appeared as “very innocent” in front of the press.

”The evidence that we have suggests that we have been sold a story by the Heuermann family,” he said.

He then showed a picture of Victoria “as she really is as she portrays herself on the internet.”

She is holding artwork of a human skull.

“That’s just the beginning,” he said.

Attorney focuses on Heuermann's children

16:33 , Andrea Cavallier

Attorny John Ray said he will speak today about one of Heuermann’s children and the “implications” it holds.

He said he is pointing only toward “circumstantial evidence,” including “inescapable conclusions.”

“You will see today that Rex Heuermann’s board is met by his daughter’s tastes, his daughter’s work," Ray said.

“We are not talking about merely murder. We’re talking about people who are involved and interested in torture, horrifying torture of the people that we know that are dead and many more that are to come.”

Ray then added that cannibalism was potentially involved in the murders.

Watch live: Attorney to reveal ‘evidence’ regarding Rex Heuermann’s family

16:24 , Andrea Cavallier

https://evt.live/press-conference-heuermann-family

Presser on ‘surprising’ evidence about Rex Heuermann’s family is starting

16:19 , Andrea Cavallier

Attorney John Ray has called a press conference to reveal “surprising evidence” regarding the family of Rex Heuermann.

The presser is starting now outside Attorney Ray’s office in Suffolk County.

Rex Heuermann’s wife claims to know nothing about his ‘double life’

16:10 , Andrea Cavallier

Heuermann’s wife Asa Ellerup has previously claimed to know nothing about the suspected serial killer’s “double life.”

“After 27 years with Mr. Heuermann, Ms. Ellerup maintains the belief that her estranged husband is not capable of committing these heinous acts,” Robert Macedonio, Ellerup’s attorney, told Newsweek.

The Gilgo Homicide Task Force confirm Heuermann’s wife and children were out of state at the time of Jessica Taylor’s disappearance. Heuermann was charged with Taylor’s murder last week.

The family was in Virginia from July 20 to 27 that year, according to Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond Tierney.

Heuermann’s adult children, Victoria Heuermann and Christopher Sheridan, have been “caught in the cross hairs of this deeply unfortunate case that they have nothing to do with other than they are related to Mr. Heuermann,” according to their attorney Vess Mitev.

Inside alleged serial killer Rex Heuermann’s ‘how to kill’ document

16:00 , Andrea Cavallier

Heuermann charged with more murders after cops find twisted ‘blueprint’ of killings

15:45 , Andrea Cavallier

Accused Gilgo Beach serial killer Rex Heuermann was arraigned on murder charges in the 2003 dismemberment death of 20-year-old Jessica Taylor and the 1993 death of 28-year-old Sandra Costilla.

The new charges come after authorities found a damning document in which he discussed his crimes in “excruciating detail.”

Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney revealed that Heuermann kept a “blueprint” of his crimes on a hard drive in his basement of his Massapequa Park home which was recently searched for a second time.

Tierney said Gilgo Beach Task Force believes “this planning document that was used by Heuermann to plot out his kills with excruciating detail.”

Heuermann pleaded not guilty to the shocking charges that came just days after another exhaustive search at his Long Island home.

Read more:

Suspected Gilgo Beach serial killer charged in slayings of two more women

Who is Rex Heuermann’s wife Asa Ellerup?

15:16 , Andrea Cavallier

At Rex Heuermann’s court hearing in April, his estranged wife Asa Ellerup showed up to support her husband after she vowed to give him the “benefit of the doubt” over his alleged involvement in the notorious Gilgo Beach murders.

Ellerup, his wife of two decades and mother of his adult children, was seen arriving at the Suffolk County Supreme Court in Riverhead but gave no answer when asked by reporters why she had decided to turn up.

She was not at the courthouse for his most recent hearing last when he was charged with two additional murders. Her attorney said she was out of the state and would return this week.

In March she released a statement in which she insisted her husband is “not capable of the crimes he is accused of”.

“I will listen to all of the evidence and withhold judgment until the end of trial,” she wrote. “I have given him the benefit of the doubt, as we all deserve.”

Ellerup – who filed for divorce just days after his July 2023 arrest in the high-profile case – has visited Heuermann “several times” and “she doesn’t believe he’s capable of this”.

Ellerup’s attorney said that she also wanted to extend her “heartfelt sympathies” to the victims and their families.

“Nobody deserves to die in that manner,” she said in the statement.

New evidence regarding Rex Heuermann’s family expected today

14:58 , Andrea Cavallier

Attorney John Ray, who represents some of Heuermann’s alleged victims, as well as Shannan Gilbert’s family, is holding a press conference today where he is expected to announce new evidence in the case.

The presser will be held at 11:15am at Ray’s office in Miller Place, Suffolk County.

Timeline of alleged Gilgo Beach murders now spans back three decades

Thursday 6 June 2024 19:20 , Katie Hawkinson

Today’s new charges against suspected Gilgo Beach killer Rex Heuermann significantly expand the timeline of his alleged crimes.

The Manhattan architect was initially charged with the 2009 and 2010 murders of Megan Waterman, Melissa Barthelemy, Amber Lynn Costello and Maureen Brainard-Barnes — known as the “Gilgo Four.”

Now, he faces new charges for the 2003 dismemberment death of 20-year-old Jessica Taylor and the 1993 death of 28-year-old Sandra Costilla.

This means Heuermann is now accused of crimes dating back over thirty years.

Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney says this new timeline “doesn’t change anything” for prosecutors.

“It underscores that which we already knew, that we have an individual who we are alleging meticulously planned and executed six separate murders,” Tierney told reporters on Thursday morning.

ICYMI: ‘Astronomically large number’: DA gives odds that hair found on victims belong to suspect

Thursday 6 June 2024 19:00 , Katie Hawkinson

Suffolk County, New York District Attorney Ray Tierney said testing of biological samples found on Jessica Taylor and Sandra Costilla revealed they likely belonged to suspected Gilgo Beach killer Rex Heuermann, leading his office to an indictment this morning.

A male hair was found on Costilla’s body, which a lab revealed likely matched Heuermann or someone with his DNA profile.

“It was 4.347 times 10 to 332nd power more likely to have come from a person genetically identical to Rex Heuermann than from an unrelated individual,” Tierney said of the results. He called it an “astronomically large number.”

A male hair was also found on Taylor’s body. That sample was tested and also found to likely belong to Heuermann or “someone matching the defendant’s DNA profile.”

Tierney said of the match results: “That number is 1.837 times 10 to the 603rd power...That number doesn’t exist, that’s so big.”

ICYMI: Victim’s family speaks out as Heuermann hit with new charges

Thursday 6 June 2024 18:45 , Katie Hawkinson

Family members of Jessica Taylor, who was murdered and dismembered in 2003 at 20 years old, are speaking out about her death.

“Jessica was a beautiful person,” her cousin Jasmine Robinson said in a statement. “Simple memories such as sitting down to dinner together, drawing pictures, dancing, jump rope, and sleepovers with her and my sister are memories I cherish.”

Rex Heuermann was charged this morning with Taylor’s murder. The Suffolk County District Attorney also charged him with the 1993 death of 28-year-old Sandra Costilla.

These new counts come after Hueermann was initially charged with the 2009 and 2010 murders of Megan Waterman, Melissa Barthelemy, Amber Lynn Costello and Maureen Brainard-Barnes — known as the “Gilgo Four.”

“Jessica was my daughter,” her mother Elizabeth Baczkiel said in a statement, read by attorney Gloria Allred to the media.

“She was loving and compassionate and so funny...I miss how she called me ‘mommy’ and ‘mama,’” she continued. “It is a tragedy she never had children. Jessica would have made a great mother.”

“Jessica, my darling daughter, you will never be forgotten. You will always be missed. You will forever be in our hearts.”

Thursday 6 June 2024 18:30 , Katie Hawkinson

A search of Gilgo Beach serial killer suspect Rex Heuermann’s home ended last week after six days – and it appears investigators were focusing on the basement, according to the family’s attorney.

Following the search, prosecutors to hit Heuermann with two new murder charges for the 2003 dismemberment death of Jessica Taylor, 20, and the 1993 death of Sandra Costilla, 28.

Read more on what we know about the search from The Independent’s Andrea Cavallier:

Suspected Gilgo Beach serial killer charged in slayings of two more women

WATCH: Suspected Gilgo Beach killer enters court to face new charges

Thursday 6 June 2024 18:15 , Andrea Cavallier

Prosecutors say they found evidence of new killings on Heuermann’s hard drive

Thursday 6 June 2024 17:47 , Katie Hawkinson, Andrea Cavallier

Rex Heuermann was charged with two new murders on Thursday morning after prosecutors say they found new evidence on a hard drive.

The bail document released Thursday says prosecutors identified a “planning document” on a hard drive in his basement used to “methodically blueprint” his killings, the Associated Press reports.

Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney said the Gilgo Beach Task Force believes “this planning document that was used by Heuermann to plot out his kills with excruciating detail”

“His motivations, meticulous planning, and clear intent were obvious,” Tierney said. “His intent was nothing short but to murder these victims.”

Attorney John Ray, who represents the victims’ families, said this digital data was essential to the new charges.

“He didn’t think that any of these things that he listed would ever be found because they were buried within his electronic devices that he had erased a long time ago,” Ray told reporters on Thursday morning. “What he didn’t recognize is the sophistication of modern electronic data investigation, and that’s what these things turned around.”

Heuermann was charged this morning with the 2003 dismemberment death of Jessica Taylor, 20, and the 1993 death of Sandra Costilla, 28.

These new counts come after Hueremann was initially charged with the 2009 and 2010 murders of Megan Waterman, Melissa Barthelemy, Amber Lynn Costello and Maureen Brainard-Barnes — known as the “Gilgo Four.”

DA alleges Heuermann used book on serial killers to ‘improve methodology'

Thursday 6 June 2024 17:42 , Katie Hawkinson

Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney said investigators found a book about a serial killer in Rex Heuermann’s home.

Tierney said Heuermann had referenced passages from retired FBI agent John Douglas’ book titled Mindhunter: Inside the FBI’s Elite Serial Crime Unit.

“It’s our allegation that the defendant was referencing that Mindhunter book, not to gain insight into his own behavior, to modify or change it, but rather to use it as a means of improving his methodology and to avoid capture by the authorities,” Tierney said on Thursday.

Victim’s family speaks out as Heuermann hit with new charges

Thursday 6 June 2024 17:30 , Katie Hawkinson

Family members of Jessica Taylor, who was murdered and dismembered in 2003 at 20 years old, are speaking out about her death.

“Jessica was a beautiful person,” her cousin Jasmine Robinson said in a statement. “Simple memories such as sitting down to dinner together, drawing pictures, dancing, jump rope, and sleepovers with her and my sister are memories I cherish.”

Rex Heuermann was charged this morning with Taylor’s murder. The Suffolk County District Attorney also charged him with the 1993 death of 28-year-old Sandra Costilla.

These new counts come after Hueermann was initially charged with the 2009 and 2010 murders of Megan Waterman, Melissa Barthelemy, Amber Lynn Costello and Maureen Brainard-Barnes — known as the “Gilgo Four.”

“Jessica was my daughter,” her mother Elizabeth Baczkiel said in a statement, read by attorney Gloria Allred to the media.

“She was loving and compassionate and so funny...I miss how she called me ‘mommy’ and ‘mama,’” she continued. “It is a tragedy she never had children. Jessica would have made a great mother.”

“Jessica, my darling daughter, you will never be forgotten. You will always be missed. You will forever be in our hearts.”

District Attorney says ‘fair’ to say Heuermann is suspect in seventh murder not included in today’s indictment

Thursday 6 June 2024 17:11 , Katie Hawkinson

Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney said it’s “fair” to say Rex Heuermann is a suspect in a seventh murder.

The Manhattan architect was initially charged with the 2009 and 2010 murders of Megan Waterman, Melissa Barthelemy, Amber Lynn Costello and Maureen Brainard-Barnes — known as the “Gilgo Four.” Now, he faces new charges for the 2003 dismemberment death of 20-year-old Jessica Taylor and the 1993 death of 28-year-old Sandra Costilla.

Tierney says Heuermann may be a suspect in the murder of Valerie Mack.

Gilgo Beach Task Force investigators completed a second search of Heuermann’s home in Massapequa Park and a search of an area of Manorville where the partial remains of both Taylor and Mack were found more than two decades ago.

However, Mack’s murder was not included in Thursday’s indictment.

New charges significantly changes span of alleged crimes

Thursday 6 June 2024 16:50 , Katie Hawkinson

Today’s new charges against suspected Gilgo Beach killer Rex Heuermann significantly expand the timeline of his alleged crimes.

The Manhattan architect was initially charged with the 2009 and 2010 murders of Megan Waterman, Melissa Barthelemy, Amber Lynn Costello and Maureen Brainard-Barnes — known as the “Gilgo Four.”

Now, he faces new charges for the 2003 dismemberment death of 20-year-old Jessica Taylor and the 1993 death of 28-year-old Sandra Costilla.

This means Heuermann is now accused of crimes dating back over thirty years.

Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney says this new timeline “doesn’t change anything” for prosecutors.

“It underscores that which we already knew, that we have an individual who we are alleging meticulously planned and executed six separate murders,” Tierney told reporters on Thursday morning.

‘Astronomically large number’: DA gives odds that hair found on victims belong to suspect

Thursday 6 June 2024 16:30 , Katie Hawkinson

Suffolk County, New York District Attorney Ray Tierney said testing of biological samples found on Jessica Taylor and Sandra Costilla revealed they likely belonged to suspected Gilgo Beach killer Rex Heuermann, leading his office to an indictment this morning.

A male hair was found on Costilla’s body, which a lab revealed likely matched Heuermann or someone with his DNA profile.

“It was 4.347 times 10 to 332nd power more likely to have come from a person genetically identical to Rex Heuermann than from an unrelated individual,” Tierney said of the results. He called it an “astronomically large number.”

A male hair was also found on Taylor’s body. That sample was tested and also found to likely belong to Heuermann or “someone matching the defendant’s DNA profile.”

Tierney said of the match results: “That number is 1.837 times 10 to the 603rd power...That number doesn’t exist, that’s so big.”

District Attorney confirms new charges against suspected Gilgo Beach killer

Thursday 6 June 2024 16:14 , Katie Hawkinson

Suffolk County, New York District Attorney Ray Tierney confirmed to reporters his office has indicted Rex Heuermann on two new murder charges.

“Each and every one of these allegations have got to be proven in court, and we certainly look forward to doing just that,” Tierney said on Thursday morning.

“We don’t ever forget that this case is about the victims and their families and hopefully providing them with that small measure of closure,” he said.

District Attorney to hold press conference

Thursday 6 June 2024 15:59 , Katie Hawkinson

Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney will speak to the media at 11 am local time.

His comments come after charging suspected Gilgo Beach serial killer Rex Heuermann with the murders of Jessica Taylor and Sandra Costilla, who were killed over 20 years ago.

The Manhattan architect had already been charged with the 2009 and 2010 murders of Megan Waterman, Melissa Barthelemy, Amber Lynn Costello and Maureen Brainard-Barnes — known as the “Gilgo Four.” He pleaded not guilty to their murders.

Attorney for victims' families speaks out about new charges

Thursday 6 June 2024 15:40 , Katie Hawkinson

Attorney John Ray, who represents the victims’ families, said suspect Rex Heuermann operated “in the fantasy that he was untouchable...undiscoverable.”

“He didn't think that any of these things that he listed would ever be found because they were buried within his electronic devices that he had erased a long time ago,” Ray told reporters on Thursday morning. “What he didn't recognize is the sophistication of modern electronic data investigation, and that's what these things turned around.”

”Those women also need representation and there are plenty more of them, you’ll see as time goes on,” Ray said.

Heuermann was charged Thursday with the murders of Jessica Taylor and Sandra Costilla, who were killed over 20 years ago.

The Manhattan architect had already been charged with the 2009 and 2010 murders of Megan Waterman, Melissa Barthelemy, Amber Lynn Costello and Maureen Brainard-Barnes — known as the “Gilgo Four.” He pleaded not guilty to their murders.

New murder charges followed second massive search of Rex Heuermann’s home

Thursday 6 June 2024 15:16 , Katie Hawkinson

Suspected Gilgo Beach serial killer Rex Heuermann has now been charged with the murders of Jessica Taylor and Sandra Costilla, who were killed over 20 years ago.

It comes just days after Gilgo Beach Task Force investigators completed a second search of Heuermann’s home in Massapequa Park and a search of an area of Manorville where the partial remains of Taylor — and Valerie Mack — were found more than two decades ago.

Taylor’s torso was found off Halsey Manor Lane in Manorville about a mile south of where Mack’s remains were discovered near the Long Island Expressway, Newsday reported. However, Mack’s death is not a part of the new indictment, sources told the paper.

Over the course of nine days back in April of this year, Gilgo Beach Task Force investigators searched the area of Manorville where the remains of Taylor and Mack were discovered, as well as Heuermann’s home.

A first search of the house back in July lasted 12 days and turned up more than 200 firearms, including dozens stored in a basement vault. Investigators also tore up a wooden deck, used an excavator to dig up the backyard and scanned for buried objects with specialized equipment.

Suspected Gilgo Beach serial killer Rex Heuermann charged in slayings of two more women

Thursday 6 June 2024 14:55 , Katie Hawkinson

Accused Gilgo Beach serial killer Rex Heuermann has been charged with the brutal murders of two more women, whose remains were found over two decades ago, including a victim whom investigators had previously linked to a different suspect.

Heuermann, 60, was back in court in Riverhead, New York, on Thursday morning where he was arraigned on murder charges in the 2003 dismemberment death of 20-year-old Jessica Taylor and the 1993 death of 28-year-old Sandra Costilla. He pleaded not guilty to the shocking charges that came just days after another exhaustive search at his Long Island home.

The former Manhattan architect, who was first arrested in July 2023, has already been charged with the 2009 and 2010 murders of Megan Waterman, Melissa Barthelemy, Amber Lynn Costello and Maureen Brainard-Barnes – collectively known as the “Gilgo Four” – after their remains were found in burlap sacks along Ocean Parkway.

Read more:

No sign of accused serial killer’s wife, daughter in court

Thursday 6 June 2024 14:41 , Andrea Cavallier

There is no sign of Rex Heueremann’s estranged wife or daughter in court today.

Robert Macedonio, attorney for Heuermann’s wife Asa Ellerup, talked to Newsday after inspecting the condition of the Massapequa Park property following the search that preceded today’s expected charges.

“It seems to be that the focus was in the basement,” Macedonio said. “There doesn’t seem to be much disturbance in the bathrooms [and] bedrooms.”

Suspected Gilgo Beach killer expected to be hit with new charges

Thursday 6 June 2024 14:34 , Katie Hawkinson

Suspected Gilgo Beach serial killer Rex Heuermann is expected to be charged with the brutal murders of two more women, whose remains were found over two decades ago.

The expected charges come days after Gilgo Beach Task Force investigators completed a second search of Heuermann’s home in Massapequa Park and a search of an area of Manorville where the partial remains of two women were found in the early 2000s.

The 60-year-old will appear before State Supreme Court Justice Timothy Mazzei on Thursday morning.

Follow along for live coverage of the hearing.