SUFFOLK COUNTY, NEW YORK: As the case of the Gilgo Beach murders is slowly unfolding, New York-based architect Rex Heuermann, 59, is slowly emerging as the archetype of a true crime suspect. Heuermann was arrested on Thursday, July 14, from his office in Midtown, Manhattan. The architect, who boasts of having a passion for cabinet making much like his father, has been charged with three counts each of first and second-degree murders for the deaths of Melissa Barthelemy, Megan Waterman and Amber Costello. He is also the prime suspect in the murder of Maureen Brainard-Barnes.
In a press conference, the Suffolk County Police Commission Rodney Harrison said, "Rex Heuermann is a demon that walks among us," before adding, "A predator that ruined families. If not for the members of this task force he would still be out on the streets today. Even with this arrest, we are not done."
‘I hope he wasn’t building coffins’
While most of Heuermann's neighbors were shocked at his arrest, they already found him to be suspicious, and some did not find the news surprising at all. While police have not said anything about Heurmann hiding bodies in the backyard, neighbors came up with their own ideas based on his activities that they had noticed over the past few years. An anonymous neighbor at his Massapequa Park home told People after his arrest, "He did a lot of woodworking and stuff in his garage and in his... his driveway," adding, "I hope he wasn't building coffins."
On the other hand, a 24-year-old man named Nicholas Ferchaw told New York Times, “We would cross the street,” sharing that he looked formidable, “He was somebody you don't want to approach.” Ferchaw even shared an incident involving Heuermann’s "creepiness." Once he went to say hello as the 59-year-old was chopping wood. Upon his greeting, Heurmann didn’t say anything, just continued to cut the wood while giving a hard stare to Ferchaw.
Another Massapequa Park resident also had a concerning story to share. A man named Mike Schmidt, living in the same neighborhood, was visiting a friend of his whose property stands just behind Heuermann’s. While drinking beers in the backyard, they often discussed among themselves the possibility of Heuermann hiding dead bodies in the backyard. Because of the dilapidated condition of the property, Schmidt says that they often remarked between themselves, “He probably has bodies there.”
He also shared that Heuermann’s house was usually off-limits to the children even during Halloween. However, last year, he and his friend took their children to Heuermann’s home just to get a glimpse inside. They were surprised when he himself opened the door and greeted the children with pumpkins full of candies. Schmidt, however, says his wife made them throw the candies away when she learned about their origin.
The neighbors were always suspicious that something was amiss given the run-down condition of his home. His profession as an architect juxtaposes with the condition of his house. “I never seen anyone come out that house. My daughter called me and told me to come out here and see what was going on,” referring to the house, a longtime neighbor named Cheryl Lombardi said to New York Post, “We’ve walked past it for years and I always ask myself when is someone going to fix up that house.” Bonni Petrone, whose sister was Heuermann’s classmate remarked, “He was an architect, but his house looks like a dungeon.”
'He looks regular'
There were a few neighbors who found him to be a normal working person though. A neighbor named Barry Auslander said to the New York Post, “I’ve seen him. He looks regular, like an everyday guy. I’ve seen him when I take my wife to the train — he takes the train to his office in the city.” He added, “He seemed like a regular neighbor."
