LONG ISLAND, NEW YORK: In a twist of chilling events, it was revealed that authorities were led to Gilgo Beach murders suspect Rex Heuermann by a tip from a Long Island pimp, besides disturbing internet searches and pizza crust DNA. In a meeting with detectives in the spring of 2022, the unnamed pimp for murder victim, Amber Lynn Costello, reportedly told authorities that the suspect's automobile was a green Chevrolet Avalanche, according to Suffolk County Police Commissioner Rodney Harrison in an interview with the Daily News on Saturday, July 15.
Heuermann's arrest draws attention to him and provides light on Costello's whereabouts, who is thought to be the fourth victim of the so-called "Gilgo Four." Heuermann, 59, who is accused of killing Melissa Barthelemy, Amber Lynn Costello, and Megan Waterman, has been charged with three counts of first-degree murder and three counts of second-degree murder. He is also under suspicion for the murder of Maureen Brainard-Barnes, though he has not been officially charged, which has led to a further inquiry.
'The turning point was the car'
Suffolk County Police Commissioner Harrison claimed, "The turning point was the car. Once we got that car, who it connected to, that’s when the investigation got legs." The pimp allegedly ran across Heuermann in September 2010 while planning to rob the now-accused killer, but swiftly backed off because the 6-foot-6, 270-pound suburban architect was "the size of a mountain," stated Harrison. During a spring 2022 meeting with investigators, the unidentified pimp added, "You might want to look at him."
Heuermann was also described by the pimp as "being into prostitutes." Heuermann reportedly evaded suspicion for more than ten years by working in his Manhattan office while walking to the train from his Long Island home, keeping his alleged grisly secrets hidden as the years slipped without suspicion, much less an arrest.
Harrison claimed that the inquiry grew more involved once investigators made the connection between the car and Heuermann. According to court documents, authorities tracked the defendant's whereabouts during the time of the killings using cellular site data, and they found burner phones that Heuermann had used to schedule meetings with the victims.
Heuermann's DNA was also discovered on a pizza crust that was taken out of the defendant's trash, and detectives linked the suspect to a hair discovered in a piece of burlap used to transfer the victim Megan Waterman's body, as stated by officials. According to a high-ranking NYPD source, detectives in the city will now look into whether the alleged multiple murderer was involved in any unsolved homicides in the five districts. According to the source who spoke to The News, detectives will specifically run his DNA to check for any potential matches.
Amber Lynn Costello was never reported missing
At the time of her disappearance, Costello, who was 27 years old, had an unpleasant life as a drug addict. She reportedly employed herself as a sex worker and promoted her services on websites like Craigslist and Backpage to pay for her addiction. She went by the names Mia or Carolina. On September 2, 2010, Costello reportedly walked out of her house to meet a customer and never returned.
However, Costello was never reported missing. Her remains weren't found until December 13, 2010, when Shannan Gilbert was being searched. They were located close to Gilgo Beach on the north side of Ocean Parkway. She was thought to be the fourth victim of the so-called "Gilgo Four." Following Heuermann's arrest, detectives are putting great effort into figuring out the full circumstances surrounding these horrifying killings.
