LONG ISLAND, NEW YORK: ‘Crime Stories’ host Nancy Grace recently argued that authorities disregarded crucial "red flags" in Rex Heuermann's case that would have resulted in the early arrest of the Gilgo Beach murders' suspect. The 59-year-old Manhattan architect was detained on Thursday, June 13, on suspicion of murdering four of the 11 victims, whose remains were discovered on a remote Long Island beach in December 2010.
The married father-of-two faced three charges of first degree murder and three of second degree murder for allegedly killing Melissa Barthelemy, Megan Waterman and Amber Costello. He was also named the prime suspect in the murder of Maureen Brainard-Barnes, whose body was bound and hidden in thick underbrush along a remote beach highway. It took more than a decade for investigators to collect concrete evidence leading to Heuermann, who lived not far from where the bodies were dumped. Officials previously revealed that evidence, including cell phone data, credit card statements, and DNA testing, helped them zero-in on the suspect.
‘Many, many red flags were missed’
Grace claimed that Heuermann could have been arrested earlier if authorities had not missed crucial red flags. "Many, many red flags were missed. I call it evidence," she said on 'America Reports'. She said that Heuermann's description fit the account provided by an eyewitness, who saw the suspect with Costello. "A witness saw Amber Costello, one of the original victims, with a guy that matches Heuermann's description. He's very easily identifiable, about 6'4", about 240-50 pounds," she said, noting how his Chevy Avalanche, which was seen near the crime scene, could have helped investigators solve the case earlier.
"And his Chevy Avalanche, which I'd like to point out, discontinue manufacture in 2013. So who else is going to have a Chevy Avalanche with one of the victims about 20 minutes away from the disposal sites of the body? He parks it right out front. Hello?" Grace said, per Fox News.
These comments came after Grace claimed that she had “no doubt" that there were more victims. “You do the same thing over, and over, and over, why stop?” she claimed, urging authorities to "dismantle" Heuermann's home "down to the screws" as she believed he had kept victims in a secret room in his residence. “We’re just learning that he had a secret, underground room down in the basement,” she claimed, according to Crime Online.
Did Rex Heuermann kill people in his home?
Grace claimed that she believed Heuermann killed at least three of his victims in his home. “About a 12 by 15 room…I think it is entirely possible at least three of his victims were killed in that home. Why do I say that? Because three of the victims were killed while his wife and children were gone out of state,” she said. Authorities alleged that three strands of hair belonging to Heuermann’s wife were found on or near the three victims. On Sunday, July 16, New York state police removed a massive stache of weapons from the suspect's home, a day after searching the property.
