MASSAPEQUA PARK, NEW YORK: The Gilgo Beach murders, an unsolved homicide mystery that has captivated the world for over a decade, have finally seen a breakthrough in the 13-year-long investigation. Architect Rex Heuermann, a self-proclaimed "troubleshooter," was apprehended by a dedicated task force focused on the chilling case, on Friday, July 15. However, his arrest has brought to light a potential connection to another suspect, John Bittrolff, adding a new layer of intrigue to the case.
The Gilgo Beach murders have puzzled investigators since 2010 when multiple bodies were discovered on Long Island's Gilgo Beach. The victims, mostly young women involved in sex work, were strangled and disposed of in a horrifying manner. Despite extensive efforts, the case remained unresolved, leaving behind a trail of questions and theories.
Who is John Bittrolff?
The arrest of Heuermann has also drawn attention to Bittrolff, a carpenter from Manorville, Long Island. In 2014, Bittrolff, a married father residing in Manorville, Suffolk County, was taken into custody for the homicides of sex workers Rita Tangredi and Colleen McNamee. The connection to these murders was established through a DNA sample obtained from his brother, Timothy, who had been arrested and convicted on a contempt of court charge in 2013, resulting in his inclusion in a criminal database.
Tangredi, aged 31, was discovered beaten and strangled to death in 1993, while McNamee, aged 20, met a similar fate the following year, as per Oxygen Crime. The bodies of both women were discarded in wooded areas within close proximity on Long Island's south shore, with Tangredi found in East Patchogue and McNamee in nearby North Shirley. The similarities between these murders and the Gilgo Beach killings have sparked speculation regarding Bittrolff's potential involvement in the larger series of crimes, hinting at a possible connection.
Rex Heuermann's arrest and charges
Architect Heuermann, 59, had been under the scrutiny of the special Gilgo Beach Homicide Investigation Task Force for a year prior to his arrest. DNA evidence tied him to the crimes, leading to a raid on his residence in Massapequa Park. Heuermann now faces three counts of first-degree murder and three counts of second-degree murder, specifically related to the killings of Melissa Barthelemy, Amber Costello, and Megan Waterman. However, he is also suspected, though not yet formally charged, of the murder of Maureen Brainard-Barnes.
Incriminating evidence and startling search history
Detailed court documents revealed incriminating evidence against Heuermann. Cellphone billing records matched his locations to "burner" devices allegedly used to arrange meetings with the victims. Taunting calls made to a relative of one victim and accessing the voicemail box of another victim's cellphone further raised suspicion. Astonishingly, Heuermann's search history unveiled “thousands of searches related to sex workers, sadistic, torture-related pornography” and imagery depicting child sexual abuse.
Moreover, he showed a peculiar interest in the disappearances, murders, and police investigations of the Gilgo Beach victims. Searches during that period that police noted included: “Why could law enforcement not trace the calls made by the Long Island serial killer”, “Why hasn’t the Long Island serial killer been caught”, “Long Island killer”, “Long Island serial killer phone call”, and more. Documents allege Heuermann also searched for and read news articles about the creation of the law enforcement task force that arrested him.
