RIVERHEAD, N.Y. — The ongoing saga of the Gilgo Beach killings took a significant turn on Tuesday as architect Rex Heuermann was charged with the murder of a seventh woman, Valerie Mack. Her remains were initially discovered on Long Island in 2000, raising further concerns about the string of deaths attributed to this case.
Valerie Mack, who was 24 at the time of her death, had been working as an escort in Philadelphia and was last seen by her family in New Jersey. Her partial skeletal remains were found in Manorville, New York, approximately 50 miles east of a later discovery at Gilgo Beach more than a decade later. Genetic testing in 2020 finally identified her remains after years of being unrecognized.
Prosecutors revealed that human hair found alongside Mack’s remains matched the genetic profile of Heuermann’s daughter, although the young girl is not implicated in any wrongdoing and would have been just three or four years old when Mack died.
During his court appearance, Heuermann firmly declared his innocence, stating, “I’m not guilty of any of these charges, your honor.”
The Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office plans to conduct a news conference in conjunction with local and state law enforcement following the latest court proceedings. Heuermann already faces charges related to the deaths of six other women whose remains were found on Long Island.
The investigation into the Gilgo Beach killings began in 2010 when police discovered multiple sets of human remains while searching for a missing woman, sparking fears of a serial killer operating in the area. Over the years, law enforcement has utilized DNA analysis and other investigative strategies to identify several victims, many of whom were involved in sex work.
The case has persisted through the tenure of five police commissioners and has received more than 1,000 tips, leading to ongoing speculation about the presence of a serial killer at large.
Heuermann, who resided with his wife and children in Massapequa Park, Long Island, was arrested on July 13, 2023, facing accusations in the murders of Amber Lynn Costello, Megan Waterman, and Melissa Barthelemy. He was previously charged with the deaths of three other women — Maureen Brainard-Barnes, Sandra Costilla, and Jessica Taylor — earlier this year, consistently pleading not guilty.
In recent court filings, prosecutors disclosed that a hard drive discovered in Heuermann’s basement contained documents that allegedly detailed his killings, including meticulous checklists and notes for future actions.
One document linked to Mack’s murder contained references to “Mill Road,” a location near where her initial remains were found, designated under “DS,” believed to refer to “dump site.” Additionally, items listed on this document included “foam drain cleaner,” which ties into calls made from Heuermann’s phone to plumbing companies around the time of Mack’s murder.
Investigators also found magazines and articles related to the Gilgo Beach case at Heuermann’s home, suggesting he had kept them as mementos. Among these was a July 29, 2003, copy of a publication featuring reports on Mack and Taylor.
Authorities are also reviewing the case related to Karen Vergata, whose remains were discovered in 1996 and were not identified until 2022 through advanced DNA analysis.
In a recent development, officials have released new renderings of an unidentified victim found in 2011, noting that years of identification as male may need to be reassessed, as the victim is thought to have presented as female before passing away in 2006.
