RIVERHEAD, N.Y. — Accused serial killer Rex Heuermann is set to return to court next week in Long Island, facing charges in the death of a fourth woman whose remains were discovered in a marshy area near Gilgo Beach, sources familiar with the case told ABC News.
Heuermann is already facing charges for the murder of three women, whose bodies were found wrapped in burlap in close proximity. Prosecutors believe he is also connected to the death of a fourth woman, Maureen Brainard-Barnes. He has pleaded not guilty to killing Megan Waterman, Melissa Barthelemy, and Amber Costello, all of whom were found dead in December 2010, and is currently being held without bail.
During the upcoming court appearance in Riverhead, it is anticipated that prosecutors will announce a grand jury indictment charging Heuermann with a fourth murder. The victim, Brainard-Barnes, was found wrapped with a belt bearing a distinctive buckle with the initials WH, which investigators believe may stand for Heuermann’s father.
The Suffolk County District Attorney’s office, which is handling the prosecution of Heuermann, declined to comment. The architect was linked to the women, all of whom were sex workers, through DNA evidence, including a sample taken from a discarded pizza crust outside his Manhattan office.
The case also highlights the unresolved deaths of six other victims in the Gilgo Beach area. The investigation into these murders continues to be a priority for law enforcement.
In conclusion, Rex Heuermann will face new charges in connection to the death of a fourth woman, adding to the existing allegations against him for the murders of three other women. The ongoing investigation also emphasizes the unresolved deaths of six additional victims in the Gilgo Beach area.