A Long Island architect, Rex Heuerman, has been accused of killing seven sex workers in connection with the Gilgo Beach murders. Recently, his attorney revealed that Heuerman is facing some undisclosed health issues and has been using crutches while in custody.
According to defense attorney Michael Brown, Heuerman, a resident of Massapequa Park, was unable to attend his recent court appearance in Suffolk County due to his medical problems. He is currently absent as he awaits his trial.
Brown mentioned in court that Heuerman has been on crutches for about a month, adding, “He has some health issues and we are dealing with them.” However, when pressed for more details, he stated, “I’m not at liberty to say.”
Officials from the Suffolk County corrections facility have not provided additional information, citing laws that protect medical confidentiality.
The defense attorney confirmed he agreed to Heuerman’s absence from a hearing where crucial elements of the defense’s case were supposed to be presented prior to the trial.
Heuerman, who is 62 years old, is alleged to have murdered seven sex workers between 1993 and 2010, with their dismembered bodies discovered in remote areas of Long Island. These murders remained a mystery for many years until Suffolk County authorities revisited the cold case, leading to Heuerman’s arrest outside his office in midtown Manhattan in July 2023.
Initially, he faced charges for three of the murders connected to some victims identified as part of the “Gilgo Four,” but advanced DNA technology later linked him to all seven cases.
Suffolk County Attorney Ray Tierney has disclosed that Heuerman had connections with Valerie Mack, Jessica Taylor, Megan Waterman, Melissa Barthelemy, Marlene Brainard Burns, Amber Lynn Costello, and Sandra Costilla. These victims had all advertised sex services online in urban areas before they vanished.
