DNA Evidence Allowed in Heuermann Case

A judge in Long Island has ruled that Suffolk County prosecutors can utilize advanced DNA evidence against Rex Heuermann, who is accused of being a serial killer linked to the murders of seven sex workers. This significant ruling was made on Tuesday.

Judge Tim Matsuzay’s decision is a substantial boost for District Attorney Ray Tierney, whose prosecution largely relies on DNA findings.

“I wouldn’t have moved forward with the trial if I didn’t have confidence in the evidence,” Tierney shared with reporters after the ruling.

Heuermann’s attorney, Michael Brown, has contested the DNA evidence and has attempted to separate the trials of each of the seven victims associated with the case.

Earlier this month, Matsuzay confirmed that crucial DNA evidence could be admitted, which is central to the prosecution’s case. This evidence allegedly connects Heuermann to the deceased sex workers found along Long Island’s remote areas, including Valerie Mack, Melissa Taylor, Megan Waterman, Melissa Barthelemy, Maureen Brainard-Barnes, Sandra Costilla, and Amber Lynn Costello.

The remains were discovered between 1993 and 2010, but the case went unresolved until Rodney Harrison, a former NYPD official, became Suffolk County Police Commissioner, leading to Heuermann’s arrest in July 2023.

Heuermann, a prominent architect who denies involvement in the murders, is currently in custody without bail as the case proceeds toward trial.

Brown has described the DNA findings as “magic,” urging the judge to dismiss their relevance and questioning whether each murder requires a separate trial.

The DNA evidence in question was processed by Astrea Labs, which employed advanced techniques to analyze damaged samples, a first for New York state court.

On September 3, Brown argued that the lab is not state-approved and that it may be breaching health laws regarding evidence use.

Meanwhile, Tierney has announced plans to call around 100 witnesses from 15 states for upcoming trials, with over 6.5 million documents submitted as evidence.