Current:Home > StocksDNA from pizza crust linked Gilgo Beach murders suspect to victim, court documents say -AssetPath
DNA from pizza crust linked Gilgo Beach murders suspect to victim, court documents say
View
Date:2025-04-14 00:08:23
DNA from a pizza crust that was discarded earlier this year was used to link the suspect charged in the Gilgo murders case with one of the victims, prosecutors allege in court documents released Friday.
Rex Heuermann, 59, has been charged with three counts of first-degree murder and three counts of second-degree murder in the deaths of Melissa Barthelemy, Megan Waterman and Amber Costello, according to the indictment. Those three women, along with Maureen Brainard-Barnes, were all found in close proximity to one another in 2010 and have been called the "Gilgo Beach Four."
In all, the bodies of at least 10 women were found in the area, believed to be the victims of a serial killer. Some of the victims had been wrapped in burlap.
In court Friday, Heuermann pleaded not guilty, and the judge ordered him held without bail. In the court filing, prosecutors outlined how investigators reexamined old clues that led to the suspect and developed new evidence to close in on him after so many years.
According to the newly released court documents, on or about Jan. 26, 2023, a surveillance team recovered a pizza box thrown by Heuermann into a garbage can on Fifth Avenue in Manhattan.
"This pizza box was sent to the Suffolk County Crime Laboratory for analysis, where a swab was taken from the leftover pizza crust," prosecutors wrote.
About three months later, on April 28, a detective hand-delivered a portion of male hair that was found on Megan Waterman that had been preserved as evidence to the same lab where the pizza crust had been tested.
On or about June 12, 2023, the forensic lab compared the mitochondrial DNA from the pizza and the hair and determined that the "DNA profile(s) are the same" — specifically that 99.96% of the North American population would be excluded as matches to the hair.
"It is significant that (Heuermann) cannot be excluded from the male hair recovered near the 'bottom of the burlap' utilized to restrain and transport Megan Waterman's naked and deceased body," prosecutors wrote.
Prosecutors said investigators were led to Heuermann initially after a witness reported seeing a pickup truck matching the model he owned when one of the victims disappeared in 2010. They also linked him to other evidence including burner phones used to arrange meetings with the victims.
Heuermann was arrested late Thursday and was charged Friday.
If convicted, he faces multiple life sentences without parole, authorities said.
CBS News senior investigative reporter Pat Milton contributed to this report.
- In:
- Gilgo Beach Serial Killer
- Gilgo Beach Murders
- DNA
- Murder
- Long Island
Stephen Smith is a senior editor for CBSNews.com.
veryGood! (2387)
Related
- EU countries double down on a halt to Syrian asylum claims but will not yet send people back
- Garth Brooks denies rape accusations, says he's 'not the man they have painted me to be'
- South Carolina fire chief, volunteer firefighter killed after a tree fell on their truck during Helene
- Nevada politician guilty of using $70,000 meant for statue of slain officer for personal costs
- Intellectuals vs. The Internet
- Nikki Garcia Gets Restraining Order Against Ex Artem Chigvintsev After Alleged Fight
- What income do you need to be in the top 50% of Americans? Here's the magic number
- The Country’s Second-Largest Coal Plant May Get a Three-Year Reprieve From Retirement. Why?
- Paula Abdul settles lawsuit with former 'So You Think You Can Dance' co
- Manslaughter case in fatal police shooting outside Virginia mall goes to jury
Ranking
- The Daily Money: Spending more on holiday travel?
- Ex-Memphis officers found guilty of witness tampering in Tyre Nichols' fatal beating
- One disaster to another: Family of Ukrainian refugees among the missing in NC
- Nikki Garcia Gets Restraining Order Against Ex Artem Chigvintsev After Alleged Fight
- Travis Hunter, the 2
- Man pleads not guilty to killing 3 family members in Vermont
- The Hills Alum Jason Wahler and Wife Ashley Wahler Expecting Baby No. 3
- Nikki Garcia Gets Restraining Order Against Ex Artem Chigvintsev After Alleged Fight
Recommendation
Arkansas State Police probe death of woman found after officer
Aerial footage shows Asheville, North Carolina before and after Helene's devastation
Eminem Shares Touching Behind-the-Scenes Look at Daughter Hailie Jade's Wedding
Detroit bus driver gets 6 months in jail for killing pedestrian
Could your smelly farts help science?
Jobs report is likely to show another month of modest but steady hiring gains
The Country’s Second-Largest Coal Plant May Get a Three-Year Reprieve From Retirement. Why?
How Taylor Swift Gave a Nod to Travis Kelce on National Boyfriend Day