On Tuesday, Rex Heuermann, the suspected Gilgo Beach killer, was formally charged in the death of Valerie Mack, marking the seventh murder linked to him.

Mack, a woman working as an escort, disappeared in 2000, and her remains were discovered on Long Island.

 With this latest development, authorities have now tied Heuermann to a string of killings spanning over three decades.

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Investigation of the Gilgo Beach Killer

Rex Heuermann was first arrested in July 2023 and charged with first-degree murder in connection with the deaths of Melissa Barthelemy in 2009, Megan Waterman in 2010, and Amber Costello in 2010.

New York authorities said all three women, who were sex workers in their 20s, were found in a remote area near Gilgo Beach, Long Island.

Earlier this year, Heuermann was also charged with second-degree murder for the deaths of Maureen Brainard-Barnes, a 25-year-old escort who disappeared in 2007, Sandra Costilla, who was killed in 1993, and Jessica Taylor, who died in 2003.

Authorities believe that Heuermann, a 61-year-old former architect and father, had been active as a serial killer since the early 1990s. During the extensive investigation, police seized hundreds of electronic devices from his home.

 Prosecutors pointed to a "planning document" found on a hard drive in Heuermann’s basement, which allegedly served as a blueprint for the murders.

Latest Charges and Key Evidence

The latest charge stems from the death of Valerie Mack.

 Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney emphasized the importance of seeking justice for the victims and their families, stating at a news conference, "The lives of these women matter. No one understands that more than the families."

Mack’s skeletal remains were initially discovered in Manorville, New York, in 2000.

Over a decade later, additional remains were found near Gilgo Beach.

 Genetic testing in 2020 officially identified the remains as Mack’s. Prosecutors noted that a human hair found on her remains likely belonged to Heuermann's daughter, who was just 3 or 4 years old at the time of Mack's death. Authorities clarified that the daughter is not accused of any knowledge of the crime or wrongdoing of any kind.

Evidence recovered during searches of Heuermann’s home and office revealed newspaper clippings about the Gilgo Beach killings, which prosecutors believe he kept as "souvenirs." 

Additionally, the blueprint found in Heuermann's basement contained details that matched the location and condition of the victims' remains, including Mack’s.

The Victims Linked to Heuermann

The remains of the six other women—Sandra Costilla, Jessica Taylor, Amber Costello, Megan Waterman, Melissa Barthelemy, and Maureen Brainard-Barnes—were all discovered in locations referenced in Heuermann’s so-called blueprint.

 Except for Costilla, all the victims’ bodies were found over a decade ago, bound and discarded in a remote area along Long Island's Ocean Parkway near Gilgo Beach.

The chilling series of discoveries has left a lasting impact on the Long Island community. Prosecutors and investigators remain committed to bringing closure to the families of the victims while unraveling the full extent of Heuermann’s alleged crimes.