Significant development in Gilgo Beach murder investigation: DA

LONG ISLAND, NY — A “significant development” in the Gilgo Beach murder investigation is expected to be announced Thursday, according to Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney.

Accused Gilgo Beach killer Rex Heuermann could face new charges in connection with another murder this week, according to a report from Newsday.

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Tierney, Suffolk County Sheriff Errol Toulon, Suffolk County Acting Chief Robert Waring, New York State Police officials and other representatives of the Gilgo Beach Homicide Investigation Task Force will hold a press conference following a court hearing Thursday morning in Riverhead.

Tierney said an “important development” would be announced in Heuermann’s case, which is scheduled to appear Thursday before Judge Timothy Mazzei in the Arthur M. Cromarty Court Complex.

Heurmann was originally scheduled to appear in court at his next hearing on June 18.

The news came after a large police force recently arrived at Heuermann’s Massapequa Park home for a five-day thorough search.

Robert Macedonio, an attorney for Heuermann’s wife, Asa Ellerup, told Patch Monday he had heard “the same rumors that everyone is hearing” about a possible new indictment, but said he had not yet been informed by any official who could confirm that fact. On Wednesday, he said he could not comment until an indictment was announced because “at this point, it’s all speculation.”

Earlier this week, he added: “My client is out of town, so if there is an arraignment on Thursday, she will not be present.”

Heuermann’s lawyer Michael Brown has not responded to several attempts for comment in recent days.

Last July, Heuermann was charged with three counts of first-degree murder and three counts of premeditated murder in connection with the deaths of sex workers Melissa Barthelemy, Megan Waterman and Amber Costello, whose remains were found along Ocean Parkway in 2010.

Heuermann also pleaded not guilty to these charges.

A total of 11 bodies were found in the Gilgo Beach murders that shocked Long Island. Among the remains were those of a toddler and an Asian man.

Heuermann was also charged in January with the murder of a fourth woman, Maureen Brainard-Barnes. New DNA evidence helped link Heuermann to all four killings, said Ray Tierney, the Suffolk County district attorney who is prosecuting the case.

Heuermann was charged with first-degree murder, a Class A-1 felony, in connection with the July 9, 2007, killing of Brainard-Barnes. Heuermann has pleaded not guilty to that charge as well.

Recently, the District Attorney’s Office announced that an ongoing search is underway in areas of Suffolk County, including Manorville, Calverton and Southampton: “Prosecutor Tierney has repeatedly stated publicly that the Task Force will continue to investigate murder cases other than Gilgo.”

It was not immediately clear whether the renewed search of Heuermann’s home was in any way related to recent searches in woods in Manorville and other areas.

Suffolk County Police released a timeline of murders over the past few years, stating that on November 19, 2000, the remains of Manorville Jane Doe/Jane Doe #6, later identified as Valerie Mack, were discovered in Manorville.

On July 26, 2003, the remains of Jessica Taylor, an escort working in New York City, were found in a wooded area in Manorville. More of Taylor’s remains were discovered on March 29, 2011, during a search for Shannan Gilbert along Ocean Parkway, police said.