A suspect taken into custody in reference to the unsolved serial killings of ladies discovered alongside a New York seaside freeway has been recognized as Rex Heuermann, of Massapequa, Lengthy Island, two regulation enforcement sources confimed to CBS Information.
Heuermann was taken into custody by Suffolk County Police and state police at his residence late Thursday evening and will likely be arraigned Friday in Suffolk County court docket in Riverhead. The fees are unknown presently.
There have been no instant particulars about how Heuermann was recognized or what proof could hyperlink him to the case. There was a big police presence Friday morning at a house within the village of Massapequa Park.
Heuermann was anticipated to seem in court docket later Friday and authorities had been scheduled to carry a information convention at 4 p.m. ET.
Background: Eduardo Munoz Alvarez / AP; Inset: Obtained by CBS New York
The key growth comes greater than a decade after the invention of no less than 10 girls whose our bodies had been discovered on Lengthy Island’s Gilgo Seaside. The long-unsolved killings had been the topic of quite a few CBS “48 Hours” reports and the 2020 Netflix movie “Misplaced Ladies.”
Heuermann is an architect who based the New York Metropolis agency RH Consultants and Associates, in 1994, according to the company’s website. His shoppers included Goal, Foot Locker, Catholic Charities and American Airways, the web site says.
A “Meet the group” hyperlink on the agency’s web site with Heuermann’s picture has been taken down however CBS Information obtained a screenshot earlier than it was eliminated.
RH Consultants and Associates
“All through the years, Rex Heuermann has offered companies to different metropolis businesses, not for revenue businesses, builders, builders and particular person house owners of buildings in regard to ADA, NYC and NY State Codes in addition to Zoning Session,” in accordance with the corporate’s web site.
Residents of Massapequa Park told CBS New York they had been shocked by the information.
“We have been right here for about 30 years, and the man’s been quiet, by no means actually bothers anyone,” next-door neighbor Etienne DeVilliers informed the station. “We had been type of shocked, to inform you the reality.”
DeVilliers stated Heuermann is married, with two youngsters. He added that his neighbor informed him he was an architect.
“Like I stated, we’re shocked. As a result of it is a very, very quiet neighborhood. Everyone is aware of one another, all of our neighbors, we’re all pleasant. It is by no means been an issue in any respect,” DeVilliers stated.
In a 2022 interview with Bonjour Realty that was posted to YouTube, Heuermann says he was “born and raised on Lengthy Island”
Actor Billy Baldwin tweeted on Friday that he went to highschool with Heuermann.
“Wakened this morning to be taught that the Gilgo Seaside serial killer suspect was my highschool classmate Rex Heuermann,” Baldwin tweeted, saying they went to Massapequa’s Berner Excessive College and graduated in 1981.
Heuermann informed Bonjour Realty final 12 months that has labored in Manhattan since 1987.
“I am an architect, I am an architectural advisor, I am a troubleshooter,” he says, including that he is adept at deciphering arcane constructing codes and handles plenty of negotiations with the buildings division.
“At residence, I’ve an in depth library of out of date books” about constructing codes from the previous century, he stated.
On Friday, officers converged on a small pink home that had been raided earlier within the morning within the suburb about 40 miles east of midtown Manhattan, the Related Press reported. Investigators had been seen outdoors the house, which gave the impression to be in disrepair.
“This home stands proud like a sore thumb. There have been overgrown shrubs, there was all the time wooden in entrance of the home,” neighbor Gabriella Libardi informed the AP. “It was very creepy. I would not ship my baby there.”
Barry Auslander, one other neighbor, informed the AP the person who lived in the home commuted by prepare to New York Metropolis every morning, sporting a swimsuit and tie.
“It was bizarre. He regarded like a businessman,” stated Auslander. “However his home is a dump.”
Within the 2022 interview with Bonjour Realty, Heuermann was requested hypothetically what instrument he could be to assist elevate his enterprise. He replied that he could be a hammer.
“I’ve one instrument that is just about utilized in virtually each job. It is really a cupboard maker’s hammer,” he stated. “It’s persuasive sufficient once I want to influence one thing and it all the time yields glorious outcomes.”