“Gilgo Beach Serial Killings”: 48 Hours Reports April 12 2025

The April 12, 2025 encore of 48 HOURS revisits one of the most disturbing serial murder investigations in American history: the Gilgo Beach killings. Correspondent Erin Moriarty leads viewers through the chilling case of Rex Heuermann, a Long Island architect charged with murdering at least seven women whose remains were discovered near Gilgo Beach. With exclusive interviews and new developments, this broadcast marks the sixth deep dive by the show into the case, illuminating a mystery that has haunted Suffolk County for over a decade.

Discovery on the Beach: How a Missing Woman Sparked a Mass Grave Search

In May 2010, 24-year-old Shannan Gilbert vanished after fleeing a client’s home in Oak Beach, New York. Her desperate 911 call—claiming someone was after her—triggered a police search that ultimately led to a much darker discovery. In December 2010, Suffolk County police and a cadaver dog located four sets of human remains wrapped in burlap along Ocean Parkway near Gilgo Beach. These women—Maureen Brainard-Barnes, Melissa Barthelemy, Megan Waterman, and Amber Costello—became known as the “Gilgo Four.”

All four victims were petite, in their 20s, and had worked as escorts advertising on Craigslist. As the search expanded, six more sets of remains were found in early 2011, indicating a broader killing spree dating back nearly two decades. While Gilbert’s body was later found in marshland nearby, her cause of death remains disputed.

The Suspect: Architect Rex Heuermann

Rex Heuermann was arrested in July 2023 in a stunning turn of events. A Manhattan-based architect and Massapequa Park resident, Heuermann was first connected to the case when authorities linked a first-generation Chevrolet Avalanche—described by a witness—to him. Soon after, cellphone records, burner phones, and discarded pizza crusts tied Heuermann to three of the Gilgo Four victims. His DNA matched a male hair found on Megan Waterman’s remains. A hair on one victim also matched Heuermann’s wife, who was reportedly out of state at the time of the murders.

Since his arrest, Heuermann has been charged with seven murders: the Gilgo Four, plus Jessica Taylor, Valerie Mack, and Sandra Costilla. Prosecutors describe a disturbing pattern of premeditation, including online searches for sadistic content and surveillance of victims’ families. Heuermann has pleaded not guilty to all charges and remains in custody awaiting trial.

The Victims and Their Stories

Maureen Brainard-Barnes was a single mother and former telemarketer who turned to sex work out of financial necessity. Last seen in Manhattan in 2007, she was found restrained with leather belts—one bearing DNA linked to Heuermann’s wife. Melissa Barthelemy disappeared in 2009; following her disappearance, her teenage sister received several taunting calls from Melissa’s phone, which were later traced to midtown Manhattan.

Megan Waterman vanished from a Hauppauge motel in 2010, where surveillance footage captured her last moments. She was a young mother entangled in a trafficking situation. Amber Costello, the last of the four to disappear, left her Long Island home to meet a client offering $1,500—described later by her roommate as an “ogre” driving a green Avalanche. That description would become critical in identifying Heuermann years later.

Other victims include Jessica Taylor and Valerie Mack, both dismembered and partially discovered in Manorville years before being linked to the Gilgo case. Sandra Costilla, murdered in 1993 and long unidentified, became the earliest known victim linked to Heuermann after DNA matched hair found on her remains.

Law Enforcement Failures and Turning Points

For years, progress in the case was hampered by dysfunction and corruption within the Suffolk County Police Department. Former police chief James Burke reportedly barred FBI involvement and later served prison time for unrelated charges. In 2022, a new task force led by Police Commissioner Rodney Harrison and DA Ray Tierney revived the investigation.

Re-examining the earlier files, the task force identified overlapping cellphone activity from burner phones and Heuermann’s personal phone. Heuermann’s DNA was matched using genealogy and surveillance techniques. Further investigation uncovered that he monitored online discussions about the case and researched victims and their families.

The Search for Additional Victims and the Ongoing Trial

Heuermann has not been charged in all the Gilgo-related murders. Several victims remain unidentified, including “Asian Doe,” a young Asian person found in female clothing, and “Peaches,” an African-American woman whose remains were discovered in two separate counties. Authorities continue to investigate links between Heuermann and additional cases in Las Vegas and South Carolina, where he owns properties.

As the pretrial proceedings continue, prosecutors are compiling digital, forensic, and behavioral evidence to build their case. Meanwhile, the families of the victims remain focused on finding justice. The episode’s interviews with people who knew Heuermann—including coworkers who recall eerie behavior—paint a disturbing portrait of a man who allegedly lived a double life for decades.

Conclusion: A Case That Shook Long Island

The 48 HOURS episode highlights the endurance of the victims’ families, the role of public pressure, and the breakthroughs that can emerge when fresh eyes review old evidence. With Heuermann’s trial expected to begin later in 2025, the Gilgo Beach murders remain an unfolding saga of horror, resilience, and the pursuit of justice. The story, as Moriarty emphasizes, is far from over.