Serial killer suspect accused of making horror calls to victim's sister
The sister of one of the Gilgo Beach four has shared a chilling account of how her sister's killer used to call her, taunting her and telling her what happened to her sister before he killed her.
Melissa Barthelemy, from Buffalo, New York, was the first of four women to be discovered along Ocean Parkway near Gilgo Beach in Long Island. The 24-year-old had last been seen on July 12, 2009, outside her apartment in the Bronx. All four women were found strangled along the side of the highway wrapped in burlap.
She is one of the three victims suspect Rex Heuermann, 59, has been charged with the murders of after being arrested on July 14, in relation to the Long Island Serial Killer case, which remained unsolved for more than a decade. The architect is also the "prime suspect" in a fourth killing, according to authorities - that of Maureen Brainard-Barnes.
He has denied all charges.
A photo from Heuermann's Tinder, which he's accused of using to solicit sex workers (County Court of Suffolk County State of New York)
Melissa Barthelemy's body was discovered among others on a Long Island beach over 10 years ago, and until now, authorities had no idea what happened to her (MELISSA MARY BARTHELEMY)Two days after the discovery of Melissa's body, three more women were found along the same stretch of road, on December 13, 2010. They were Maureen Brainard-Barnes, 25, from Connecticut, Megan Amelia Waterman, 22, from Maine, and Amber Lynn Costello, 27, from North Carolina. Heuermann has been charged with first and second-degree murder in connection with the deaths of Melissa, Megan and Amber.
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The women's bodies were discovered after police began searching for Shannan Gilbert, 23, who had disappeared in the early hours of May 1, 2010. Though Shannan is linked to the case of the Long Island Serial Killer, also known as the Manorville Butcher, or Craigslist Ripper, she has not been identified by police as an official victim.
Crime lab officers search the home of Rex Heuermann, who was arrested on suspicion of being the Gilgo Beach serial killer, who long evaded authorities (AP)For Melissa's family, the arrest of a suspect almost 13 years after her body was discovered was particularly unnerving. This was because the suspect had taunted Melissa's family, using her own mobile phone to make calls to them in 2009.
Multiple calls were made soon after her disappearance, including one in which he admitted to killing her. The first calls were made July 16, July 19, and July 23 - just days after her disappearance.
The final call was reportedly made on August 26 or 27. All the calls seemed to come from crowded locations in New York City, including Madison Square Garden and Times Square. Cell phone records also showed Melissa's voicemail was accessed at some time on July 12 from Massapequa, New York - where Heuermann lived.
Officers are guarding Heuermann's home, as neighbours and true crime enthusiasts are gathering around to try and catch a glimpse of investigators carrying out evidence (AP)"He killed her; he raped her. Maybe one day he'd tell me where she was," Melissa's sister Amanda told PIX11. She had started receiving the phone calls when she was just 15.
Amanda also revealed that the man shared information which showed he had been keeping an eye on her following her sister's death. She explained: "He knew my name. He knew what I looked like."
She went on to say: "He had a strong accent, New York, Long Island. He was very monotone when he talked, like a middle-aged white guy."
A photo from Rex Heuermann's Tinder account, via bail documents presented during his Friday plea (County Court of Suffolk County State of New York)In 2010, a decade on from the discovery of her sister's body, Amanda recalled the killer had called her sister insulting names, referring to her sex work. All four of the 'Gilgo Four' victims were sex workers in and around the Long Island area.
"He killed Melissa after having sex with her," Amanda recalled. "In the final call, he said he'd killed her."
One of Melissa's cousins, Amy Brotz, said the arrest rekindled anger and grief which had simmered for more than a decade. But, it also brought the prospect of closure.
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"I can't wrap my head around this," she said. "God has brought peace to the families. Maybe we can start the healing."
Gilgo Beach serial killer suspect Rex Heuermann is charged with three accounts of first-degree murder, and second-degree murder (WNBC)While the arrest of Heuermann could signal closure being near for the families, their ordeal is not yet over. Amy worries prosecutors won't be able to prove their case beyond a reasonable doubt, and is concerned about the emotional toll still to come should the case go to trial.
"The fact that my family is going to have to sit and listen to all this, to every specific, tiny little detail is making me sick," she explained.
Gilgo Beach became a focal point for law enforcement as more remains were discovered. In total, there have been 10 cases officially linked to the Long Island Serial Killer.
Alongside Maureen, Melissa, Megan and Amber, two more identified victims, and three unidentified victims, including a baby, have been connected. All six of the identified linked victims, which includes Jessica Taylor, 20, from Poughkeepsie, New York, and Valerie Mack, 24, from Philadelphia, were sex workers in the area or who travelled to the area for work.
Long Island residents and neighbors gathered around the home of accused murderer Rex Heuermann, who is suspected of being a serial killer for over a decade (AP)Investigators have said Heuermann might not be responsible for all the deaths. Heuermann says he is innocent, according to his lawyer.
If he's convicted on all charges, he would face multiple life sentences without the possibility of parole. Melissa's mother told NBC news: "Death is too good for him.
"I'd like him to suffer at the hands of other inmates."
The unidentified victims have been called Asian Doe, Baby Doe, Peaches and the Fire Island Jane Doe.
Asian Doe was discovered on April 4, 2011, along Ocean Parkway. They were estimated to be between 17-23 years old, 5'6" in height, and missing four teeth. The victim was biologically male, but wearing women's clothing at the time of their death - it is unclear whether they were transgender.
They may have had a musculoskeletal disorder which impacted how they walked. Their cause of death was determined to be blunt-force trauma to the head. Police estimated the remains had been there for at least five years.
Remains belonging to the woman who became known as 'Peaches' were discovered on June 28. 1997. The dismembered torso of an unidentified African-American female was found in Hempstead Lake State Park, New York. She was found in a green plastic container dumped next to a road.
Melissa Barthelemy, top left, Amber Costello, top right, Megan Waterman, bottom left, and Maureen Brainard-Barnes (AP)Both arms, head, and legs below the knee had been cut off and were not found at the scene. She had a tattoo of a heart-shaped peach with a bite out of it on her left breast, hence the name 'Peaches'.
Police estimate she had died less than three days before being discovered. On April 11, 2011, dismembered skeletal human remains were found in a plastic bag near Jones Beach State Park. Initially referred to as Jane Doe #3, in December 2016, DNA linked Peaches and Jane Doe #3 as the same person.
A photo of her tattoo was featured in a national tattoo magazine where it was recognised by Connecticut tattoo artist Steven Cullen. He claimed he gave it to a woman in 1996, who he described as being a young Black woman, about 18 or 19 years old, from either the Bronx or Long Island.
Rex Heuermann is spotted being walked out of the Suffolk County Police 7th Precinct (John Roca / SplashNews.com)Peaches also has links to Baby Doe. Baby Doe was found on April 4, 2011, along Ocean Parkway. The sex of the child was undetermined but believed to be female.
Police estimated her to be around two years old, and she was found wrapped in a blanket with no apparent signs of trauma. DNA analysis identified Peaches to be the baby's mother, with a belief both were killed at the same time. They were also found wearing similar jewellery.
The Fire Island Jane Doe was first discovered on April 20, 1996. Two female legs, wrapped in a plastic bag, were found on the shore of Fire Island one mile west of Davis Park Beach. She had multiple scars on her legs, which looked like they were as a result of surgery.
Heuermann was caught on camera buying burner phones, while investigators also scooped up his thrown out pizza crusts from the trash to gather evidence in a case that baffled law enforcement for a decade (County Court of Suffolk County State of New York)Her skull was found on April 11, 2011, west of Tobay Beach in Nassau County. Her skull was initially identified as Jane Doe #7, however, DNA testing linked the two sets of remains.
Though the cases have not yet been solved, New York's Governor Kathy Hochul said many would be "sleeping a lot easier" after Heuermann's arrest.
She said: "A lot of families whose lives have just been turned upside down, always wondering, questioning what happened and will the perpetrator ever be brought to justice - hopefully... the answer will be yes."
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