Gilgo Beach serial killing suspect Rex Heuermann has been charged with the murder of a fourth woman, whose remains were found on New York’s Long Island in 2010, prosecutors announced Tuesday.
The 60-year-old architect was charged with second-degree murder in the killing of Maureen Brainard-Barnes, who vanished in 2007, according to court documents filed in Suffolk County.
Brainard-Barnes, who was 25 when she went missing, is believed by police to be the first victim in what is known as the “Gilgo Four.” Heuermann was identified as a prime suspect in her death following his initial arrest in July.
That arrest led to him being charged with three counts of first-degree murder in the killings of Melissa Barthelemy, Megan Waterman and Amber Costello. He has pleaded not guilty to those charges.
All four women’s remains were found during a monthslong search for Shannan Gilbert, who went missing in the same Long Island area in 2010 and was later found dead. Gilbert’s death is believed by police to be accidental, and not consistent with an act of violence, however.
