In a significant development in the Gilgo Beach serial killings case, Rex Heuermann, already facing charges in connection with three murders, now confronts a fourth murder charge. The latest accusation pertains to the killing of Maureen Brainard-Barnes, the final victim among the so-called Gilgo Four, whose bodies were discovered bound on the Long Island oceanfront in 2010.
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Legal Battle Unfolds with New Evidence
When Rex Heuermann was initially arrested in July as the Gilgo Beach serial killer, defense lawyer Michael Brown challenged the prosecution’s narrative, citing it as selective and questioning the reliability of DNA evidence. The accused had faced charges related to three of the Gilgo Four victims, with prosecutors awaiting DNA testing results to proceed with charges for Maureen Brainard-Barnes.
However, in a court hearing on Tuesday, prosecutors not only formally charged Heuermann with second-degree murder but also presented an updated and intensified case against him, surprising defense attorney Michael Brown.
Prosecutors Utilize Conclusive DNA Testing
The prosecution, determined to fortify its case, included details of additional DNA testing in court papers. This new testing is said to establish matches with greater certainty than the previously criticized mitochondrial DNA testing method. The revelation could pose challenges for Heuermann’s defense, which had questioned the reliability of the earlier testing.
After the hearing, Michael Brown deflected questions about the new evidence, emphasizing his client’s innocence and expressing readiness to fight the charges. The legal battle may have become more arduous for Heuermann, given the apparent improvements in the reliability of DNA evidence presented by the prosecution.
Details of DNA Testing and Prosecution’s Strategy
Prosecutors had initially linked Heuermann to the murders through hairs found at the crime scenes, including those belonging to his wife, Asa Ellerup, and a male hair matching a genetic sample traced to pizza crusts discarded by Heuermann. However, the defense had challenged the mitochondrial DNA testing method, asserting it left Heuermann among thousands of possible suspects.
In the recent court filing, prosecutors detailed additional DNA testing, emphasizing its conclusiveness. They highlighted nuclear DNA testing as a “cutting-edge” forensic technology that provided more definitive results than the earlier mitochondrial DNA testing.
Rex Heuermann’s Plea and Court Proceedings
Rex Heuermann, maintaining his innocence, pleaded not guilty to the new charge of killing Maureen Brainard-Barnes. During the courtroom appearance, he remained composed as the district attorney, Ray Tierney, requested remand without bail.
Heuermann was first identified as a suspect in early 2022, following up on a decade-old tip regarding his distinctive pickup truck. Prosecutors allege that Heuermann hired the victims as escorts, subsequently making calls and sending texts to Maureen Brainard-Barnes just before her disappearance in 2007.
Recent DNA tests on a hair found with Brainard-Barnes‘s remains implicated Heuermann’s wife, Asa Ellerup. Prosecutors argue that Heuermann likely tracked the hair to the crime scene.
A search of Heuermann’s residence yielded electronic devices containing evidence of online searches for victims and their relatives, as well as violent pornography. Two cell phones recovered upon his arrest showed numerous contacts with sex workers between 2020 and 2023.
Legal Ramifications and Focus on Other Cases
After finalizing the investigation into the Gilgo Four, the task force and grand jury will redirect their focus to the six other sets of remains found in the same area after the initial discoveries.
Surprisingly, renowned lawyer Gloria Allred announced her representation of family members of numerous victims in the case. Family members, including Melissa Cann, sister of Maureen Brainard-Barnes, and Nicolette Brainard-Barnes, the victim’s daughter, emphasized remembering the victims beyond their association with the case.