It is debatable whether you can ever truly know someone completely. One family on Long Island, New York, would probably vote no. On July 13, 2023, Rex Heuermann was arrested and charged with the murders of Melissa Barthelemy, Megan Waterman, and Amber Costello. It is believed he will soon also be charged with the murder of Maureen Brainard-Barnes.
According to authorities, his family was blindsided by the news but is working to help in the investigation. It is not believed at this time that they had any prior knowledge of their loved one’s crimes. The investigation is ongoing, with more surprises bound to shock not only Heuermann’s family but also the community at large.
Heuermann worked as an architect and is a father of two. Rodney Harrison, Suffolk County police commissioner, appeared on CNN’s Erin Burnett OutFront to talk about the case.
“When we initially informed them about their husband, their father, they were shocked,” he explained. “They were disgusted — they were embarrassed.”
“If you ask me, I don’t believe they knew about this double life that Mr. Heuermann was living,” he went on to say. On another appearance on News 12 Long Island, the commissioner confirmed the family is helping the investigation. “They have been cooperative — there hasn’t been any resistance,” he stated.
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“It’s a very good thing that we got this animal off the streets,” Harrison added. At this time authorities are searching Heuermann’s residences, including his Long Island home, storage units in Amityville, New York, and land in South Carolina. In addition to the four women’s bodies found at Gilgo Beach, there were seven additional corpses. Investigators are trying to determine if Heuermann was also involved in those crimes.
