Rex Heuermann, an architect charged in the Gilgo Beach killings, faced accusations on Tuesday in connection with the death of Maureen Brainard-Barnes, a Connecticut mother of two who disappeared in 2007.
Brainard-Barnes’ remains were discovered over three years later along a coastal highway in New York. Heuermann, labeled the prime suspect in her death, was formally charged months after being arrested in July for the deaths of three other women.
During the court proceedings, Heuermann, dressed in a dark suit, remained silent. He will be held without bail, and the next court date is scheduled for Feb. 6. Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond Tierney and law enforcement officials planned a news conference after the hearing.
Maureen Brainard-Barnes, 25, a former dealer at Foxwoods Resort Casino, left her hometown of Norwich, Connecticut, on July 9, 2007, for sex work in Manhattan, with plans to return the next day. Concerns arose when she stopped using her phone, and she never returned. Heuermann, arrested on July 14, was previously charged with killing Melissa Barthelemy, Megan Waterman, and Amber Lynn Costello, all sex workers. He has denied committing the crimes, pleading not guilty to the previous charges.
Brainard-Barnes was the first of the four women to disappear, and their remains were found in the Gilgo Beach area of Jones Beach Island in 2010. Subsequent searches revealed the remains of six more adults and a toddler. Police determined that an 11th person found dead in a tidal marsh on the same barrier island accidentally drowned.
Investigators clarified that Heuermann might not be responsible for all the deaths, as some victims disappeared in the mid-1990s. He became a focus when a new task force pursued an old tip about a Chevy Avalanche pickup, linking it to Heuermann through vehicle records. His DNA on a pizza crust matched a hair found on a restraint used in the killings. Burner cellphones, call records, and other evidence connected Heuermann to the victims.
Following the arrest, investigators extensively searched Heuermann’s home, including digging up the yard, dismantling structures, and collecting various items for testing. The ongoing investigation continues to unfold in connection with the Gilgo Beach killings.
