Gilgo Beach judge rules charges will not be broken up into separate trials for Rex Heuerman
NEW YORK -- Accused Gilgo Beach serial killer Rex Heuermann was back in court Tuesday.
Judge Timothy Mazzei ruled that he would not break up the charges into multiple trials and that they would be kept as one.
Heuermann's defense had requested the cases be broken up.
The Suffolk County Prosecutor's Office said last week that it's ready for trial.
"For a whole host of reasons, the court is not going to sever the trial. The indictment as well as the superseding indictments remain intact as to all victims and charges," said Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney. "And then we had a very productive conference. Defense asserts they have a number of motions they wish to file. The judge gave the defense time to do that. As prosecutors, we anticipate those motions being fairly extensive."
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The defense had also sought, for a second time, to omit DNA evidence, arguing it was improperly collected. The judge declined that challenge as well.
Mazzei previously ruled the DNA would be admitted.
Heuermann, 62, has pleaded not guilty to charges he killed seven women who authorities said worked as escorts. Megan Waterman, Melissa Barthelemy and Amber Lynn Costello were killed between 2009 and 2010. Maureen Brainard-Barnes was killed in 2007.
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Their remains were found near Gilgo Beach.
Jessica Taylor was killed in 2003, Valerie Mack in 2000, and Sandra Costilla in 1993. Partial remains of Taylor and Mack were found near Gilgo Beach and in Manorville. Costilla was found in North Sea.
Judge Mazzei did not set a trial date, pending the additional defense motions. The next court date for Heuermann is January 13, 2026.
