Rex Heuermann, the New York architect already accused in multiple Gilgo Beach murders, was charged on Tuesday with the killing of a seventh victim, Valerie Mack.
Mack, 24, had been working as an escort in Philadelphia and was last seen by her family in New Jersey in 2000.
Mack’s partial remains were first discovered in Manorville, New York, in 2000, around 80 kilometres east of Gilgo Beach, where additional parts of her remains were found over a decade later. Her identity remained a mystery until DNA testing confirmed who she was in 2020.
Prosecutors revealed that human hair found with Mack’s remains was tested earlier this year and matched the genetic profile of Heuermann’s daughter, who was a toddler at the time of Mack’s death. Investigators stress that Heuermann’s daughter is not implicated in any wrongdoing.
Heuermann, arrested in July 2023, had previously been charged with the murders of Amber Lynn Costello, Megan Waterman, and Melissa Barthelemy. Earlier this year, he faced additional charges for the deaths of Maureen Brainard-Barnes, Sandra Costilla, and Jessica Taylor. He has denied all allegations.
Investigators said Heuermann’s basement contained a detailed document outlining plans for his crimes. Prosecutors noted that the document, created in 2000, referenced “Mill Road,” a location near Mack’s initial remains, and listed supplies like “foam drain cleaner.”
Phone records revealed Heuermann contacted plumbing services around the time of Mack’s death.
The Gilgo Beach murders investigation began in 2010 when police searching for a missing woman uncovered 10 sets of human remains along Long Island’s coastline. Many victims were identified as sex workers, with some remains linked to earlier discoveries across the area.
The case spans decades, involving numerous police commissioners, thousands of tips, and continued efforts to connect unsolved killings.
Authorities are also investigating the deaths of Karen Vergata and another unidentified victim whose remains were found in 2011.