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DNA Helps Solve Another Series of Murders
Part 2
I've been following this case since the first news came out in 2010. The discovery of one, then three more sets of remains and the ongoing search. My time as a paralegal for Assistant State Attorney Young Joe Simmons in Ocala Florida had been a very rough training ground for homicide investigation. One of my chores was to assist an FBI homicide cold case investigator review evidence from old (bloody, nauseating, scary, upsetting) cases: rape-murders, arson homicides, hit and run homicides ... You name it. We dug out the paper bags (human remains, bloody items, skulls and other bones, potential genetic materials are never stored in plastic or metal as they deteriorate. They must be stored in paper.) Watching the CSI teams working Rex Heuerman's home, I saw several paper bags being brought out. Will be interesting to later see at trial what they contained.
While I'm discussing evidence and The Search, Why Did They Not Search Those Big Plant Pots Left Standing On The Back Steps??? Tore up the large greenhouse, moved the smaller one, dismantled the deck, dug in the yard ... But left those pots intact. Trophies could be left hiding in plain sight.
Gilgo Beach: Suffolk County Supreme Court Judge
Rules 'Probable Cause' In Heuermann DNA Swab Request
By Eyewitness News
Wednesday, August 9, 2023
SUFFOLK COUNTY, New York (WABC) -- Suffolk County Supreme Court
Judge Timothy Mazzei on Wednesday ordered suspected Gilgo Beach serial
killer Rex Heuermann to turn in a DNA swab.
Mazzei ruled "There is probable cause" to believe Rex
Heuermann committed at least some of the Gilgo Beach murders "and,
therefore, a basis to compel the buccal swab."
The swab is to be taken while Heuermann is in the presence of his attorney, who had opposed it.
The judge said a comparison of the Heuerman's direct DNA
sample with the mitochondrial sample from a hair recovered from one of
the victims and the DNA found on the pizza crust outside Heuermann's
office "will yield probative material evidence, whether it is
inculpatory or not."
A direct DNA sample could also be entered into statewide and nationwide databases. Mitochondrial DNA is ineligible.
~~~~~~~~~~~
This is HUGE. The mitochondrial sample (obtained from a male
hair found adhered to the burlap camouflage material used to bind Megan
Waterman and matched to a pizza crust discarded by Heuerman), under
prevailing New York law, cannot be entered into statewide or nationwide
criminal DNA databases UNTIL THE SUSPECT HAS BEEN TRIED AND CONVICTED.
Information regarding the DNA match to Rex Heuerman was
outlined in the Affidavit used to secure a 'no bond' hold to ensure his
continued incarceration while awaiting trial. The pertinent language
appeared as follows:
"Male Hair Linked to Defendant Heuermann
"During the initial examination of Ms. Waterman’s skeletal
remains and the burlap materials, the Suffolk County Crime Laboratory
was also able to recover a male hair from the “bottom of the burlap”
used to wrap Ms. Waterman by her killer (hereinafter “MALE HAIR ON
WATERMAN”).
"An initial examination of said hair revealed
Caucasian/European characteristics. However, the hair was unsuitable for
further DNA analysis at that time by the Suffolk County Crime
Laboratory. This hair was subsequently submitted for further DNA
analysis and on or about July 31, 2020, Forensic Laboratory #1 was able
to generate a DNA profile for the hair recovered on the bottom of the
Waterman burlap. Specifically, Forensic Laboratory #1 determined that
this hair belonged to a male in mitochondrial haplogroup V7a.
"Following the discovery of the Chevrolet Avalanche,
which was registered to defendant Heuermann, and the investigation of
cellular billing records and other items, on or about January 26, 2023, a
surveillance team observed and recovered a pizza box thrown by
Defendant Rex A. Heuermann into a garbage can located in front of 385
5th Avenue in Manhattan (see below).
|
Trash can showing pizza box seen being discarded by Heuerman.
Photo taken by a surveillance team member.
|
Pizza box (seen above) as discarded by Heuerman and collected
by the surveillance team member who took this photo.
"This pizza box was sent to the Suffolk County Crime
Laboratory for analysis, where a swab was taken from the leftover pizza
crust. On or about March 23, 2023, the Suffolk County Crime Laboratory
sent the swab from the pizza crust abandoned by Defendant Heuermann to
Forensic Laboratory #2.
"On or about April 28, 2023, a detective
hand-delivered from Forensic Laboratory #1 a portion of MALE HAIR ON
WATERMAN to Forensic Laboratory #2 for testing.
"On or about June 12, 2023, Forensic Laboratory #2 was
able to determine as to the MALE HAIR ON WATERMAN and the swab from the
pizza crust, that the “mitochondrial DNA profile(s) are the same,”
specifically at a rate that would, as per the EMPOP database, exclude
99.96% of the North American population from the MALE HAIR ON WATERMAN.
Based on the foregoing, while 99.96% of the North American population
can be excluded from the MALE HAIR ON WATERMAN, it is significant that
Defendant Heuermann cannot be excluded from the male hair recovered near
the “bottom of the burlap” utilized to restrain and transport Megan
Waterman’s naked and deceased body."
~~~~~~~~~~~
Although this mitochondrial DNA match furnished strong evidence
of the probability of guilt sufficient to convince the judge to rule in
favor of prosecution, granting no bail, it is clear why a motion
compelling collection of a buccal swab (cells collected from inside the
mouth from cheeks) to provide a full autosomal DNA profile was
essential.
One of the first known comparisons has been announced by Las
Vegas, Nevada police in the case of a teenage mother, turned prostitute,
whose body was discovered the same year Rex Heuerman was seeking to
purchase a timeshare condo in that city. Victoria Camara disappeared in
2003, in a timeframe police believe Heuerman may have been in Las Vegas,
a city he visited frequently, scoping out a timeshare condo, one of two
he ultimately purchased. The first property was bought in 2004. This
victim is one of three Las Vegas police are investigating in connection
with Heuerman.
'Property records obtained by 13 Investigates show
Heuermann bought a timeshare in 2004 at the Club Wyndham Grand Desert on
Harmon Avenue and Koval Lane. He later sold it in 2013.'
|
Victoria Camara, aged 17 when her strangled, discarded body was found in 2003
'Alleged Gilgo Beach killer Rex Heuermann’s DNA will
reportedly be tested against DNA recovered in the case of Victoria
Camara, a New Jersey mom who was found murdered in 2003. Rex’s arrest is
tied to the ‘Gilgo Four,’ referring to the four women whose bodies were
found within days of each other in 2010. The women in question were
Melissa Barthelemy, 24, Megan Waterman, 22, Amber Lynn Costello, 27, and
Maureen Brainard-Barnes, 25.'
"Victoria Camara, who was 17 when she was killed,
resorted to sex work to earn a living for her baby girl and herself. In
August 2003, her remains were found in the desert near a haul road in
Boulder City. The location is about 26 miles southeast of Las Vegas."
~~~~~~~~~~~
A second potential victim has been reported to police in South
Carolina, who disappeared in 2017 under very mysterious circumstances.
Julia Ann Bean was last seen by her daughter, Cam, on the night
preceding Cam's high school graduation in the company of a man Cam
swears is the same man whose photos have been flooding all the news
channels - Rex Heuerman. Cam says her mother, in the company of this
man, arrived to take Cam to her mani-pedi appointment in preparation for
her graduation. Cam says they arrived in the Chevrolet Avalanche
pictured in connection with Heuerman's vehicle recently taken under
warrant by South Carolina investigators assisting the Suffolk County
team gathering evidence in the Gilgo Beach serial murder case. According
to Cam, the man bragged about having several properties including
beachfront properties where Cam and her graduating friends could
celebrate. He was reported by Cam to have said, "I love your mother. I
plan to marry her." This was the last sighting of Julia Ann Bean.
Daughter of missing S. Carolina mom believes she was last seen with Gilgo suspect Rex Heuermann
By Olivia Land and Jesse O’Neill
August 23, 2023 | 11:20am
|
Julia Ann Bean, missing since 2017
The family and
friends of a missing South Carolina woman reportedly fear she was
last with suspected Long Island serial killer Rex Heuermann — a
possibility being investigated by police.
Julia Ann Bean’s daughter immediately recognized Heuermann, 59, when shown
a photo of the suspected killer, who owns a home in the Palmetto State,
family friend Heidi Kovas told The US Sun.
“I have chills
… I’ve seen him,” the daughter replied in text messages viewed by the
outlet.
“That was the
last man I saw her with personally,” she texted of the night her then-
36-year-old mom went missing in June 2017.
“She knew him
right away,” Kovas also told PIX 11 of Bean’s daughter, who was not
identified and did not speak directly to either outlet.
“She
recognized him right away. She said that was the last person she ever
saw with her mom.”
Kovas reported
what Bean’s daughter told her to officials late Sunday, according to the
reports.
“I truly believe
Rex Heuermann did something to my friend,” she told The US Sun. “I
just want to find my friend.”
Scott Bonner of the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office confirmed that the report was being investigated.
~~~~~~~~~~~
Gilgo Beach Serial Murder case Updates:
What was planned as your author's opening narrative this
month was the surprise headline announcing the identification of Fire
Island Jane Doe, aka Jane Doe 7. My coverage of how DNA continues to
solve long cold cases and identify victims Jane and John Doe remains
ended with the sad notation that four of the Gilgo Beach Murder victims
remained unidentified: the transgender Asian male, the victim known as
Peaches and her toddler daughter (linked by DNA) and last, but by no
means least, Fire Island Jane Doe aka Jane Doe 7. Within days of
publication; however, the following news made headlines:
New York authorities identify another Gilgo Beach murder victim. She was previously known as ‘Fire Island Jane Doe’
By Brynn Gingras and Alisha Ebrahimji, CNN
Updated 2:03 PM EDT, Fri August 4, 2023
CNN
|
Karen Vergata, legs and feet discovered on Fire Island NY in 1996. Skull on Gilgo Beach in 2011.
CNN —
'Two weeks after announcing the arrest of the suspected
Gilgo Beach serial killer, authorities in New York on Friday revealed
the identity of a woman whose remains were among those found during the
course of the investigation over a decade ago.
'Karen Vergata, a 34-year-old escort from Manhattan
who went missing on Valentine’s Day in 1996, is the murder victim known
as “Fire Island Jane Doe,” Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney
said at a news conference.
'Tierney did not link alleged killer Rex Heuermann to
Vergata’s death in his announcement. He didn’t comment on any potential
suspects either, saying it is a “confidential investigation.”'
~~~~~~~~~~~
With the announced identification of Fire Island Jane Doe aka
Jane Doe 7, three sets of remains comprising the ten found on or
adjacent to Gilgo Beach are yet to be identified. Most discussions
include the skeletal remains of Shannan Gilbert whose 911 call triggered
the search that resulted in the discovery of those ten.
As yet to be identified are the mixed race female called
"Peaches" (due to the unique tattoo above her left breast clearly
visible when her newly dismembered torso was discovered June 28, 1997,
in Lakeview, New York, near Hempstead Lake State Park. She had been
dismembered, her torso stuffed in a green Rubbermaid storage bin); the
toddler whose remains were found near the remains later identified as
Valerie Mack (Peaches' skull and teeth were located furthest west of the
ten victims from Baby Doe but have since been shown via DNA analysis to
be her mother); and the skeletal remains of a young Asian male found
dressed in women's clothing determined to have been murdered by blunt
force trauma indicative of a 'murderous rage.'
Many long-time researchers of the Gilgo Beach murders opine
the identification of Peaches and daughter will be announced soon and
has been kept from public scrutiny thus far in furtherance of the
investigation.
That leaves the Asian transgender male, the anomaly in this
tableau. It is believed this victim was placed on Gilgo Beach five or
even ten years prior to discovery. That would place his time of death
anywhere from 2001 to 2006.
Difficulties facing investigators include an apparent lack of
a missing person report pinpointing a time and place last seen. In your
author's opinion, Asian culture itself may contribute to the lack of
information. Any trait, occupation, or action thought to bring shame to
the family is said to be scrupulously overlooked, even purposefully
hidden.
A topic of discussion regarding this young Asian transgender
male is the disclosure in the 32-page filing by prosecutors in the Rex
Heuerman case seeking the judge's order to hold Heuerman without bail is
the list of internet search topics presented. Among numerous repulsive
and disgusting searches for violent rape, assault, and torture of
(mostly) teen and/or young females specifying 'porn' is the rather
intriguing entry: 'Asian twink tied up porn'. Those "in-the-know" say
this references a transgender male sex worker.
Much discussion online has been had as to why Heuerman
included this peculiar search. Many want clarification as to WHEN this
search was made. If tied to a point in time within that 2001-2006 period
perhaps Rex was seeking that sex object. If during the body discovery
period of 2010-2011 was he trying to decipher why this body was there?
Personally, I think he was including that outlier in his attempt to
reveal how much investigators knew about his private burial ground.
Still more to be discovered, folks. Tune in for October's Armchair Genealogy column.
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