Watch the full 'Eyewitness to Gilgo Beach' documentary

Eyewitness News ABC7NY・2 minutes read

Young women went missing between 2007 and 2010 in Gilo Beach, leading to fears of a serial killer. The case involved multiple victims, with Rex Hman as the main suspect, raising questions about law enforcement's handling of the investigation.

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The Long Island serial murders involved several missing young women, sparking a 13-year investigation that uncovered bodies of prostitutes in their 20s, leading to fears of a serial killer targeting high-risk individuals.
Despite extensive searches, Shannon Gilbert, a missing prostitute, was not linked to the bodies found, prompting ongoing investigations and fears for her safety, adding complexity to the case.
The arrest of Rex Herman, a loner architect linked to the murders through DNA evidence, raised questions about law enforcement's handling of the case, shedding light on his dark side and obsessive behavior towards victims, their families, and online content.

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Recent questions

What led to the discovery of the missing women?
Shannon Gilbert's call to 911.

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Summary

00:00

Unsolved disappearances lead to serial killer discovery.

Several young women went missing between July 2007 and September 2010.
The cases remained unsolved for 13 years until Rexman was taken into custody.
Gilo Beach has been a site for discarding human remains.
The area's residents are becoming anxious due to the increasing body count.
The police commissioner mentioned the possibility of a serial killer.
Shannon Gilbert's call to 911 led to the discovery of the missing women.
Rexman had been closely monitoring the police department's actions.
The discoveries of human remains were made along the deserted Ocean Parkway.
The news team faced technical difficulties during a live report on the discoveries.
The investigation into the serial killer case was initially mismanaged by the police department.

14:21

Long Island Prostitute Murders Unsolved Mystery

Shannon Gilbert, a missing prostitute, led to the discovery of bodies on Long Island, sparking a year-long investigation.
Gilbert, a 24-year-old prostitute, was last seen in May and believed to have sold herself for sex on Craigslist.
A cadaver dog found the skeletal remains of a woman's body in the area where Gilbert disappeared, leading to the discovery of three more bodies.
The bodies found were identified as Moren Brainard Barnes, Melissa Bartholome, Megan Waterman, and Amber Lynn Costello, all prostitutes in their 20s.
The victims were engaged in a high-risk business, and the homicides were believed to be related to their profession.
Despite extensive searches, Gilbert was not linked to any of the bodies found, leading to ongoing investigations and fears for her safety.
Additional bodies, including a toddler and an Asian male, were discovered in the same area, adding to the mystery and horror of the case.
The dense brush and rough conditions of the area made searches challenging, with authorities calling in the FBI for assistance.
The investigation continued with the discovery of more remains, prompting fears of a serial killer living among the beach communities.
The case remained unsolved, with authorities urging caution for those engaged in similar high-risk professions due to the danger posed.

29:02

Technology aids in identifying skeletal remains.

Technology is being used to identify skeletal remains in a difficult-to-search area.
Investigators initially believed the area was a popular spot for dumping bodies.
The search for bodies was challenging due to the dense terrain.
After a four-day search, no additional bodies were found, but the death toll remained at 8.
Despite no new bodies being found, the police are no closer to catching a serial killer.
The search expanded to Jones Beach in Nassau County, where remains of a ninth and possibly tenth victim were found.
The investigation involved multiple agencies working together due to the complexity of the case.
Various causes of death and methods were involved, making the case intricate.
Families of victims and the public were actively involved in seeking justice and identification of victims.
The case involved multiple victims, with different methods of disposal and potential suspects, making it challenging to solve.

43:24

Police Prepare for Search in Long Island Murders

Suffolk County Police are preparing for another search related to the Long Island serial murders.
Personal effects believed to be Shannon Gilbert's were found, including jeans, shoes, a cell phone, and a pocketbook with her identification.
The search is not based on a new tip but on the desire to investigate the area where Shannon was last seen.
Conditions for the search are more favorable now as some areas are no longer underwater.
The discoveries often coincide with significant dates in the investigation, which is considered strange but attributed to coincidence.
Victims' family members visit the site where remains were found, marking a year since the realization of a serial killer's presence.
Police believe they have found Shannon Gilbert's remains after a yearlong search.
The belief is that Shannon Gilbert died in an accidental drowning, not as a result of murder.
Autopsies reveal conflicting information about Shannon's cause of death, with one suggesting strangulation and the other remaining undetermined.
The FBI is now joining the investigation after five years, with the former police chief accused of keeping them out due to politics.

59:22

Corruption, Murder, and Investigations in Suff County

FBI arrested 51-year-old James Burke at his mother's home and brought him to the FBI office in Melville for processing.
James Burke's tenure as police chief was marked by covering up his misdeeds rather than focusing on solving cases.
Burke was accused of assaulting a handcuffed suspect and attempting to conceal it, pleading not guilty to charges of deprivation of civil rights and conspiracy to commit obstruction of justice.
Burke's history of corruption led to his indictment and eventual resignation from the department.
District attorney Thomas Spota, closely associated with Burke, also faced criminal charges in a corruption case.
Suff County Police Commissioner Geraldine Hart released a picture of a belt with the letters "hm" or "wh," hoping to generate leads in the Gilgo Beach case.
Victim Jane Doe number six was identified as Mac through DNA analysis from family members.
Rodney Harrison, former NYPD chief, became the new Suff County Police Commissioner, focusing on solving the Gilgo Beach murders.
Harrison established the Gilgo Beach Task Force, comprising investigators from various agencies to intensify efforts in solving the case.
The release of 911 calls linked to Shannon Gilbert's murder shed light on her frantic state before her accidental death, emphasizing the need for thorough investigations in such cases.

01:15:33

"Architect's Dark Secrets Unveiled in Murders"

Rex Herman, a 59-year-old white male architect in Manhattan, was described as a loner and antisocial, living in a messy house different from others on his block.
He was a technical architect and engineer, fitting the profile of a killer, which intrigued neighbors and the media since 2010.
Despite living in the same town for 29 years, neighbors never saw anyone at his house, adding to the shock and unease in the community.
The media frenzy around Rex's arrest for the murders of Melissa Bartholomy, Megan Wman, and Amber Costello was intense, with true crime documentaries filming the events.
Rex's arrest was captured on exclusive surveillance video, showing his casual demeanor before being taken into custody by police.
Rex was indicted for the murders, with DNA evidence linking him to the crimes, leading to a potential life sentence without parole.
The investigation revealed Rex's use of burner phones, stalking victims and their families obsessively, and searching for violent content online.
Despite being a family man and architect, Rex's dark side emerged through his taunting calls to victims' families and his compulsive online searches.
The delay in acting on a crucial tip about Rex's involvement in the murders raised questions about law enforcement's handling of the case.
Former sex workers, including Nikki Brass, shared chilling encounters with Rex, highlighting the danger they narrowly escaped and the importance of taking threats seriously.

01:29:59

Unsolved murders: Suspect Rex Hman investigated widely.

The main suspect in the case is Rex Hman, a large man with dark hair, who was last seen with one of the victims. Despite being a suspect, he has not been convicted, and questions remain about his activities over the years.
Investigators are expanding their search to other locations, including Las Vegas and South Carolina, to uncover potential links between Hman and other victims. The investigation is ongoing, with a focus on bringing justice to all families affected by the unsolved murders.

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