Jane Doe No. 7, whose remains were found on Fire Island on April 20, 1996, has now been identified as 34-year-old Karen Vergata, thanks to genealogical DNA. Vergata went missing in February 1996, and authorities believe she worked as an escort at the time.
, officials announced Friday, though police have not said if this new victim is linked to suspect Rex Heuermann.
PHOTO: Karen Vergata in a photo Suffolk County police displayed at a press conference, Aug. 4, 2023, to announce that Gilgo Beach Jane Doe #7 has been identified as Vergata, a 34-year-old female who went missing on Feb. 14, 1996. There are no charges at this time in Vergata's case, Tierney said. Vergata's name was confirmed in October 2022, but before her identity was released, authorities reached out to her family and initiated a grand jury confidential investigation into the Gilgo Beach murders, officials said.
Those victims -- a man as well as a woman and a toddler who were found together -- have remained unidentified.PHOTO: CENTRAL ISLIP, NEW YORK - AUGUST 1: Rex A. Heuermann appears before Judge Timothy P. Mazzei in Suffolk County Court on August 1, 2023 in Central Islip, New York. PHOTO: This combination of undated image provided by the Suffolk County Police Department, shows Melissa Barthelemy, top left, Amber Costello, top right, Megan Waterman, bottom left, and Maureen Brainard-Barnes.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Gilgo Beach case: Long Island police identify ‘Fire Island Jane Doe' as Karen VergataThe victim, previously known as “Jane Doe 7” or “Fire Island Jane Doe,” was identified as Karen Vergata, Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney said at a press conference Friday morning
Read more »
Gilgo Beach murders investigators identify 'Fire Island Jane Doe' as Karen VergataBreaking: Gilgo Beach murders investigators say 'Fire Island Jane Doe' has been identified as Karen Vergata, who was 34 when she disappeared in 1996.
Read more »
Gilgo Beach Victim Found in 1996 Finally IdentifiedBREAKING: Authorities have finally identified a Gilgo Beach murder victim previously known as “Jane Doe No. 7” as Karen Vergata, who was 34 when she vanished on Long Island in 1996.
Read more »
Police identify 7th victim in Gilgo Beach murder investigationKaren Vergata's remains were discovered in 1996 on Fire Island and later linked to a skull found near Gilgo Beach.
Read more »
Long Island police expected to identify another victim in Gilgo Beach killings: SourcePolice on Long Island are expected to hold a news conference on Friday to announce new details in the Gilgo Beach murders -- a senior law enforcement source says it's the identity of a seventh Jane Doe in the case.
Read more »