The suspect in Long Island’s Gilgo Beach serial killings has lost his bid for multiple trials in the case involving seven brutal killings.
Lawyers for the 62-year-old Massapequa resident sought multiple trials, saying one would increase the risk of being improperly convicted by the “cumulative effect” of the evidence against him.New York State Supreme Court Justice Timothy Mazzei ruled Tuesday that the trial against Rex Heuermann, a Manhattan architect who lived on Long Island , would move forward as a single trial.
“We wanted one and that's what we got,” Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney said after the brief hearing in Riverhead court.Lawyers for Heuermann had argued in court filings that there was no “unique and consistent modus operandi” common to all the murders, as prosecutors claimed. They said the case should be broken up into as many as five trials because the killings involved different time frames, torture and mutilation techniques, and dump sites for the bodies. Heuermann's lawyers also contended that jurors would struggle with the “volume and complexity” of the evidence in the case if all seven killings were tried together. They argued the 62-year-old Massapequa resident risked being improperly convicted by the “cumulative effect” of the evidence against him.Prosecutors, in their own filings, dismissed variances in the killing styles as “minor inconsistencies” that showed Heuermann was either “refining and tinkering” with his methods, or intentionally trying to “confuse or mislead law enforcement” -- an argument that the defense rejected as “untenable.” They noted the killer chose victims who were all petite women in their 20s involved in the sex trade and that the remains of nearly all of them were found in the same location: an isolated stretch of a shoreline parkway not far from Heuermann’s home. Prosecutors also maintained that many of the victims are connected by overlapping evidence and witnesses, making a single trial a “judicious and efficient use of time and taxpayer resources.” Heuermann’s lawyers had argued that DNA evidence developed by Astrea Forensics violated state public health law because the California lab does not hold a required permit from New York’s health department. Prosecutors, in court filings, maintained the state health law cited by Heuermann’s lawyers didn't apply to forensic labs. Astrea Forensic’s findings in the forthcoming murder trial, marking the first time advanced DNA analysis has been allowed as evidence in a New York court. Heuermann was arrested more than two years ago and has been charged in the deaths of seven women in a series of killings that prosecutors say stretched back
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.
Dallas County Judge Amber Givens doesn’t deserve a bonusEvery Dallas County district judge got a bonus this year, except for Judge Amber Givens.
Read more »
American Beach will remain open to beach driving after Nassau County reaches settlement with advocacy groupA five-month fight to end beach driving and protect wildlife on American Beach has been resolved with a compromise. The push to eliminate beach driving failed, but Nassau County agreed to some concessions during mediation.
Read more »
Gilgo Beach serial killer suspect Rex Heuermann due back in courtThe judge is expected to rule on outstanding motions and set a trial date.
Read more »
Gilgo Beach judge to rule if charges against Rex Heuermann should be broken up into separate trialsHeuermann, 62, has pleaded not guilty to charges he killed seven women who authorities said worked as escorts.
Read more »
Suspect in Gilgo Beach serial killings loses bid for separate trialsThe suspect in Long Island’s infamous Gilgo Beach serial killings has lost his bid to separate the sprawling case involving seven brutal killings spanning decades into multiple trials. Judge Timothy Mazzei ruled Tuesday that the trial against Rex Heuermann would move forward as a single trial.
Read more »
Gilgo Beach judge's bombshell DNA ruling hands prosecutors big win in case against Rex HeuermannToday's Video Headlines: 09/23/25
Read more »