SUFFOLK COUNTY, NEW YORK: Rex Heuermann's former-employee, who only identified as "Eric," recently opened up about the Gilgo Beach murders suspect's bizzare workplace habits. He claimed that the 59-year-old architect reportedly has an alleged history of hiring petite women who resembled the ones he has been accused of murdering. Heuermann was arrested on July 13 and charged for the murders of Melissa Barthelemy, Megan Waterman and Amber Costello, who died nearly a decade ago.
Heuermann was also dubbed the "prime suspect" in the killing of Maureen Brainard-Barnes, the last of the first four victims of the Long Island murders, known as "The Gilgo Four." Speaking to The New York Post, Eric shared that Heuermann allegedly hired women who "fit that description" of the Gilgo Beach murders' victims. "It was almost like he had a fascination with those girls that he was working with," Eric alleged.
How did Rex Heuermann treat his employees?
During his interview with the publication, Eric shared that he worked with Heuermann "on and off" since the 1990s and witnessed some of his strange workplace habits. He claimed that suspected serial killer was often "very demeaning to women" and "not very nice" to the female staffers he hired. He allegedly gave them menial jobs ranging from getting him coffee to moving his car.
Eric alleged that Heuermann once ordered a staffer to research New York City strip clubs "for months" but the person "didn't know why." The former employee also shared proof, including emails, from Heuermann around the time when multiple female victims were found along the Gilgo Beach. On March 25, 2011, a few days before Jessica Taylor’s partial remains were found along Ocean Parkway, Heuermann reportedly wrote an email saying he was "at home sick."
Another official letter showed Heuermann being away from his office between April 21 to April 26, 2011, weeks after remains of an unidentified Asian man and a baby were found in the beach area, among a total of 11 bodies. Eric claimed that Heuermann was also "very braggadocious" and flaunted his collection of firearms and guns. Offcials said that they found nearly 300 weapons at Heuermann's home following his arrest.
'He always had this sinister look in his eyes'
Eric further told the New York Post that he stopped working with Heuermann because he was "cheap." He said he was "not surprised one bit" after learning about the suspect's arrest in connection to the Gilgo Beach murders case. "He always had this sinister look in his eyes," Eric shared. However, the former staffer also mentioned that Heuermann was "brilliant" when it came to building codes.
Eric claimed that the architect hid behind his knowlegde and masked his intentions behind his expertise. "He was a very good person at blending in and being a regular, nerdy guy about his topic. And that was his kind of cover," Eric alleged.