LONG ISLAND, NEW YORK: After more than a decade, an arrest has been made in the Gilgo Beach murders case. Architect Rex Heuermann, 59, was taken into custody on Friday, July 14, and charged in connection with the deaths of three of the 11 victims. His arrest has shed light on the fate of Maureen Brainard-Barnes, one of the victims in the Gilgo Beach murders.
A breakthrough in the case happened when detectives pursuing a fresh lead discovered a DNA match between a pizza crust consumed by Heuermann and genetic material found on the victims' remains. This discovery, combined with a witness report linking Heuermann to a pickup truck seen during one of the victims' disappearances in 2010, led to his arrest.
Heuermann is now facing three counts of first-degree murder and three counts of second-degree murder. The charges specifically relate to the killings of Melissa Barthelemy, Amber Costello and Megan Waterman. While not formally charged, he is also suspected of the murder of Brainard-Barnes.
Who was Maureen Brainard-Barnes?
Brainard-Barnes, born on July 14, 1982, in New London, had a difficult journey before her disappearance. She grew up in Groton, attended Fitch High School and became a mother at 17. She had worked various jobs, including as a card dealer at Foxwoods Resort Casino, a cashier and a telemarketer. Those who knew her said she had a vibrant personality and "thought everyone was her friend." She maintained constant contact with her friends until communications abruptly ceased.
What happened to Maureen Brainard-Barnes?
Brainard-Barnes was reported missing on July 14, 2007, by a friend to the Norwich Police Department. The investigation was eventually taken over by the NYPD. Her remains were found on December 13, 2010, during the search for Shannan Gilbert, who had gone missing from Oak Beach. Brainard-Barnes is believed to be the first victim of the group known as the "Gilgo Four."
Known to use the aliases Juliana or Marie, Brainard-Barnes would frequently travel from Connecticut to Manhattan for a few days to work as an escort before returning home. In Manhattan, she would often choose accommodations such as The Super 8, The Red Roof Inn on West 32nd Street, the Carter Hotel on West 43rd St and the Manhattan Hotel on 8th Avenue.
On certain occasions, Brainard-Barnes would be accompanied by a female companion who operated from a separate room in the same location. To ensure safety and protection, they would often be accompanied by a male friend they referred to as their cousin. However, on the weekend she went missing, Brainard-Barnes's friend returned home early, while she decided to stay behind.
'Who took my sister’s life?'
The last known contact with Brainard-Barnes occurred on July 9, 2007, at 11.43 pm, when she made a phone call to a friend in Connecticut. Despite typically conducting her work from motel rooms, on that particular night, she informed her friend that she would be meeting someone outside the motel for an "out-call." Brainard-Barnes's sister, Melissa Cann, and other family members have sought answers for years. Cann said in 2012, “I just want to know. I don’t want to die not knowing who took my sister’s life, you know.”
