The Gilgo Beach serial killings refer to a series of murders on Long Island, New York, occurring between 1993 and 2010. The case drew national attention in late 2010 and 2011 after police, searching for missing woman Shannan Gilbert, discovered the remains of ten victims along Ocean Parkway near Gilgo Beach and in surrounding areas of Suffolk and Nassau counties. Four victims—Melissa Barthelemy, Maureen Brainard-Barnes, Megan Waterman, and Amber Lynn Costello—were found in close proximity in December 2010 and became known as the "Gilgo Four." Six additional sets of remains were located in March and April 2011, several of which were later connected to earlier unsolved cases dating back to the 1990s.
Most identified victims were young women engaged in sex work who advertised via Craigslist, and several were reported to be very petite in stature. Investigators noted similarities in how remains were disposed of, including the use of burlap sacks and, in some cases, dismemberment. Sandra Costilla, killed in 1993, is the earliest known victim later linked to the case; her remains were found in North Sea, New York, roughly 60 miles from Gilgo Beach.
Authorities began focusing on Rex Andrew Heuermann, a Manhattan architectural consultant living in Massapequa Park, in March 2022, after a vehicle matching a witness description was traced to him. Cellphone records reportedly showed contact between Heuermann and several victims, and DNA testing indicated potential matches between Heuermann and evidence including a discarded pizza crust and hair found on burlap wrapping. Investigators stated his wife and children were reportedly out of state during the periods the killings are believed to have occurred.
Heuermann was arrested in July 2023 and charged with the murders of Melissa Barthelemy, Megan Waterman, and Amber Costello. Additional charges followed for Maureen Brainard-Barnes (January 2024), Jessica Taylor and Sandra Costilla (June 2024), and Valerie Mack (December 2024). In April 2026, Heuermann pleaded guilty to all seven charged murders and admitted to an eighth killing, that of Karen Vergata, for which he had not been charged. He was sentenced in June 2026 to life in prison without parole.
The disappearance of Shannan Gilbert, whose search prompted discovery of the other remains, remains disputed; her death was officially ruled an accidental drowning, though an independent forensic examination raised questions about that finding. She is not among the victims Heuermann was charged with or pleaded guilty to. Separately, remains of Tanya Jackson and her daughter Tatiana Dykes, initially believed connected to the broader case, were later attributed to a different individual, Andrew Dykes, who was charged in December 2025; police stated these deaths are not believed to be connected to the other Long Island killings. A person of interest, John Bittrolff—already convicted of two unrelated murders—was publicly named by a prosecutor in 2017 as a possible suspect in some Gilgo Beach cases, though this was not substantiated with charges related to Gilgo Beach.
Gilgo Beach and Ocean Parkway, Long Island, New York
Case status
solved
Case timeline
1993-11-19
Sandra Costilla last seen in New York City, New York.
1993-11-20
Remains of Sandra Costilla found in North Sea, New York.
1996-02-14
Karen Vergata last seen.
1996-04-20
Partial, then-unidentified remains of Karen Vergata found on Fire Island, New York.
1997-06-28
Partial, then-unidentified remains of Tanya Jackson found at Hempstead Lake State Park, Lakeview, New York.
2000-11-19
Partial, then-unidentified remains of Valerie Mack found in Manorville, New York.
2003-07-21
Jessica Taylor last seen near the Port Authority Bus Terminal, Manhattan, New York.
2003-07-26
Partial remains of Jessica Taylor found in Manorville, New York.
2007-07-09
Maureen Brainard-Barnes last seen in Manhattan, New York.
2009-07-12
Melissa Barthelemy last seen in the Bronx, New York.
2010-05-01
Shannan Gilbert calls 911 after fleeing a client's house in Oak Beach, New York, and disappears.
2010-06-06
Megan Waterman last seen in Hauppauge, New York.
2010-09-02
Amber Lynn Costello last seen in West Babylon, New York.
2010-12-11
Remains of Melissa Barthelemy found along Ocean Parkway, Long Island, New York.
2010-12-13
Remains of Megan Waterman, Amber Lynn Costello, and Maureen Brainard-Barnes found along Ocean Parkway, Long Island, New York.
2011-03-29
Further partial remains of Jessica Taylor found along Ocean Parkway, Long Island, New York.
2011-04-04
Remains of Valerie Mack, an unidentified victim known as 'Asian Doe,' and Tatiana Dykes found near Ocean Parkway, Long Island, New York.
2011-04-11
Further partial remains of Tanya Jackson found at Jones Beach State Park, Nassau County, New York.
2011-04-11
Further partial remains of Karen Vergata found at Tobay Beach, Nassau County, New York.
2011-12-13
Remains of Shannan Gilbert found in a marsh near Oak Beach, New York.
2012-05-04
Shannan Gilbert's death ruled an accidental drowning by the Suffolk County medical examiner.
2016-12-13
'Peaches' and 'Jane Doe No. 3' remains positively identified as the same person, later identified as Tanya Jackson.
2017-09-12
Suffolk County prosecutor publicly names John Bittrolff, already convicted of two unrelated murders, as a person of interest in some Gilgo Beach killings.
2020-05-06
New York State Supreme Court orders Suffolk County to release Shannan Gilbert's 911 call recording.
2020-05-28
Police announce forensic identification of remains as Valerie Mack.
2022-03
Authorities begin considering Rex Heuermann a suspect after linking a vehicle registered to him to a witness description.
2022-05-23
Recording of Shannan Gilbert's 911 call released.
2023-07-13
Rex Heuermann arrested and charged with the murders of Melissa Barthelemy, Megan Waterman, and Amber Costello.
2023-08-04
Police publicly announce forensic identification of remains as Karen Vergata.
2024-01
Heuermann charged with the murder of Maureen Brainard-Barnes.
2024-06-06
Heuermann arraigned and charged with the murders of Jessica Taylor and Sandra Costilla.
2024-12-17
Heuermann indicted for the murder of Valerie Mack.
2025-04-23
Police publicly announce forensic identification of remains as Tanya Jackson and Tatiana Dykes.
2025-12-05
Andrew Dykes arrested and charged with the murder of Tanya Jackson; he was not formally charged in the death of her daughter Tatiana Dykes.
2026-04-08
Heuermann pleads guilty to seven murders and admits to an eighth, that of Karen Vergata.
2026-06-17
Heuermann sentenced to life in prison without parole.
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Shannan Gilbert
VICTIM
Disappeared in May 2010; her disappearance prompted the search that led to discovery of the other victims' remains; her cause of death remains officially disputed and she is not among the victims Heuermann was charged with or pleaded guilty to.
Amber Lynn Costello
VICTIM
Disappeared in 2010; one of the 'Gilgo Four'; Heuermann charged with her murder in 2023 and later pleaded guilty.
Rex Heuermann
CONVICTED
Manhattan architectural consultant charged 2023-2024 with seven murders (Melissa Barthelemy, Maureen Brainard-Barnes, Megan Waterman, Amber Lynn Costello, Jessica Taylor, Sandra Costilla, and Valerie Mack); pleaded guilty to all seven in April 2026 and admitted to an eighth murder (Karen Vergata); sentenced in June 2026 to life without parole.
Tatiana Dykes
VICTIM
Two-year-old daughter of Tanya Jackson, disappeared in 1997; identified in 2025; her father Andrew Dykes is believed responsible though not formally charged in her death.
Megan Waterman
VICTIM
Disappeared in 2010; one of the 'Gilgo Four'; Heuermann charged with her murder in 2023 and later pleaded guilty.
Jessica Taylor
VICTIM
Disappeared in 2003; Heuermann charged with her murder in June 2024 and later pleaded guilty.
Andrew Dykes
CHARGED
Former U.S. Army anatomy instructor and Florida state police trooper; arrested December 2025 and charged with the murder of Tanya Jackson; investigators believe he was also responsible for the death of his daughter, Tatiana Dykes, though he was not charged in her death.
Maureen Brainard-Barnes
VICTIM
Disappeared in 2007; one of the 'Gilgo Four'; Heuermann charged with her murder in January 2024 and later pleaded guilty.
John Bittrolff
CONVICTED
Convicted in May 2017 of the unrelated murders of Rita Tangredi and Colleen McNamee; publicly named by a Suffolk County prosecutor in 2017 as a possible suspect in some Gilgo Beach killings, an assertion rejected by his attorney; not charged in the Gilgo Beach case.
Karen Vergata
VICTIM
Disappeared in 1996; identified through genetic genealogy in 2023; Heuermann admitted to her murder in April 2026 though he was not formally charged in her death.
Melissa Barthelemy
VICTIM
Disappeared in 2009; one of the 'Gilgo Four'; Heuermann charged with her murder in 2023 and later pleaded guilty.
Sandra Costilla
VICTIM
Killed in 1993; remains found in North Sea, New York; Heuermann charged with her murder in 2024 and later pleaded guilty.
Tanya Jackson
VICTIM
Disappeared in 1997; identified in 2025; Andrew Dykes was charged with her murder in December 2025; case not believed to be connected to the other Long Island killings.
Valerie Mack
VICTIM
Disappeared in 2000; identified in 2020; Heuermann charged with her murder in December 2024 and later pleaded guilty.
Roles reflect public records and court outcomes at the time of writing — supporting citations are on file under Sources.
Between 1993 and 2010, at least eight people were murdered on Long Island, New York, with remains discovered along Ocean Parkway near Gilgo Beach and in nearby Suffolk and Nassau counties. Rex Heuermann, a Manhattan architectural consultant, was charged in connection with seven of the murders and later pleaded guilty, admitting to an eighth killing as well.
Where did the killings happen?
Gilgo Beach and Ocean Parkway, Long Island, New York.
Who was convicted?
Rex Heuermann (Manhattan architectural consultant charged 2023-2024 with seven murders (Melissa Barthelemy, Maureen Brainard-Barnes, Megan Waterman, Amber Lynn Costello, Jessica Taylor, Sandra Costilla, and Valerie Mack); pleaded guilty to all seven in April 2026 and admitted to an eighth murder (Karen Vergata); sentenced in June 2026 to life without parole.) and John Bittrolff (Convicted in May 2017 of the unrelated murders of Rita Tangredi and Colleen McNamee; publicly named by a Suffolk County prosecutor in 2017 as a possible suspect in some Gilgo Beach killings, an assertion rejected by his attorney; not charged in the Gilgo Beach case.).
