RIVERHEAD, N.Y. — The man accused of killing several sex workers and dumping their bodies on a Long Island beach has been charged with two more murders, as prosecutors revealed Thursday that they unearthed a “planning document” used to carry out the murders. murders.
Rex Heuermann, a 60-year-old architect, was formally informed of new charges – second-degree murder in the deaths of Jessica Taylor and Sandra Costilla – in front of Suffolk County Superior Court Judge Timothy Mazzei.
He has now been accused of killing at least six women.
After Heuermann’s arrest, investigators seized several electronic devices from the suspect, including a laptop with a Microsoft Word document, the indictment said.
That document, titled “HK2002-04,” was created in 2000 and edited numerous times throughout 2002, officials said. It included a section that listed four headings, for “problems,” “supplies,” “DS,” and “TRG.”
- The “problems” included possible evidence such as DNA, tire tracks, blood stains, footprints and hair, the indictment said.
- Under “supplies,” the document listed, among other items, ropes, tarps, tape, medical gloves and various cleaning agents.
- “DS” likely stood for “dump,” investigators said, and listed places where evidence could be disposed of.
- And TRG likely stood for “target” and that “small is good,” according to investigators who noted that “the known victims thus far are all petite women.”
“The task force believes this is a planning document that was used by Heuermann to methodically plan his deaths in excruciating detail,” Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond Tierney told reporters outside the courtroom Thursday.
The document found on Heuermann’s computer listed other “post-event” acts, according to the indictment.
- A “body preparation” heading included reminders to “wash the body inside and all cavities,” “remove identifying marks” such as tattoos, and “remove head and hands.”
- One list said “dispose of the following” and included “tools and devices,” clothing and “anything that touched” the victim.
- And “things to remember” for future acts included reminders such as “sleep before hunting creatures very tired (sic) trouble” and using “heavy rope for neck – light rope broke under stress when tightened.” The writer also noted that “more sleep and noise control = more gaming time.”
“His intention, specifically, was to locate these victims, hunt them down, bring them under his control and kill them,” said prosecutor Tierney. “His motivations, meticulous planning and clear intentions are obvious.”
Heuermann was arrested on July 14th when he was accidentally walking on a busy New York street after work, apparently unaware that he was being followed by the police.
He was originally charged with murder for the murders of Melissa Barthelemy, 24, Megan Waterman, 22, and Amber Lynn Costello, 27. Earlier this year, he was charged with the murder of Maureen Brainard-Barnes, 25.
The victims were among several found around Gilgo Beach on the south shore of Long Island in cases that went unsolved for more than a decade.
Taylor, 20, disappeared in July 2003 while working as an escort in New York City, and her remains were found in two horrific incidents, that year and in 2011.
A dog walker in 2003 found Taylor’s body that had been mutilated, with her head removed and her arms severed below the elbows, authorities said.
A tattoo of hers was also mutilated and “these were acts perpetrated by Rex A. Heuermann to… inhibit the identification of the victim through facial recognition, fingerprints and/or tattoo identification,” according to the indictment.
“Ms. Taylor’s skull, hands and forearm were discovered along Ocean Parkway east of Gilgo Beach” on March 29, 2011, the indictment said.
At the time of Taylor’s murder, Heuerman’s family was on vacation in Vermont with the family of their daughter’s kindergarten classmate. But Heuerman didn’t agree, according to the indictment.
A dark-colored Chevy The pickup truck seen parked near where Taylor’s body was found looked like one Heuermann owned at the time, the indictment said.
And a hair found on Taylor’s body was matched, with 99.96 percent certainty, to Heuermann, prosecutors said.
Costilla was found by hunters in a wooded area of Southampton on November 20, 1993.
“The victim’s shirt was pulled over her torso and head, exposing the victim’s breasts,” according to court documents, describing horrific post-mortem injuries. “The victim suffered multiple sharp force injuries to… face, torso, breasts, left thigh and vaginal area.”
Hair found on Costilla’s body also matched Heuermann with 99.96 percent certainty, prosecutors said.
Heuermann wore a suit and tie with his hands cuffed behind his back during Thursday’s brief hearing.
Heuermann’s attorney, Michael Brown, entered a not guilty plea on his client’s behalf. Outside court, Brown said he could not immediately discuss the new charges.
“So it’s difficult for me to comment without looking at the documents and without speaking to my client and reviewing the evidence,” Brown told reporters. “It wouldn’t be fair for me to comment at this time. “I really need to take a look at everything.”
The judge ordered Heuermann to remain behind bars without bond. The next trial date is set for July 30.
Carolina Gonzalez reported from Riverhead, New York, and David K. Li from New York City.
This story originally appeared on NBCNews.com read the full story
