BELOW SUPERNAV drop zone ⇩

Gilgo Beach victim’s family focused on ‘learning the truth’

  • Heuermann is charged with the murder of Maureen Brainard-Barnes
  • Gilgo four were sex workers whose remains were found in same area
  • Attorney: Family is now focused on justice, details of case

MAIN AREA TOP drop zone ⇩

MAIN AREA TOP drop zone ⇩

AUTO TEST CUSTOM HTML 20241114185800

AUTO TEST CUSTOM HTML 20241115200405

AUTO TEST CUSTOM HTML 20241118165728

AUTO TEST CUSTOM HTML 20241118184948

(NewsNation) — The family of Gilgo Beach victim Maureen Brainard-Barnes is focused on “learning the truth” now that Rex Heuermann has been charged in her killing, the family’s attorney, Gloria Allred, told NewsNation’s Ashleigh Banfield.

Allred said the family has many questions and seeks justice. They want to know why, according to the indictment, Brainard-Barnes was restrained by belts, one of which was used to tie her feet and ankles together.

“It’s just horrific to me that she (Brainard-Barnes) apparently was … put into a burlap bag. Just horrible. All of it is devastating, and she may not be the last.”

Heuermann was charged Tuesday with killing Brainard-Barnes, the final victim among the Gilgo four. Heuermann pleaded not guilty and maintained his innocence.

Heuermann was previously considered a top suspect in the case but at the time of his arrest for the killings of the three other women, investigators said they did not have the evidence to charge him with her death.

The Gilgo Beach task force has been investigating the deaths of 10 people whose remains were found along the New York beach in 2010 and 2011. Most of the victims were sex workers

In July, police arrested 60-year-old Heuermann for the murders of three women, with police considering him as a suspect in the death of a fourth. Police used familial DNA evidence to help identify Heuermann.

At the time, he was charged with the deaths of Melissa Barthelemy, 24, Megan Waterman, 22, and Amber Lynn Costello, 27. They, along with Brainard-Barnes, were known as the Gilgo Four.

Former FBI lead investigator Bobby Chacon told NewsNation’s “Elizabeth Vargas Reports” he’s hopeful that the familial DNA evidence will be in “good enough condition” to be used for other aspects of the investigation.

Stephanie Whiteside and Laura Ingle contributed to this report.

Banfield

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed

 

MAIN AREA MIDDLE drop zone ⇩

Trending on NewsNation

AUTO TEST CUSTOM HTML 20241119133138

MAIN AREA BOTTOM drop zone ⇩

tt

KC Chiefs parade shooting: 1 dead, 21 shot including 9 kids | Morning in America

Witness of Chiefs parade shooting describes suspect | Banfield

Kansas City Chiefs parade shooting: Mom of 2 dead, over 20 shot | Banfield

WWE star Ashley Massaro 'threatened' by board to keep quiet about alleged rape: Friend | Banfield

Friend of WWE star: Ashley Massaro 'spent hours' sobbing after alleged rape | Banfield

Sunny

la

66°F Sunny Feels like 66°
Wind
7 mph SSW
Humidity
44%
Sunrise
Sunset

Tonight

Partly to mostly cloudy. Low near 50F. Winds light and variable.
50°F Partly to mostly cloudy. Low near 50F. Winds light and variable.
Wind
2 mph ENE
Precip
15%
Sunset
Moon Phase
Last Quarter