Gilgo Beach LISK Serial Killer, Rex Heuermann, charged with 3 murders, July 2023 #7

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iamshadow21 said:
That DoeNet page you linked says the paper was likely from a calendar, and had words and phrases in Spanish written on it. So, not likely a Bible. Perhaps from something like a day planner though? Those have calendars in them.

MOO
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Just wondered as "begin to live" is part of a proverb. My brain is mush today lol.
 
arielilane said:
I am glad that the press conference was kept to Karen Vergata. Much respect to LE for the work being done. moo
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Yeah, it was absolutely right that this PC was just about her. It would be too easy for it to become all about RH and the GB4. Karen's waited so long for her name to be said. It's right she shouldn't have to fight for attention when it finally happens.

MOO
 
TRANSCRIPTION OF PRESS CONFERENCE

Good morning everyone.

We're here -- I'm here -- with our fellow task force members to announce the identity of what has formerly been known as Fire Island Jane Doe.

On April 25, 1996, female remains consisting of legs and feet were found on the bay side shore of Fire Island about a mile west of Davis Park Beach. Then, approximately 15 years later, on April 11, 2011, additional remains consisting of a skull were discovered at Tobay Beach in Nassau County. Those remains -- that skull was found following the discovery of the remains of Jessica Taylor -- and the skull was found on the same day as the remains of what is commonly come to be referred to as Peaches was found on Jones Beach.

Thereafter, in July 2011, the Suffolk County Crime Lab linked the two sets of remains via DNA analysis, and by that I mean the legs that were found in the vicinity of Davis Park were compared with the remains found at Tobay Beach, and it was determined that it was the same person. Since 2011, that victim was known as various names including Fire Island Jane Doe.

Today, we are here to announce that as part of the Gilgo Task Force reexamination of all the evidence in the case, we were able to identify Fire Island Jane Doe as Karen Vergata, who was 34 years old at the time of her disappearance. And I believe we have a picture of Ms. Vergata, and I think it's important that we remember and honor not only Ms. Vergata, but all the victims on Gilgo Beach.

Ms. Vergata went missing at approximately February 14, 1996. At the time she lived on West 45th Street in Manhattan and was believed to be working as an escort at the time of her disappearance. There was no missing persons complaint filed at the time of that disappearance.

In August of 2022, approximately 6 months after we formed this Gilgo Task Force, a DNA profile suitable for genealogical comparison was developed from the remains of Karen Vergata.

In September of 2022, the FBI was able, via a genetic genealogy review, to identify Ms. Vergata presumptively as Fire Island Jane Doe. Thereafter in October of 2022, using a buccal swab from a relative of Karen Vergata, we were able to definitively identify her.

Prior to disclosing this information, of course we needed to contact all of Ms. Vergata's family members and additionally, at or around the same time, we were beginning our grand jury confidential investigation into what has been known as the Gilgo 4 -- that is, the murders of Maureen Brainard-Barnes, Melissa Barthelemy, Megan Waterman, and Amber Costello -- so we decided we were not going to make any public comment at this time.

However, since then, the results of that investigation have become public, and we have made the necessary notifications to Ms. Vergata's family, we can make this important announcement now.

I just want to thank in particular Special Agent Lori Giordano from the FBI and her work with the familial DNA. She worked in conjunction with us, our Suffolk County Crime Lab, Don Dollar of the Suffolk County Crime Lab, and his team, in coordination with the Suffolk County Police Department's Homicide Unit. So I want to thank them, in particular for all of their work.

Of course I want to thank our task force members, Suffolk County Sheriff Errol Toulon, ASAC Spencer Horn from the FBI. I want to thank the New York State Police, Suffolk County Police Department, Rodney Harrison -- who couldn't make it here, I understand Chief Rowan is here in his place instead -- but I want to thank them for not only their work on this case but for all their work in the task force going forward.

It's important to note that there are no charges at this time. Ms. Vergata's disappearance was in 1996 which is 27 years ago. We are going to continue to work this particular case as we did the Gilgo 4 investigation. We're going to have no comment on what, if any, suspects we've developed at this time. This is a confidential investigation so I'm not going to be taking any questions, but our investigation is continuing and thank you all very much.
 
iamshadow21 said:
Yeah, it was absolutely right that this PC was just about her. It would be too easy for it to become all about RH and the GB4. Karen's waited so long for her name to be said. It's right she shouldn't have to fight for attention when it finally happens.

MOO
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I loved that the presser was strictly about Karen.
 
citizen_sleuth said:
TRANSCRIPTION OF PRESS CONFERENCE

Good morning everyone.

We're here -- I'm here -- with our fellow task force members to announce the identity of what has formerly been known as Fire Island Jane Doe.

On April 25, 1996, female remains consisting of legs and feet were found on the bay side shore of Fire Island about a mile west of Davis Park Beach. Then, approximately 15 years later, on April 11, 2011, additional remains consisting of a skull were discovered at Tobay Beach in Nassau County. Those remains -- that skull was found following the discovery of the remains of Jessica Taylor -- and the skull was found on the same day as the remains of what is commonly come to be referred to as Peaches was found on Jones Beach.

Thereafter, in July 2011, the Suffolk County Crime Lab linked the two sets of remains via DNA analysis, and by that I mean the legs that were found in the vicinity of Davis Park were compared with the remains found at Tobay Beach, and it was determined that it was the same person. Since 2011, that victim was known as various names including Fire Island Jane Doe.

Today, we are here to announce that as part of the Gilgo Task Force reexamination of all the evidence in the case, we were able to identify Fire Island Jane Doe as Karen Vergata, who was 34 years old at the time of her disappearance. And I believe we have a picture of Ms. Vergata, and I think it's important that we remember and honor not only Ms. Vergata, but all the victims on Gilgo Beach.

Ms. Vergata went missing at approximately February 14, 1996. At the time she lived on West 45th Street in Manhattan and was believed to be working as an escort at the time of her disappearance. There was no missing persons complaint filed at the time of that disappearance.

In August of 2022, approximately 6 months after we formed this Gilgo Task Force, a DNA profile suitable for genealogical comparison was developed from the remains of Karen Vergata.

In September of 2022, the FBI was able, via a genetic genealogy review, to identify Ms. Vergata presumptively as Fire Island Jane Doe. Thereafter in October of 2022, using a buccal swab from a relative of Karen Vergata, we were able to definitively identify her.

Prior to disclosing this information, of course we needed to contact all of Ms. Vergata's family members and additionally, at or around the same time, we were beginning our grand jury confidential investigation into what has been known as the Gilgo 4 -- that is, the murders of Maureen Brainard-Barnes, Melissa Barthelemy, Megan Waterman, and Amber Costello -- so we decided we were not going to make any public comment at this time.

However, since then, the results of that investigation have become public, and we have made the necessary notifications to Ms. Vergata's family, we can make this important announcement now.

I just want to thank in particular Special Agent Lori Giordano from the FBI and her work with the familial DNA. She worked in conjunction with us, our Suffolk County Crime Lab, Don Dollar of the Suffolk County Crime Lab, and his team, in coordination with the Suffolk County Police Department's Homicide Unit. So I want to thank them, in particular for all of their work.

Of course I want to thank our task force members, Suffolk County Sheriff Errol Toulon, ASAC Spencer Horn from the FBI. I want to thank the New York State Police, Suffolk County Police Department, Rodney Harrison -- who couldn't make it here, I understand Chief Rowan is here in his place instead -- but I want to thank them for not only their work on this case but for all their work in the task force going forward.

It's important to note that there are no charges at this time. Ms. Vergata's disappearance was in 1996 which is 27 years ago. We are going to continue to work this particular case as we did the Gilgo 4 investigation. We're going to have no comment on what, if any, suspects we've developed at this time. This is a confidential investigation so I'm not going to be taking any questions, but our investigation is continuing and thank you all very much.
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You're a star! Thank you for this!
 
iamshadow21 said:
There's not necessarily anything sinister in that, people often see friends and family on holidays. But if it's a public holiday, it may also suggest time off work for a predator. (So Valentine's wouldn't count.)

MOO
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It may not be sinister but I find it interesting (at least related to the killer's thoughts). jmo
 

<modsnip: Quoted post was removed> The cheek swab is to give them a primary source of DNA evidence directly from RH. Right now, the PCA was based on the DNA sourced from the pizza crust he threw away.

www.dailymail.co.uk

Cops want a swab of accused serial killer Rex Heuermann's DNA

The Suffolk County District Attorney's office is asking a justice to allow prosecutors to swab Rex Heuermann's cheek for further DNA after collecting a sample off a pizza crust and napkin.
www.dailymail.co.uk www.dailymail.co.uk

Without the sample, Assistant District Attorney Michelle Haddad argued, forensic biologists would only be able to reference the pizza crust and napkin as being 'purported to be used/touched' by Heuermann.

'Should the defendant's DNA from the [cheek swab] not match the DNA profile from the pizza crusts and napkin submitted for Rex Heuermann, the defense would be presented with a potential trial defense.

'Thus, there is a clear indication that material and relevant evidence will be found and is crucial for that.'

A cheek swab, she said, 'would provide further relevant evidence of the defendant's identity as the perpetrator of these crimes.'
 
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MrsG728 said:
They didn't even allude to it, but we are all thinking the same thing I am sure...
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They way I look at it is that the prosecutor in the RH case made the announcement, and all three departments involved in the GILGO Task Force were present. Take from that what you will, although no official statements were made. MOO
 
fred&edna said:
Sadly, it appears Karen's father passed in Dec of last year. However, it's possible he knew his daughter had been found before his death.
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I think he would have known. From the Presser:
"In August of 2022, approximately 6 months after we formed this Gilgo Task Force, a DNA profile suitable for genealogical comparison was developed from the remains of Karen Vergata.

"In September of 2022, the FBI was able, via a genetic genealogy review, to identify Ms. Vergata."

So, apparently the family knew from about then, don't you think? Sadly, it may have been the way she died that . . . well, just speculation but to know that outcome for a child must be devastating.
 
MrsG728 said:
They didn't even allude to it, but we are all thinking the same thing I am sure...
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Agreed. I know I am. It would definitely fit in with the timeline where Heuermann would have been around that age when serial killers murder their first victim. She was a little bit older than the other victims, but I am wondering if she looked young for her age and he thought she was much younger.
 
Wow. The sketch of Fire Island Jane Doe kinda nailed it!

If she didn't wear bangs when she disappeared, it was quite close.

This does not prove anything connecting Rex H., but.....those hazel eyes. He seemed really into the eyes.

I find the consistency with eyes kinda creepy, because it suggests a very intimate interest in the face of the person you will murder. Whatever the product of creepy times a million is- that's the adjective I'm looking for.

MOO
 
NyxNY said:
They way I look at it is that the prosecutor in the RH case made the announcement, and all three departments involved in the GILGO Task Force were present. Take from that what you will, although no official statements were made. MOO
Click to expand...
Been wondering that myself. Also, this identification was made in September-October, her family notified in October, and from the Presser:
we were beginning our grand jury confidential investigation into what has been known as the Gilgo 4 -- that is, the murders of Maureen Brainard-Barnes, Melissa Barthelemy, Megan Waterman, and Amber Costello -- so we decided we were not going to make any public comment at this time."

The confidential Grand Jury Gilgo 4 investigation began immediately on the heels of learning this name. RH had been identified as a suspect in what February or March?

certainly suggestive . . .
 
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