The mother of one of the Gilgo Beach murder victims hopes suspected killer Rex Heuermann is “suffering” at the hands of other inmates behind bars.
Lynn Barthelemy struck a vengeful tone when she spoke about her daughter Melissa’s alleged killer, declaring that “death is too good” for the “devil” architect in Manhattan.
“Let him get what the girls got,” she told NBC News, adding that a painless death would be an “easy” way out of the aftermath of the heinous crimes.
The Barthelemy family suffered unrelenting grief when Melissa’s killer repeatedly mocked her for her death, but when police traced the calls back to Heuermann’s Manhattan office, the mother said, “I always knew the phone calls would be crucial.” ”
Her comments came after Heuermann’s dramatic arrest Thursday night in Manhattan over the murders of three victims found on Gilgo Beach in 2010 and 2011. Up to eleven remains were discovered on the beach.
Lynn Barthelemy, the mother of Gilgo Beach murder victim Melissa Barthelemy, said “death is too good” for her daughter’s killer
Lynn’s daughter, Melissa, disappeared in 2009 and her body was found the following year
Rex Heuermann can be seen in one of his Tinder profile pictures. Police have traced the fictional email account he used in the profile and his burner’s phone number to the case
Heuermann’s arrest came after a decades-long manhunt for the infamous “Gilgo Beach serial killer.” Police admitted Friday they acted out of fear of another attack.
He is accused of the murders of Melissa Barthelemy, who disappeared in 2009, as well as Megan Waterman and Amber Costello.
Although the alleged killer is in custody, Lynn Barthelemy said it was no consolation given the heartache her family has endured for the past 14 years.
“Our family suffered every day,” she said. “I want him to suffer at the hands of other prisoners.”
After Melissa’s murder, the killer made taunting phone calls to her family, mocking her death and describing how she had sexually abused and murdered her.
But the psychopathic move may have led investigators to the killer, since they were able to trace the calls to a location in Midtown Manhattan near Heuermann’s old office.
“I always knew the phone calls would be key,” Barthelemy added.
Heuermann pleaded not guilty to the murders after his arrest.
Barthelemy said she hopes Heuermann “suffers” because her family suffered “every day”.
Shannan Gilbert’s sister (pictured) said they were “overwhelmed” by the news that her killer may have been caught after more than a decade. She went missing in May 2010 and her remains were found in December 2011. Heuermann was not charged with her murder
Up to 11 remains have been found on or near Gilgo Beach, and although Heuermann has only been charged with three murders, the families of those found believe their killer may also have finally been caught.
Sherre Gilbert, sister of Shannan Gilbert, whose decomposed remains were found in December 2011, said she was “overwhelmed” by the news.
“It has taken a long time and I have never given up hope that one day justice will be served,” she said in a statement to NBC News.
“The suspect deserves to rot in prison for the rest of his life,” she continued.
“He destroyed a lot of lives. Even if it doesn’t bring our loved ones back, it helps that one less monster is off the street and can never harm anyone else again.”
John Ray, an attorney for the families of Shannan Gilbert and another victim, Jessica Taylor, said he hoped the arrest meant “the dam has burst”.
Although he said the arrest was a “sigh of relief,” he said he believed Heuermann was not responsible for all 11 murders and that there was “undoubtedly” another suspect.
A map shows where the victims’ remains were located along the barren section of the Ocean Beach Parkway in Gilgo Beach on Long Island’s south shore
Heuermann was arrested after a decades-long hunt for the infamous Gilgo Beach serial killer. He has pleaded not guilty
Prosecutors allege that Heuermann is linked to the murders, among other things:
- His wife’s DNA was found on three of the victims’ bodies
- One of his own hairs was found on one of the victims’ bodies
- Calls made to the victims from a burner phone were traced back to his office
- A call made to one of the victim’s sisters after her death was traced to his office
- His Tinder profile with photos of him was linked to Brenner’s phone number
- His private phones always rang in the same areas as the suspect burners
- His Chevrolet pickup matched the suspect vehicle that a witness spotted
- He fits the physical description of an “ogre,” like a man seen with a victim
- Heuermann conducted graphic research into child pornography and sexual torture
- He also scoured Google for updates on the case and asked, “Why couldn’t law enforcement trace the Long Island serial killer’s calls?”
The arrest came after investigators admitted they attacked Heuermann out of fear of another murder.
The suspected serial killer had been shadowed since last year, and police had planned to continue the operation to flesh out their case.
However, they decided to step in and make the arrest in the interest of “public safety,” Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney told reporters.
Tierney cited a series of warnings, saying that Heuermann “continues to patronize sex workers,” uses false IDs and burner cell phones, and has permits for a staggering 92 firearms.
“Which of course made us very nervous,” said Tierney, who has headed a secret investigation team focused on Heuermann since spring 2022.
Prosecutors say a wealth of evidence links him to the murders, including DNA recovered from a pizza crust discarded by Heuermann that matched genetic material found on the women’s remains.
He has denied the crimes he faces and is due back in court on August 1.