Gilgo Beach murders: New sketches of victim released – ‘This person had a name’
LONG ISLAND - Police on Long Island have released new sketches of a Gilgo Beach murder victim.
The Suffolk County District Attorney is asking the public to help identify that victim – a male whose remains were found in 2011. Officials say he was likely killed in or prior to 2006.
Sketches, made possible with the use of anthropological reconstruction, give investigators an idea of what the unidentified man – referred to by officials as "Asian Doe" – looked like.
The sketches were made possible with the use of anthropological reconstruction.
His remains were found not far from the victims known as the "Gilgo Four" along Ocean Parkway. According to investigators, he was wearing women’s clothing and possibly identified as female at the time of his death.
Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond Tierney, who held the Monday press conference, said he was between the ages of 17 to 23 of southern Chinese descent. He may have been a sex worker.
"This person had a name, this person had family, this person had friends, we're reaching out to everyone who may have known this individual to help us with that identification," Tierney said.
While no additional charges were discussed against Rex Heuermann – the architect who pleaded not guilty to killing six sex workers – according to his manifesto, he had searched Asian trans sex workers. The goal of the renderings will hopefully jog the memories of those who may have known him.
"If you were around in the late 90s and early 2000s, think about the people you associated with, think about the people you know, did anyone of Asian decent go missing?" Tierney said. "We believe ‘Asian Doe’ was working as a sex worker around the time of their disappearance prior to 2006. We believe that they spent some time in NYC prior to their death."
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Gilgo Beach murders: One year after Rex Heuermann's arrest. How did we get here?
It's been one year since suspected Gilgo Beach serial killer Rex Heuermann was arrested and charged with murdering three women on Long Island. Fast-forward to today, his total number of alleged killings sit at six.
So far, no one has been charged in the death. The goal is to advance the investigation and give this victim his name back.
Who is Rex Heuermann?
Heuermann, 61, was arraigned in June in connection with the deaths of two young women long believed to have been preyed upon as sex workers.
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Who were the Gilgo Beach murder victims?
Most of the victims were young women who had been sex workers. Several of the bodies were found near the town of Gilgo Beach.
The charges came after recent police searches of Heuermann's home and a wooded area on Long Island.
Jessica Taylor disappeared in 2003 and Sandra Costilla was killed 30 years ago, in 1993.
Costilla's inclusion in the case indicates prosecutors now believe Heuermann was killing women far longer than previously thought.
Heuermann was previously charged with killing four others: Megan Waterman, Melissa Barthelemy, Amber Lynn Costello and Maureen Brainard-Barnes.
What are the Gilgo Beach murders?
Since late 2010, police have been investigating the deaths of at least 10 people — mostly female sex workers — whose remains were discovered along an isolated highway near Gilgo Beach.
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What are the Gilgo Beach murders?
Most of the victims were young women who had been sex workers. Several of the bodies were found near the town of Gilgo Beach.
Heuermann, who lived across the bay, was arrested last July.