A judge in Long Island will soon determine whether any evidence is central to the case against accused serial killer Rex Heermann.
Researchers have connected the 61-year-old architect to the murders of seven women whose bodies were found along a beach on the south coast of the island, partly found by DNA on hair fibers in some of the crimes.
They used a new system to test the DNA, known as whole genome sequence – in which scientists take all fragments of DNA and collect them on a human genome, to link the fibers to Heermann, according to ABC 7.
But defense lawyers claim that the new test system has never before been cited in the New York Courts system – and therefore should not be considered to be brought during a process.
However, prosecutors have argued that the technology is already used a lot in the medical community and is consistent with what the court system has allowed in the past.
They also note that the findings of Astrea Forensics, a Laboratory in California, were also independently confirmed by mitochondrial DNA tests – that has long been accepted by the New York Courts System.
A hearing on this is now planned to start on Friday, with both parties expected to have a total of eight witnesses, including a doctor and other experts, without a jury present, reports CBS News.
It comes as Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney says that the case is 'on its way to the test phase' and notes that the research process is 'virtually closed', says Newsday.
Lawyers who represent Long Island Serial Killer Rex Heermann, 61, have argued in judicial documents that DNA certificate should not be used during his trial
His lawyers also try to have split the case against him into five different tests
Researchers have the 61-year-old architect connected to the murders of seven women whose bodies were found along a wide beach on the south coast of the island, partly found by DNA on hair fibers in some of the crime scenes town
The police have investigated the death of at least 10 people – mostly female sex workers – whose remains have been discovered past an isolated highway since 2010, not far from Gilgo Beach on South Shore in Long Island.
They had long believed that the victim – eight women, a man and a toddler who had disappeared for a period of at least 14 years – all killed by the same person.
Among the victims were Jessica Taylor, who disappeared in 2003 as he worked as an escort in New York City. Some of her remains were discovered later that year in Manorville.
She was beheaded and both arms were cut off. Moreover, a tattoo on her hull was 'seriously erased by a sharp object' per officials.
Other remains were found in a search of 2011 for the Beach Scrub on the side of Ocean Parkway, the road where the other victims of Gilgo Beach were found.
Public Prosecutors now say that Heermann was closely known to the area, while working in Jones Beach State Park for three years.
“A part of the work of the suspect on the beach meant that the suspect stood on a full site vehicle and went from field to field to ensure that beachgoers were gone away from the building as soon as the beach was closed, a role that the suspect made extremely familiar with Ocean Parkway at night,” claim to officers of judicial documents obtained in judicial documents.
Originally Heermann was just Accused of the murders on Melissa Barthelemy, Megan Waterman and Amber Costello.
While prosecutors continue to investigate, they also accused him of the death of Maureen Brainard Barnes, Sandra Costilla and Jessica Taylor.
Then, in December, Heermann was also charged for the 2000 murder of Valerie Mack, a 24-year-old Philadelphia-woman who disappeared 24 years ago. Partial remains were found in Manorville in November of that year, Long Island.
He has not guilty of the murders, and his lawyers now want to make the case against him during five different processes.
They have argued that their client runs the risk of being wrongly convicted because of the 'cumulative effect' of the evidence provided by prosecutors, and said that there is a 'considerable inequality' in the proof of some of the deaths – of which they include different time frames, killing methods and locations for removing the bodies.
“The danger to count after count, victim after victim in the same process is that” if there is smoke there is a fire, “” lawyer Michael Brown.
'They should not be tried together. One problem has nothing to do with the other. '
Heermann was arrested in the summer of 2023 and was originally just accused of the death of three women. But while prosecutors continue to investigate, they have linked him to four others
Nevertheless, the prosecutors of Suffolk County have sustained that Heermann probably committed all the murders – claiming that there is overlapping evidence and calls it a serial killer shop.
“This is a person who had the specific intention to kill several victims, identify, locate, lure it, to get control and to kill several victims,” ​​said Da Tierney.
He pointed to what researchers have called a 'blueprint' of the alleged serial killer's crimes that he remained on his computer.
In the document, Heermann is said to have set out a series of tasks to complete before, during and after murders, including checking the weather and setting up a gathering place. It also has a place to notice practical lessons for 'the next time'.
One section, entitled 'Body Prep', included guidance to remove 'head and hands', as well as tattoos and 'brands of torture'. Neupermann would also have left a memory for himself to wash the 'inside and all the cavities' of his victims.
Another part, 'things to remember', seems to emphasize lessons from earlier murders that must be resolved, according to public prosecutors.
The submissions describe the importance of good sleep 'before hunt', using thick rope and limiting noise to increase 'playing time'.
In a section entitled 'Post Event', there were memories such as 'Change Tyres', 'Burn Gloves', 'Removes about photos' and 'have a story set'.
