Monday, May 12, 2025
Following a full day of testimony, state Supreme Court justice Timothy Mazzei set April 2 as the next hearing to determine the validity of DNA found at the crime scenes involving Rex Heuermann, accused Gilgo Beach killer.
Heuermann’s defense has called for DNA tests conducted by Astrea Forensics on hairs recovered from most of the seven victims in the case to be excluded from the trial, saying the California-based lab’s method has never been accepted in a New York court of law.
Kelley Harris, a University of Washington professor and population geneticist, described the California-based practice's method as an “elegant and powerful” way to determine whether hair fragments pulled from a crime scene match those taken from suspects.
“I said we were colleagues,” Harris replied.
Following Brown’s cross-examination the prosecution returned to the stand to try to refute his points. After Brown returned to the stand for a few more questions, Mazzei ended the hearing.
Outside the Arthur Cromarty Court complex, Brown reiterated his claims that the science was “magic” and remained adamant that it did not belong in a court of law. The prosecution did not speak to the press after the hearings.
The proceedings continue on Wednesday as other experts are expected to testify before Mazzei makes his decision. No trial date has been set for the case, which spans decades of killings on Long Island.
Heuermann, who lives in Massapequa Park, was arrested in 2023 and charged in the deaths of three of the victims between 2009 and 2010.
He now stands charged with the murders of seven people in total: Melissa Barthelemy, Maureen Brainard-Barnes, Amber Lynn Costello, Megan Waterman, Jessica Taylor, Sandra Costilla, and Valerie Mack. He has pleaded not guilty to all charges and has maintained his innocence since his arrest.
Have an opinion on the Gilgo Beach murders? Send letter to cjames@liherald.com
