Crime Stories with Nancy Grace

Episode: FRIDAY NIGHT SPECIAL: Bombshell Court DNA Ruling in Rex Heuermann Serial Murder Prosecution

Date: October 18, 2025

Episode Overview

Nancy Grace dissects a crucial court decision in the Long Island Serial Killer case, focusing on the recent ruling allowing damning DNA evidence to be presented in the prosecution of Rex Heuermann. With an all-star panel of crime experts, law enforcement, and investigative journalists, Nancy breaks down the impact of this ruling, the background of Heuermann, investigative techniques, and the chilling evidence tying him to multiple murders near Gilgo Beach. The episode raises compelling questions about the scope of the crimes, the investigative breakthrough, and the ongoing search for further victims and proof.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Bombshell DNA Ruling in the Heuermann Case

• [01:05]
  • Nancy Grace announces the court’s decision: new DNA technology will be allowed as evidence against Rex Heuermann, which is critical in the absence of eyewitnesses or confessions.
  • Quote:

    "We need that DNA to prove this case. In a very brief court hearing, New York State Supreme Court Justice Timothy Mezai rules the critical DNA evidence using new DNA technology will be admissible. This is a major blow to Heuermann's defense." (Nancy Grace, 01:31)

2. Case Background & Victim Profile

• [03:36]
  • The case centers around the discovery of 15 bodies over 20 years along Gilgo Beach, many of whom were petite young women, most working as sex workers.
  • Heuermann, a respected suburban architect, husband, and father, is alleged to be the "demon that walks among us."
  • Law enforcement created a special Gilgo Beach Task Force, crucial for breaking the case after previous investigative stagnation.
  • Quote:

    "If not for this newly formed task force instituted by the new elected District Attorney, this guy would still be walking free and I guarantee you would still be killing." (Nancy Grace, 04:55)

3. Investigation Breakthrough: The Arrest and Ongoing Risks

• [05:55]
  • Deputy Police Commissioner Anthony M. Carter details comprehensive efforts, including multi-agency cooperation (FBI, local police, state police).
  • Surveillance recognized Heuermann’s ongoing risk—e.g., purchasing burner phone minutes while under watch.
  • Kristen Thorne flags that law enforcement accelerated the arrest because they believed Heuermann planned further crimes.
  • Quote:

    "They wanted to have Maureen Brainard Barnes included in this indictment... law enforcement knew that they had to get him now because they were worried about what he may do next." (Kristen Thorne, 08:43 - 09:42)

4. Modus Operandi & Victimology

• [08:43, 13:56]
  • Victims often contacted on Craigslist, found similarly bound, naked, and assaulted.
  • Discussion of Heuermann's pattern of targeting vulnerable women (petite, often isolated), and evidence he may have been trolling for new victims.
  • Quote:

    "What it tells me is that he was constantly trolling for victims. And as a part of trolling for victims, he had this whole list of questions... Does she have family? ...Is going to make it more difficult to kidnap, sex assault her." (Dr. Bethany Marshall, 13:56)

5. Digital Evidence & Behavior

• [16:22]

  • Cybercrime expert Todd Shipley discusses over 300 subpoenas issued to access Heuermann's Google searches and digital records.

  • Heuermann’s disturbing search history included extreme and violent pornography, true crime forums, and research into how law enforcement could track calls and burner phones.

  • Quote:

    "The searches were evident: looking for information about the case. He was trying to find out what the law enforcement agencies knew about him and what they were divulging online." (Todd Shipley, 16:22)

  • Nancy breaks down the searches for jurors' perspectives, emphasizing their incriminating specificity.

  • Quote:

    "Why could law enforcement not trace calls made by Long Island serial killer? I mean, who would know to ask that particular question? Except for the Long Island serial killer." (Nancy Grace, 17:13)

6. DNA & Forensic Breakthroughs

• The Pizza Crust & The Hairs

  • DNA taken from Heuermann’s discarded pizza crust matched unidentified hairs on multiple victims [26:17].
    Quote:

    "The smoking gun was a pizza crust. Police dug through Heuermann's trash, matching DNA from a partially eaten slice to previously unidentified hairs found on three of the Gilgo victims." (News Segment, 26:17)

  • Additional DNA evidence includes his wife’s and daughter's hair detected on several victims, suggesting possible victim contact in the family home or transfer from shared environments.

  • Experts debate the possible transfer scenarios:

    • Routine hair shedding and transfer (vehicle, home, etc.).
    • The potential that victims were brought to his house in his family's absence.

  • Quote:

    "Every contact leaves a trace. And it's—it is the cornerstone that we work from in forensics.” (Joe Scott Morgan, 29:29)

  • The state's new nuclear DNA method performed by Astrophorensics, while challenged by the defense as "novel" in New York, was ultimately ruled admissible due to its acceptance nationwide [38:50].

  • On obtaining Heuermann’s DNA, Deputy Comm. Carter confirms:

    "He had discarded a, I guess like a small personal pizza box into a garbage in the city. And our undercovers were able to retrieve that box." (Anthony Carter, 40:26)

  • Wife's DNA was obtained from “recycled cans” [42:36-42:55].

    "Very similar fashion where we were able to obtain recycled cans from their local, you know, from where they live." (Anthony Carter, 42:53)

7. Geolocation, Burner Phones, and Surveillance

• [43:23–44:29]

  • The task force triangulated his location and phone use, connecting burner phone communications to his home, work, and other significant places.

  • Quote:

    "They found no instance where the suspect was in a separate location from the other cell phones when the communications occurred, when he was talking to them from the burner phones." (Todd Shipley, 43:59)

  • Surveillance efforts involved painstaking analysis in a densely populated area ("an area of over 1500 homes") [44:38].

8. What’s Next: More Evidence, More Victims?

• [22:06-23:29, 45:38]

  • Panelists agree there are likely more victims (“there are more victims”), and discuss ongoing efforts to match Heuermann’s DNA to other unsolved cases across the tri-state area.

  • Storage Unit Search: New investigation underway regarding a storage unit possibly containing victim’s belongings—especially jewelry or personal items known to have been missing [45:38].

  • Ongoing examination of all case evidence, including searching the family home “down to the studs” [33:10].

  • Quote:

    "The investigation. The task force is going to remain intact and they are going to continue gathering evidence in both with Rex. And the Gilgo Beach investigation is far from over." (Anthony Carter, 25:00)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Nancy, on the importance of the task force:

  "If not for this newly formed task force ... this guy would still be walking free and I guarantee you would still be killing." (04:55)

• On the digital trail:

  "I mean who would know to ask that particular question? Except for the Long Island serial killer." (17:13)

• Joe Scott Morgan on forensic principle:

  "Every contact leaves a trace." (29:29)

• On psychological profile and escalation:

  "His victim profile is going to keep changing as he goes to more and more extreme types of pornography... This is not a one and done kind of guy... This is a guy who's going to get as much sexual satisfaction out of any one victim as possible." (Dr. Bethany Marshall, 35:35)

• On the DNA ruling & future prosecution:

  "This is a major bombshell for the state in this case. ... The staggering number of bodies found is going to overwhelm any juror. But it's the truth, and you cannot hide the truth from a jury. We wait as justice unfolds." (Nancy Grace, 46:21)

Timeline of Critical Segments

• [01:05] – Nancy Grace introduces the DNA ruling as the episode’s focus.
• [03:36] – Overview of the Gilgo Beach case and victim profile.
• [05:55] – Law enforcement describes the task force and their approach.
• [08:43] – Importance of getting Heuermann off the streets discussed.
• [13:56] – Psychological insights into Heuermann’s “trolling” for victims.
• [16:22] – Technical explanation of the significance of Heuermann’s search history.
• [17:13] – Nancy Grace details chilling specifics of the Google searches.
• [26:17] – The pizza crust DNA match explained.
• [29:29] – The forensic "every contact leaves a trace" principle.
• [33:10] – Discussion about tearing apart Heuermann’s house for evidence.
• [38:50] – Legal arguments about the new DNA method and court’s ruling.
• [40:26] – Details on catching Heuermann’s DNA from discarded pizza.
• [43:23] – Technology and strategy behind phone and tower surveillance.
• [45:38] – New leads: storage unit possibly containing victim's belongings.
• [46:21] – Reflecting on the impact of the DNA evidence and the case going forward.

Tone & Style

Nancy Grace retains her signature urgent, dramatic delivery, mixing prosecutorial precision with emotional commentary and advocacy for victims. Guest experts provide clear, technical explanations for non-legal listeners while investigative reporters share on-the-ground updates and human stories.

Summary Takeaways

• The admissibility of advanced DNA evidence is a turning point in the prosecution of Rex Heuermann.
• The task force’s multi-agency cooperation, digital and real-world surveillance, and forensic innovation were key to breaking the case.
• There is profound concern and speculation that Heuermann may be linked to even more unidentified victims.
• The chilling overlap of digital searches, psychological escalation, and physical evidence may overwhelm any jury.
• With the investigation ongoing, the panel stresses vigilance for new victims and evidence as the search for justice continues.