Summary5 min read

Crime Stories with Nancy Grace

Episode: Judge Sets Rex Heuermann Trial Date Two Years in the Making: "Come Hell or High Water" | Crime Alert 6AM 01.23.26
Release Date: January 23, 2026
Host: Nancy Grace (iHeartPodcasts and CrimeOnline)

Episode Overview

In this Crime Alert edition, the episode centers on major developments in the case against alleged serial killer Rex Heuermann. Highlighting a judge’s frustration over prolonged legal delays, the episode also updates listeners on a Port Authority police officer-involved murder-suicide in New York and the ongoing case of missing Arizona woman Isabella Comas. The focus is fast-paced, emphasizing the legal wrangling in the Heuermann case, sharp investigative updates, and alarming recent crimes.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Rex Heuermann Case: Legal Delays and Judge's Ultimatum

Judge Mazai’s Frustration & Determination
- The trial has been dragging on for over two years due to repeated legal challenges, primarily from Heuermann’s lawyer, Michael Brown, who’s contesting the validity of 20 search warrants.
- Judge Tim Mazai has drawn a hard line, stating unequivocally that the trial will proceed after Labor Day "come hell or high water."
  Quote:
  - “The trial will begin after Labor Day, come hell or high water. Okay, Judge. That's a promise, right?” (00:57)
Main Pieces of Evidence Under Scrutiny
- Pizza Crust DNA:
  - Heuermann’s defense objects to the DNA evidence gathered from a discarded pizza crust, arguing it violates his right to privacy.
    - Expert commentary: Once an item is discarded in the trash, legal precedent asserts privacy is forfeited—reminding listeners of a similar, failed argument from another high-profile case (Kohberger). Quote:
      - “By discarding an item, you are essentially giving up any rights associated with the item.” (01:19)
- The Sandra Castillo Hair Evidence:
  - Brown is also attacking the sole forensic evidence (a single hair) linking Heuermann to victim Sandra Castillo’s 1993 murder, arguing it’s insufficient for an indictment.
Defense Strategy: Introducing an Alternate Suspect
- The defense aims to redirect suspicion to convicted serial killer John Bitrolf, known for murdering at least two women found in close proximity to the Heuermann case victims.
  - Gruesome details about Bitrolf: Bitrolf was known for violent, ritualistic acts and was previously a suspect in the Long Island serial killings, with two victims found just three miles from Bitrolf’s home.
  - DNA testing has already excluded Heuermann from Bitrolf’s cases, and Bitrolf remains incarcerated. Quote:
    - “Friends of Bitrolf claimed he once cut the heart out of a deer he shot and ate it raw.” (02:08)

2. Prosecutorial Stance and Family Reactions

District Attorney Ray Tierney’s Position:
- Tierney aligned with Judge Mazai’s desire to move forward, stating his office is ready for trial and is not responsible for the procedural delays.
  - He diplomatically acknowledges the defense’s legal maneuvering as part of the process but refuses comment on any talk of a plea deal. Quote:
    - “He can’t blame Brown for his strategy…The motions filed come with the nature of the business.” (03:13)
Heuermann Family Update:
- The accused’s family did not attend the latest hearing but issued a neutral statement expressing hope for a resolution.
Heuermann’s Stance:
- Continues to maintain innocence since his arrest in 2023—three decades since the earliest alleged murder.

3. Upcoming Milestones

Heuermann’s next court appearance is set for March 1, to argue current motions.

Other Crime Alerts Covered

4. New York Port Authority Officer Murder-Suicide (04:07)

Incident Recap
- Veteran officer fatally shot his sister and wounded their mother before taking his own life.
Police Findings:
- The shooter was found in a hallway with his service weapon and badge; his sister and mother discovered in separate rooms.
Community Reaction:
- Neighbor Jane Burbank described the family as warm and engaged with the community. Quote:
  - “She loved to dance. She loved to get people together. She loved to cook. She loved to travel and was looking forward to her retirement so she could travel more.” (05:28)

5. Disappearance of Isabella Comas in Arizona (05:35)

Key Facts
- Isabella Comas went missing on January 11 after leaving a friend’s house.
- Her car was found blood-stained, missing the trunk lining and passenger seat; blood evidence and suspicious items (gas canisters, trash cans, tarp) were present.
Suspect & Police Investigation
- Boyfriend Tommy Rodriguez arrested for theft and damage to the vehicle, not for the disappearance.
- He’s a convicted murderer with a pattern of violent behavior.
Missing Person Alert
- Physical description and last known attire given; listeners urged to call in tips. Quote:
  - “Anyone with information regarding Comas’ whereabouts is asked to call the Avondale Police Department.” (06:27)

Notable Quotes & Timestamps

On the Heuermann Trial Start
- Judge Mazai: “The trial will begin after Labor Day, come hell or high water.” (00:57)
Expert on Trash DNA Evidence
- “By discarding an item, you are essentially giving up any rights associated with the item.” (01:19)
On Violent Suspect History
- “Friends of Bitrolf claimed he once cut the heart out of a deer he shot and ate it raw.” (02:08)
DA Tierney on Defense Motions
- “The motions filed come with the nature of the business.” (03:13)
Neighbor on Murder Victim’s Personality
- “She loved to dance. She loved to get people together. She loved to cook. She loved to travel and was looking forward to her retirement so she could travel more.” (05:28)

Episode Structure & Flow

00:33–03:40 — Detailed breakdown of the Rex Heuermann status hearing and legal maneuvering.
04:07–05:40 — Brief but poignant coverage of the Port Authority police-involved murder-suicide.
05:35–06:27 — Rapid update and call to action in the missing persons case of Isabella Comas.
06:27–End — Quick news wrap-up and reminder for further engagement.

Summary

This Crime Alert episode is dense with developments on high-profile cases, especially the mounting impatience in the court system over Rex Heuermann’s pending trial. Listeners get up-to-the-minute information, legal strategies, and vivid community reaction, all delivered in a brisk, essential format that favors facts, procedural clarity, and sharp soundbites. Nancy Grace’s team maintains a focused, urgent tone throughout, reflecting the seriousness of the crimes and the gravity of looming judicial actions.

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Transcript6 lines

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See Terms Crime Alert Hourly update. Breaking crime news now. Accused serial killer Rex Heuerman's lawyer reprimanded by a New York judge over motions that would further delay the trial. Michael Brown, the lawyer challenging evidence in 20 search warrants carried out by LE Law Enforcement. Frustrating the judge. This case has been dragging through the system over two years. According to Mazai, the judge, the trial will begin after Labor Day, come hell or high water. Okay, Judge. That's a promise, right?
[01:07]
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I'm Sydney Sumner. Justice Tim Mazai was very clear. He expects trial to begin as scheduled. Despite the challenges on several key pieces of evidence, Heuerman's main argument stems from the piece of pizza crust connecting him to the murders of six women between 1993 and 2010. Heuermann claims investigators violated his right to privacy, rifling through his trash for possible DNA. Experts call the argument far reaching, explaining that by discarding an item, you are essentially giving up any rights associated with the item. A similar argument failed before the Kohberger case went to trial. The last nail in the coffin. Before changing his plea to guilty, attorney Michael Brown is also challenging the evidence tying Huberman to a seventh victim, Sandra Castillo. A single piece of hair found on her shirt when her body was discovered in 1993. Brown wants the entire indictment thrown out, claiming the hair is insufficient evidence to charge Heuerman with Castillo's murder. The defense plans to pin Castillo's murder and several others on already convicted killer John Bitrolf. Bitrolf was found guilty of killing sex workers Rita Tangretti and Colleen McName. Tangretti was found dead on November 2, 1993, in Suffolk County. McName was found naked in the woods of Shirley, New York, beaten and strangled. Bitrolf was previously a suspect in the Long island serial killings. Two of the the victims Heuermann is now accused of murdering, found just three miles from Bitrolf's home. The victims were partially dismembered, and friends of Bitrolf claimed he once cut the heart out of a deer he shot and ate it raw. When Heuerman was named a suspect, Bitrolf requested DNA testing of evidence in the Tangretti and McName cases, but Heuermann was ruled out as a DNA contributor and Bitrolf remains behind bars. Meanwhile, on the state side, District Attorney Ray Tierney shares Judge Mezai's frustration, telling the court his team is not contributing to the delay delays and is prepared to go to trial after Labor Day. Tierney did comment he can't blame Brown for his strategy, saying the motions filed come with the nature of the business. Tierney refused to comment on the possibility of a plea deal, claiming prosecutors are only focused on preparing for trial. Heuerman's family did not appear at his latest hearing, commenting only they are looking forward to resolution in the case one way or another. Heuerman has staunchly maintained his innocence since his arrest in 2023, 30 years after the first murder he stands accused of. Heuermann will be back in court March 1 to hear arguments on the challenges. More crime and justice news after this. A Port Authority police officer shot and killed his sister and critically wounded their mother before killing himself on Thursday. New York police responded to the Bronx apartment Thursday morning after someone at the reception desk called 911 and reported hearing gunshots. At about 8am Officers found the 55 year old man and his 59 year old sister dead with gunshots to the head. They rushed their 86.6year old mother, who was shot in the face, to a hospital. Police said they found two firearms in the apartment. Law enforcement sources said the killer had worked for the port authorities for 20 years, most recently at LaGuardia Airport. Police have not released the identities of any of the people involved. The killer was found in a hallway, a firearm and his Port Authority Police identification next to his body. The sister was found in a bedroom and the mother was found in another room. She was said to be in critical but stable condition. Neighbor Jane Burbank says the 59 year old woman had lived in the apartment for years and that her mother had recently moved in with her. She had nieces and nephews. She had a big family. She was a wonderful person. She was full of life. She loved to dance. She loved to get people together. She loved to cook. She loved to travel and was looking forward to her retirement so she could travel more. A missing Arizona woman's boyfriend was arrested last week for stealing and damaging her car, which was reportedly discovered with blood in it. Avondale police said Isabella Comas, 21, was last seen leaving a friend's home on January 11. Not only was Comas phone discovered at a recycling center a day after her disappearance, her car was also found in Phoenix on January 13th. On January 15th, Tommy Rodriguez, 39, was arrested upon returning from a trip to California. Rodriguez allegedly admitted to arguing with Comas a day before she vanished, but police noted other inconsistencies with his claims. Detectives said license plate readers and surveillance footage showed Rodriguez driving comas car on January 12. They also claimed that a passenger seat and trunk lining were missing from Komas vehicle, which was covered in blood. There were also gas canisters, trash cans and a tarp found inside the car. Authorities also stated that a tracking application on Komas phone was manually turned off shortly after she vanished. While police said Rodriguez could not explain where Komas was, he has not been charged in connection with her disappearance. Rodriguez has a lengthy criminal history, which includes a prison sentence for second degree murder. He's also on probation for a 2020 incident in which he stalked an ex girlfriend and threatened her with a hammer and machete. Comas was described as standing 5ft 3 inches tall, weighing about 110 pounds and having brown eyes and pink hair. She was last seen wearing a baggy navy blue shirt, blue pants with a white stripe down the side and sandals. Anyone with information regarding Komas whereabouts is asked to call the Avondale Police Department at 600-23-3333, 7000 for the latest crime and justice breaking news. Be sure to follow the Crime Alert hourly update on your favorite podcast app with this Crime Alert, I'm Sydney Sumner.
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