Rex A. Heuermann confessed to killing eight women yesterday, strangling and dumping their mutilated bodies as the elusive Gilgo Beach serial killer, bringing resolution to a case that has generated worldwide attention since the first victim's remains were found off the Ocean Parkway in 2010.

As reported in NEWSDAY, Heuermann, who had lived a normal-appearing life as an architect and married father in Massapequa Park while clandestinely killing women in his basement when his family was on vacation, pleaded guilty to the murders of seven women and admitted killing an eighth woman — a vicious crime spree that began in 1993 and confounded Long Island for years.

Standing in a suit and navy tie, Heuermann detailed his crimes one-by-one in response to a series of questions from Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney during a riveting and rapidly paced court hearing in Riverhead that lasted 27 minutes.

"Strangulation," he repeated in a matter-of-fact tone, eight times, when asked how he ended the lives of his victims in a courtroom packed with the tearful families of the victims, the authorities that had finally nabbed him after years of hunting, the journalists that had long chronicled the case, as well as a host of curious onlookers.

NYS Supreme Court Justice Timothy Mazzei sentences Heuermann on June 17. The 62 year old Heuermann, born and raised in Nassau County, Long Island, is expected to receive three consecutive sentences of life imprisonment without the possibility of parole for the killings of Melissa Barthelemy, Megan Waterman, and Amber Lynn Costello Heuermann is also expected to be sentenced to a consecutive sentence of 100 years to life imprisonment in the killings of Maureen Brainard-Barnes, Jessica Taylor, Sandra Costilla and Valerie Mack.

Heuermann was arrested on July 13, 2023, as he walked away from his Manhattan office. As Heuermann remained in custody at the Suffolk County jail in Riverhead, the case against him continued to expand. On Wednesday, Tierney vowed his office would continue to find answers to unsolved homicides. "There are still bodies on that beach," D.A.Tierney said. "There are still bodies in Suffolk County. There's no rest for the weary. We are going to continue to work with our partners and try to obtain hope for as many families as we can."

***

In a last-minute bid to stop the Riverhead Town Board from authorizing the acquisition of its East Main Street building, the Long Island Science Center submitted a 92-page packet of engineering reports, correspondence and project records to the board this past Tuesday.

Denise Civiletti reports on Riverheadlocal.com that with Supervisor Jerry Halpin and Council Member Bob Kern dissenting, a divided board voted to authorize the town to pursue acquisition of the property through eminent domain, the legal process governments can use to acquire private property without a willing seller.

The resolution adopted Tuesday authorizes the Town of Riverhead to pursue acquisition of 111 E. Main St. “for general municipal purposes.”

The vote followed an extended public discussion in which science center supporters argued the nonprofit’s long-delayed redevelopment project remains viable and should be allowed to proceed, while a majority of board members said the building has remained vacant too long and now stands in the way of the larger town square project.

Tuesday’s vote did not itself start an eminent domain proceeding. Rather, the resolution reaffirmed the board’s 2024 authorization for the town to pursue acquisition of 111 E. Main St. in Riverhead for “general municipal purposes,” allowing officials to continue taking preliminary steps toward a possible acquisition.

Riverhead Town Attorney Erik Howard said after the vote that the town would still have to hold a public hearing before proceeding further.

The Place for Learning, the nonprofit operating as the Long Island Science Center, bought 111 E. Main St. in 2020 for $1.45 million after selling its former West Main Street location in 2016. At the time, the move was celebrated by town, county and state officials as a major step in downtown revitalization, with then-Supervisor Yvette Aguiar calling the project a “heart transplant for Riverhead.”

***

The Submarine Veterans of Long Island will lead its annual Tolling of the Boats Ceremony at the New Suffolk Beach Submarine Memorial this coming Sunday at 11 a.m. It’s a solemn remembrance of U.S. Navy submarines and their lost crews at sea, in which the names of lost submarines and their crew members are read and a bell is rung to honor their service and sacrifice.

The United States Submarine Veterans, Inc., also known as USSVI, proudly represents Long Island Subvets and all submarine veterans who have served in the U.S. Navy…honoring the commitment and sacrifices of every Subvet, ensuring that the legacy of our U.S. submarine fleet lives on.

The annual Tolling of the Boats Ceremony is this Sunday at 11 a.m. at New Suffolk Beach, 2650 Jackson Street, New Suffolk, NY 11956

***

A looming Long Island Rail Road union strike would be "disastrous" for Long Island, despite MTA officials’ attempts to downplay the impact of the railroad’s first work stoppage in more than three decades, labor leaders said yesterday. Alfonso A. Castillo reports in NEWSDAY that representatives of the five unions involved in the three-year contract battle with the Metropolitan Transportation Authority suggested during a Manhattan press conference that a potential strike, which could commence at 12:01 a.m. on Saturday, May 16, could result in commuter chaos, especially given what they say is an inadequate MTA contingency plan to move stranded commuters.

"I think it’s going to be a disaster for Long Island," said Kevin Sexton, national vice president for the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen, and spokesman for the coalition of five LIRR unions.

"I’m sure we’ve all been on the expressway or the parkway during the rush hour," added Nicholas Peluso, national vice president of the Transportation Communications Union. "Can you imagine adding 350,000 commuters to that?"

The coalition represents about half the LIRR’s 7,000 union workers, including train operators, ticket agents, electricians, signal workers, and machinists. They’ve rejected a three-year contract — already accepted by most other MTA unions — with 9.5% in raises that they say doesn’t keep up with the cost of living. The unions are seeking a four-year deal with 14.5% in raises. The MTA has said any raises beyond what they’ve offered would have to come with significant concessions, such as eliminating some work rules that provide extra pay.

A Newsday analysis showed that workers represented by the five unions made, on average, $122,443 in total earnings in 2024, the most recent year for which MTA payroll data was available.

In a statement, the MTA's chief of policy and external relations, John McCarthy, said both sides are in agreement regarding the terms of the first three years of a potential contract.

"The dispute pertains only to one future year, and there's no good reason why it can't be resolved at the bargaining table," McCarthy said. "Nobody wins in a strike — not the unions, not the LIRR, and not the Long Islanders who depend on our great service."

The last Long Island Rail Road strike was a two day stoppage that began on June 17, 1994.

***

Southampton Fire Department will open its doors to the public on Sunday, April 19 as part of the statewide RecruitNY Weekend initiative, offering residents an opportunity to learn about volunteering in the fire service.

The open house…a week from this Sunday…is scheduled from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the department’s headquarters at 470 Hampton Road in Southampton. The event is part of a broader effort involving hundreds of volunteer fire departments across New York state aimed at raising awareness about the need for new members.

Volunteer fire departments statewide have faced declining membership alongside increasing call volumes, creating an urgent need to recruit additional volunteers to maintain emergency response capabilities. The Southampton Fire Department is among those seeking to strengthen its ranks to continue providing essential services to the community.

At the April 19 event, visitors will be invited to tour the station and firefighting apparatus, try on gear, observe demonstrations and speak directly with current volunteers about the responsibilities and rewards of service. Firefighters will also be available to answer questions and provide information about how to join.

“We welcome the community to join us during RecruitNY Weekend,” said Polis Walker. “This is an excellent opportunity for people to meet their local volunteer firefighters and learn more about the fire service.”

The initiative is organized by the Firefighters Association of the State of New York, which supports more than 1,700 volunteer departments across the state. Established in 2011, RecruitNY aims to help departments connect with their communities and recruit the members needed to sustain operations.

For more information, visit southamptonfd.org or call the non-emergency phone number at 631-283-0853

***

ReWild Long Island will launch the fourth summer of its South Fork internship program in 2026, offering high school students hands-on experience in sustainability, food security and environmental stewardship.

The Summer Program to Fight Hunger and Climate Change is open to rising freshmen through seniors and provides modest stipends along with environmental education focused on Long Island’s unique ecology. Students who complete 60 hours of supervised volun...