After more than 12 years on the run, New York police have announced the fall of the suspect, Rex Heuermann, a 59-year-old architect believed to be involved in a series of murders of sex workers in the state.
New York police said they arrested Hermann in Manhattan, New York City, last Thursday evening, after a long search trip that raised questions.
Herrmann is believed to have dumped the remains of his victims along the coast in Long Island, New York, where 11 batches of human remains were found between 2010 and 2011.
Police said the remains belonged to 10 adults, including the mother of a child who was also found, all of whom were sex workers.
Watch the moment authorities arrest Rex Heuermann in Midtown Manhattan – video first obtained by @DarlaMiles7 of @ABC7 and ABC News. pic.twitter.com/6XmiTKNzUv
— Peter Charalambous (@PCCharalambous) July 14, 2023
The families of the victims felt a measure of relief, including Amy Protz, whose cousin Melissa Barthelemy’s body was accidentally discovered while searching for another woman.
According to prosecutors, the alleged assailant used the victim’s phone to contact Barthelemy’s family members, intentionally evoking strong emotions. During one of the calls, he confessed to them that he was responsible for her death.
Investigators believe that Heuermann may not have been responsible for all of the deaths.
He is still accused of killing Barthelemy, and two other women, Megan Waterman and Amber Costello, who were both reported missing in 2010.
He is also the main suspect in the death of a fourth woman, Maureen Brainard Barnes, who disappeared in 2010.
Herrmann pleaded not guilty, according to his lawyer.
“I desire for him to experience torment from his fellow inmates,” expressed Lynn Barthelemy, the mother of Melissa, in an interview with NBC News.
The Associated Press questioned why it took such a considerable amount of time to apprehend the Ripper. The suspect himself pondered this query and voiced it online, wondering why the Long Island Ripper remained at large for so long.
