John Andrew Ramsey, half-brother of JonBenet Ramsey, offered his perspective on the arrest of Rex Heuermann, the suspect in the Gilgo Beach murders. He tweeted, "No criminal record but you can’t hide this level of darkness. It will manifest itself in other areas of your life." This tweet quoted a New York Times article detailing Heuermann's unsettling behavior noted by neighbors prior to the arrest. Ramsey added, "Try as you might you can’t blend. JonBenet’s killer will likely have a similar bio. #psychopath."
JonBenet Ramsey, a six-year-old child beauty queen, was tragically murdered in her Boulder, Colorado home on December 24, 1996. Her mother reported her missing after discovering a ransom note demanding $118,000. JonBenet's body was later found by her father in the basement. An autopsy determined the cause of death to be strangulation and a blow to the head, resulting in an 8 1/2-inch skull fracture. The case remains unsolved, though Boulder Police are actively pursuing new leads with the help of DNA labs and the Colorado Cold Case Review Team.
Rex Heuermann, a 59-year-old accountant from Massapequa Park, Long Island, was arrested in connection with the Gilgo Beach murders. The investigation began in 2010 with the search for missing escort Shannan Gilbert, which led to the discovery of multiple bodies along Ocean Parkway. The "Gilgo Four" – Amber Lynn Costello, Maureen Brainard-Barnes, Megan Waterman, and Melissa Barthelemy – were found near Gilgo Beach. In total, 11 sets of remains were discovered. Heuermann is currently charged with the murders of Barthelemy, Waterman, and Costello, and investigators are exploring his potential involvement in the other cases. He has pleaded not guilty. Authorities conducted searches of Heuermann's home and Manhattan office. Neighbors have described him as disturbing and expressed surprise at his arrest.
A bail application revealed Heuermann's extensive Google search history, including searches for explicit pornography, nearby sex workers, and terms related to child pornography. He allegedly used burner phones, and authorities utilized cell phone ping data to connect him to the victims. DNA evidence from a discarded pizza box also contributed to his arrest.
