The Suffolk County Police Department on Friday announced the arrest of a suspect believed to be responsible for multiple murders that occurred more than a decade ago in Long Island, New York.
Between 2010 and 2012, police discovered the remains of nine women, one man, and a toddler in the Gilgo Beach area of Long Island. Police have long believed that some of the killings may have been committed by the same person, The New York Times reported.
Police have now discovered the man allegedly responsible for a string of murders.
The Suffolk County Police Department arrested Rex Heuermann, 59, in connection with these murders. Heuermann is an architect who lives in Massapequa and works in Manhattan, according to NBC News. He is reportedly married and has two children.
Sherre Gilbert, the sister of Shannan Gilbert, the first of the 11 victims, told NBC News in an email that she was “relieved” that police had captured the alleged serial killer.
“I’m just happy it happened sooner rather than later,” said Gilbert, according to NBC. “The suspect deserves to rot in prison for the rest of his life. He destroyed many lives so while it won’t bring our loved ones back, it does help that one less monster is off the streets and he can’t ever hurt anyone else!”
However, investigators have said in the past that they do not think Gilbert’s death was linked to the supposed serial killer, NYT reported.
Cheryl Lombardi, a neighbor of Heuermann, told NYT she was shocked to discover she had been living so close to the alleged killer.
“After hearing about this case for so many years, it’s a shock to find out that your neighbor is a serial killer and you never knew it,” said Lombardi, according to NYT.
Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney and local officials announced that a news conference on the arrest would be held at 3 p.m. CST.
