5 chilling details about the Long Island Serial Killer

The case of the Long Island Serial Killer has gripped the public for over a decade, stemming from the discovery of human remains along Ocean Parkway in Suffolk County between 2010 and 2011. Most of the victims were young women involved in the s*x industry, with some missing for years before being identified.

According to a Newsweek report dated August 26, 2024, investigators suspect that the accused, Rex Heuermann, held some victims alive for extended periods and subjected them to physical torture.

Heuermann, a New York-based architect, was arrested in 2023 and charged with multiple counts of murder. A New York Post report dated July 24, 2023, highlighted the existence of a soundproof room in his Long Island home, which has since become a focal point of the investigation.

In Gone Girls, the Netflix docuseries released March 31, 2025, director Liz Garbus examines both the murders and the systemic failures that delayed justice. As authorities uncover more evidence, the Long Island Serial Killer case remains deeply unsettling, demanding ongoing public attention.

---

5 shocking details about the Long Island Serial Killer explored

The Gone Girls docuseries revisits the extensive and unresolved investigation into the Long Island Serial Killer, an ongoing case that first gained public attention after human remains were discovered along Ocean Parkway in Suffolk County between 2010 and 2011.

With Rex Heuermann now charged in the deaths of seven women, law enforcement and media have uncovered a series of disturbing details about the killings and the man accused of carrying them out. Below are five key revelations that continue to shape the case.

---

1) A soundproof room possibly used to kill victims

One of the most unsettling discoveries involves a soundproof basement room at Rex Heuermann’s residence in Massapequa Park, Long Island. Investigators found what was described as a “concrete-lined vault” with thick walls and a heavy-duty safe door.

According to a New York Post report dated July 24, 2023, a former colleague alleged that Heuermann had taken time off work as an architect to build the room, pouring massive amounts of concrete.

Law enforcement later focused their search on this specific part of the house, using cadaver dogs and ground-penetrating radar to detect signs of human remains. Officers reportedly informed neighbors that they suspected one or more victims may have been killed there.

---

2) Victims may have been tortured over several days

Prosecutors allege that the Long Island Serial Killer kept some victims alive in captivity before killing them. A Newsweek report dated August 26, 2024, cites a recovered planning document referencing “play time,” noise control, and suspension equipment, suggesting prolonged physical and psychological abuse.

Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney explained,

“We allege that the more rest the participants [have], the more you get done”

Additionally, the bodies of victims Jessica Taylor and Sandra Costilla showed signs of mutilation and dismemberment. Prosecutors believe Taylor may have been held captive for up to four days, based on the timeline between her last known contact with a family member and the sighting of a pickup truck near the location where her body was later found.

---

3) A digital roadmap of killings was recovered

Investigators discovered a deleted file titled HK2002- 2004 on a device seized from Heuermann’s home. According to a news.com.au report dated December 18, 2024, the document contained detailed notes about the murders, including a section titled “Things to Remember” and a list of lessons learned.

Prosecutors described the file as a blueprint for targeting and killing s*x workers, which reportedly included instructions to “remove head and hands.” Suffolk County authorities stated that the document linked Heuermann to several unsolved cases, reinforcing the theory that the Long Island Serial Killer operated methodically for years.

---

4) Police corruption slowed the investigation

The Gone Girls docuseries also explores why the Long Island Serial Killer case remained unsolved for over a decade. As noted in a New York Post report, dated March 27, 2025, alleged systemic failures within the Suffolk County Police Department contributed to delays.

Former Suffolk DA Thomas Spota and ex-police chief James Burke were later convicted of obstruction and abuse of power, further complicating the investigation. Director Liz Garbus, who helmed the Netflix series, said,

“There were two criminals running the place for a large part of the time in which this case should have been solved”

Burke served time for assaulting a suspect and concealing his personal misconduct, while Spota was found guilty of blocking a federal investigation into Burke’s actions.

---

5) Unconventional DNA evidence linked Heuermann to victims

A forensic breakthrough emerged through a California lab using a relatively new form of DNA analysis. According to an NBC New York report dated February 26, 2025, prosecutors linked hair samples found on several victims to Heuermann’s wife and daughter.

The court was informed that this particular DNA method had not previously been used in a New York criminal case. However, DA Tierney defended its admissibility, stating,

“This is sound science. It is the future of DNA analysis.”

The defense has contested the validity of the evidence, requesting separate trials for each murder charge. However, no ruling has yet been made.

Together, these developments paint a grim picture of the Long Island Serial Killer case and the ongoing investigative challenges. As more evidence surfaces and the trial approaches, Gone Girls aims to spotlight not just the crimes but also the broader systemic failures that delayed justice for the victims and their families.

---

Stay tuned for more updates.