The family of accused Gilgo Beach serial killer Rex Heuermann plans to take legal action against police, alleging that their home was left in disarray after investigators spent nearly two weeks searching it, PIX11 reports.
On Friday, lawyers representing the family announced their intention to file a notice of claim against authorities, a move that would formally notify the government about a claim for damages and could be a precursor to a lawsuit.
“Their valuables were shattered. Their beds were destroyed, the places that they laid their heads down at night no longer exist. The house is in shambles. It’s ransacked,” said lawyer Vess Mitev, who represents the accused serial killer’s adult children, according to CBS New York.
Authorities spent 12 days last month scouring every inch of the Massapequa Park home. Newly released images of the interior show piles of boxes and disorganized objects scattered throughout the residence.
“It was piled floor to ceiling with debris,” lawyer Robert Macedonio said, according to CBS News. “The drain pipes were taken out of the bathroom so you could not run any of the water.”
The family’s attorneys say their clients did not know about Heuermann’s double life and are innocent bystanders. Police so far also believe that is the case.
Heuermann was arrested on July 14 and faces charges of first- and second-degree murder in connection with the deaths of Costello, Melissa Barthelemy and Megan Waterman. He is also the prime suspect in the death of Maureen Brainard-Barnes and authorities across the country are exploring whether he might be involved in other unsolved cases. He has pleaded not guilty.
Heuermann’s wife, Asa Ellerup, has filed for divorce against him. A GoFundMe account is raising money to help Ellerup, who is being treated for cancer, and the adult children move on with their lives.
Still, some experts are skeptical of the family’s legal claim.
“The police were doing their lawful obligation to pursue a lawful investigation into a suspected serial killer. I understand it’s inconvenient when you might live with a suspected serial killer,” Ken Belkin, a defense attorney, told CBS News.
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Featured Image: Authorities continue to work at the home of suspect Rex Heuermann in Massapequa Park, N.Y., Monday, July 24, 2023. Heuermann has been charged with killing at least three women in the long-unsolved slayings known as the Gilgo Beach killings. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
