Was Rex Heuermann inspired by Amityville massacre? Gilgo Beach murders suspect lived close to the infamous horror house
MASSAPEQUA PARK, NEW YORK: Rex Heuermann, the suspected Gilgo Beach serial killer who owns an architect firm, strangely chose to live in a dilapidated home for decades. As many wonder why, here’s a possible theory doing the rounds: the accused was smitten by the ‘Amityville Horror’ massacre. His present home at Massapequa Park, New York was just three miles away from the house where a 23-year-old man slaughtered his entire family.
The Manhattan-based architect is facing charges on counts of first and second-degree murder in the deaths of Melissa Barthelemy, 24, Megan Waterman, 22, and Amber Costello, 27. Moreover, he is also a prime suspect in the killing of the fourth victim, Maureen Brainard-Barnes, 25. Their deaths were recorded between June 2007 and September 2010. Heuermann has pleaded not guilty and is due to appear in court on August 1. If convicted, he is likely to face life imprisonment without parole.
Was Rex Heuermann inspired by the Amityville massacre?
Rex Heuermann lived just 2.9 miles away from the Amityville Horror house, which now theorists believe that may have inspired the suspected killer. The 59-year-old architect lived almost his entire life in a similar dilapidated house since his childhood, even though he is an architect by profession.
The infamous house in Amityville is where Ronald DeFeo Jr, 23, killed his entire family on the night of November 13, 1974. The victims include his parents, Ronald and Louise, both 43, two brothers and two sisters, where the siblings aged between 9 and 18. DeFeo was convicted and given 25 years to life. He died in prison in 2021, at age 69. The horrific incident later inspired a book and a movie. As per court documents, the young killer first told police it was a mob hit man, who killed his family members, but later confessed to the crimes. He then took investigators to the site where he hid the murder weapon and other related evidence.
Paranormal activities
The house was later bought by George and Kathy Lutz, but they left just a month later, citing shocking paranormal activities. The waterfront house, with a backyard boathouse linked via canals and the Great South Bay to Gilgo Beach, is still intact. But, the name had to be changed to avoid visits from gawkers, as per Fox News.
Rex Heuermann was arrested by the police on Thursday night, July 13, and was on the radar for almost a year.