Was Rex Heuermann placed on suicide watch? Sheriff says Gilgo Beach serial murders suspect appears 'emotionless' in jail
LONG ISLAND, NEW YORK: Rex Heuermann has been taken off suicide watch, but he has permission to meet weekly with a clergyman while being held at the Suffolk County Sheriff's Office Riverhead facility.
The 59-year-old architect is reportedly facing murder charges in the deaths of three prostitutes — Melissa Barthelemy, Megan Waterman, and Amber Lynn Costello.
He is also being named the prime suspect in Maureen Brainard-Barnes’ case, who has not been since 2007.
Rex Heuermann is showing no emotion
Suffolk Sheriff Errol Toulon Jr said, as per The New York Post, “I have not seen any emotion from him, [he is] very emotionless.”
“You wonder what is going on … Is there something going on inside that is brewing?” Toulon Jr remarked.
Heuermann has been behind bars since July 13. While initially he reportedly found it hard to get accustomed to prison life, he is now doing okay.
The sheriff said, “He’s not just another inmate to me, and forget about the notoriety of this case. I’m really trying to look into his soul to see what is it about this guy that’s not about the other (900) inmates I’m dealing with.”
According to Toulon Jr the suspected serial murderer spends most of his time in his 60-square-foot prison cell while reading books, newspapers, and mail.
He also watches television and sometimes walks in a small recreation area.
Rex Heuermann has his 'justice in the courts and not in the jails’
Besides, Toulon Jr explained what goes into prisoners’ minds when they spend their time in jail.
“When [inmates] see the four walls of their cell start to close in, there is not much more that they can do,” he said, before mentioning Heuermann, “Three months ago, he was walking around the streets in New York City, he was eating at a deli … It starts to weigh on someone who is incarcerated.”
He added, “I don’t want them to ever be complacent with anything, with any of his requests. It’s more important to me that Mr Heuermann has his justice in the courts and not in the jails.”