Why is Rex Heuermann being compared to Ed Kemper? Expert claims Gilgo Beach suspect’s murders are more than sexually driven
Warning: This article contains a recollection of crime and can be triggering to some, readers’ discretion advised.
NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK: An expert has reportedly come forward claiming that the alleged Gilgo Beach murderer, Rex Heuermann, possibly had other sinister motives besides sex and compared him to the notorious serial killer Ed Kemper.
Forensic psychologist Joni Johnston said, "I think you could make the argument that is this really a sexually motivated serial killer? It's more about domination and power and control and I definitely think it is about a lot of things in addition to sex that sadism being one," as per The US Sun.
Notably, Heuermann, 59, has been accused of the deaths of Melissa Barthelemy, Megan Waterman, and Amber Costello, who were killed more than a decade ago.
He faces three counts of first-degree murder and has also been named the prime suspect in the death of Maureen Brainard-Barnes.
Who is Ed Kemper?
Edmund Kemper is a convicted serial murderer who killed 10 people, including his paternal grandparents and mother.
He murdered his grandparents at the age of 15, leading to his first imprisonment. However, on his 21st birthday, Kemper was released on parole and would then go on to murder mainly female college students as well as his mother, between May 1972 and April 1973.
Eventually, Kemper also known as "The Co-Ed Killer," was given eight concurrent life sentences in 1973 and is currently housed at the California Medical Facility in Vacaville.
Why is Rex Heuermann being compared to Ed Kemper?
Johnston explained that sex was not a difficult thing to get for either the accused Gilgo Beach killer or Kemper. She reportedly said, "There are lots of ways to get sex. So it's never about sex per se," as per The US Sun.
"So I want somebody who's attractive. I want somebody who I'm turned on by. I want somebody who's available for sex. And then what really turns me on is what I'm going to do to that person," elaborated Johnston.
"Which may or may not involve traditional sex. So sexual meaning it turns him on. Whether it's torture, whether it's binding, whether it's, I mean, there's just horrible things. I would suspect whoever committed these [Gilgo Beach] murders, that's really what turned him on," continued the forensic psychologist.
Johnston also pointed out how similar the victims were in both cases, as most were young women. She further shared, "Back in the 60s and 70s it was very common for people to hitchhike. Nobody thought much about it," pointing to Kemper's tendency to pick up hitchhikers.
"We've certainly seen an increase in serial killers pick selecting prostitutes over the past 30 years. And I think part of that is because some of the avenues for other vulnerable victims have closed," added Johnston highlighting why the victims dubbed as the "Gilgo Four" might have been targeted.
How was Rex Heuermann caught?
The fate of Heuermann is yet to be decided, whose next pre-trial hearing is expected to be held in late September. His attorneys have reportedly remarked, "We’re prepared to go forward. We will defend this case in the court of law and we will go to trial in this case."
Heuermann was caught on July 13 after being under surveillance for being the alleged Gilgo Beach murderer. As per reports, several things led to his arrest, including "a stash of burner phones, ‘sadistic’ online searches, his wife’s hair – and a pizza crust," according to The Independent.