Authorities in New York have charged the suspect in the Gilgo Beach murders, Rex Heuermann, with an additional murder on Tuesday.

Heuermann is now facing second-degree murder charges relating to Valerie Mack, who was killed sometime between September 1 and November 19, 2000, based on an indictment from the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office, provided to YSL News.

Valerie Mack’s remains were initially discovered in 2000, but it wasn’t until 2020 that she was identified. Mack, aged 24 at the time of her death, was known to have worked as a sex worker, a profession shared by several other victims. The first partial remains were found in Manorville, New York, approximately 50 miles from where more of her remains were located 11 years later along Ocean Parkway close to Gilgo Beach, as noted in court documents.

At 61 years old, Heuermann had already been charged with the murders of six other women whose deaths occurred between the 1990s and 2011. Many of these victims’ remains were uncovered on Gilgo Beach in 2010 and 2011, leading to suspicions of a serial killer.

In July 2023, Heuermann was apprehended and charged with the murders of Megan Waterman (22), Melissa Barthelemy (24), and Amber Costello (27). In January 2024, he faced charges for the death of Maureen Brainard-Barnes (25). Additionally, in June of this year, Heuermann was indicted for the murders of Jessica Taylor (20), whose dismembered body was found shortly after her disappearance in 2003, and Sandra Costilla (28), found in 1993. He has pleaded not guilty to these charges.

Heuermann’s defense lawyer has not yet responded to YSL News’ request for comment on Tuesday.

Valerie Mack Identified Nearly 20 Years After Her Death

On November 19, 2000, while hunting in Manorville, three individuals discovered human remains after their dog indicated a black plastic bag. They contacted 911, leading authorities to find the dismembered body of an unidentified female.

On April 4, 2011, during a search in the Gilgo Beach area, investigators unearthed more remains belonging to the same unidentified female, located less than 1.5 miles from where some of Taylor’s remains had also been discovered.

All five victims whose murders had already been linked to Heuermann were found on the same side of Ocean Parkway at a similar depth, according to prosecutors. Costilla was the exception, found in North Sea, Long Island.

In May 2020, DNA testing revealed that the previously unidentified remains belonged to Mack, who was 24 when she died.

This year, investigators made a connection between Mack and Heuermann through DNA testing of a hair found among her remains, which matched that of Heuermann’s daughter, who was a toddler at the time of Mack’s death.

Prosecutors also noted that some violent pornography found in Heuermann’s possession contained methods reminiscent of the injuries sustained by Mack and details on how she was bound. Moreover, they discovered what they believe to be a document on Heuermann’s hard drive that outlined a meticulous plan for his killings, featuring strategies and tools that align with those potentially used against Mack and other victims.