Midtown Woman Was Gilgo Beach Murder Victim 7: Suffolk DA

MIDTOWN, NY — Suffolk County investigators announced Friday that a Gilgo Beach victim, "Jane Doe No. 7," was finally identified as a Midtown woman named Karen Vergata.

DNA from Vergata's then-unidentified remains and a living relative provided the Gilgo Beach Task Force and the FBI with the missing genealogical link in October 2022 to finally identify the murdered woman — also known as "Fire Island Jane Doe"— who first went missing on Feb. 14, 1996.

"At the time, she lived on West 45th Street in Manhattan and was believed to be working as an escort at the time of her disappearance," said Suffolk County DA Ray Tierney at a press conference Friday morning. "There was no missing persons complaint filed at the time of that disappearance."

The 34-year-old woman's remains were first found on Fire Island on April 20, 1996: Human remains were located in Davis Park, Suffolk County police said. DNA later linked the remains to a second set of remains found April 11, 2011, at Tobay Beach in Nassau County.

Her skull was found the same day as law enforcement discovered the remains of "Jane Doe No. 3," also known as "Peaches." Vergata's skull was also found just weeks after the remains of Jessica Taylor were found March 29, 2011, near Ocean Parkway.

Officials did not announce a link to Gilgo Beach murder suspect Rex Heuermann, currently charged with six counts of murder, nor did they announce any additional charges or suspects in connection to Vergata's killing.

"I think it's important that we remember and honor not only Ms. Vergata, but all the victims on Gilgo Beach," Tierney said.

Additional reporting by Maureen Mullarkey and Lisa Finn.