Search Continues In Manorville Woods; Gilgo Ties Still Unconfirmed

MANORVILLE, NY — Police continued searching the Manorville woods Thursday, the Suffolk County District Attorney's office said.

Although Newsday said Wednesday that the investigators were reportedly searching the Manorville woods in relation to the Gilgo Beach killings, the DA's office did not confirm that.

New York State police said they were assisting with an ongoing investigation in Manorville but could not elaborate further.

While they said police were still out searching, the DA's office could not confirm any ties to the Gilgo case Thursday.

According to the Newsday report, the search was centered off Wading-River Manor Road, as well as Ryerson Avenue, Wednesday; on Thursday, Newsday said Thursday that the search had widene

"The Suffolk County Police Department, the New York Police Department and the New York State Police are working with the District Attorney's Office on an ongoing investigation," said an earlier statement from Tierney's office. "We do not comment on investigative steps while they are underway. We will make further statements when appropriate."

Suffolk County Police told Patch the DA's office was handling inquiries on the matter.

In releasing a timeline of the killings in past years, Suffolk County Police said that on November 19, 2000, the remains of Manorville Jane Doe/Jane Doe #6, who was later identified as Valerie Mack, were discovered in Manorville. On July 26, 2003, the remains of Jessica Taylor, an escort working in New York City, were located in a wooded area in Manorville. Additional remains of Taylor were discovered March 29, 2011, along Ocean Parkway, during the search for Shannan Gilbert, police said.

Accused Gilgo Beach killer Rex Heuermann, of Massapequa Park man, originally charged in three of the Gilgo Beach murders, was also charged with the murder of a fourth woman, Maureen Brainard-Barnes, in January. New DNA evidence helped connect Heuermann to all four of the deaths, said Tierney, who is prosecuting the case.

Heuermann was charged with second-degree murder, an A-1 violent felony, in the death of Brainard-Barnes on July 9, 2007. Heuermann has pleaded not guilty.

Last July, Heuermann was indicted on three counts of first-degree murder charges and three counts of second-degree murder charges in the deaths of sex workers Melissa Barthelemy, Megan Waterman and Amber Costello, whose remains were found along Ocean Parkway in 2010. Heuermann also pleaded not guilty to those charges.

A total of 11 sets of remains were found in the Gilgo Beach murders, which rocked Long Island. The remains included that of a toddler and an Asian male