New Info Released On 'Asian Doe' Remains Found Near Gilgo Victims: DA

LONG ISLAND, NY — New details were released Monday about an Asian homicide victim found in the same areas as those associated with the Gilgo Beach killings, Suffolk County District Ray Tierney said — and law enforcement is appealing to the public to identify the individual and bring closure to his or her family.

During a press conference Monday, Tierney said the remains indicated a "violent assault, due to blunt force trauma, resulting in death."

He displayed images, facial reconstructions created by a forensic artist with the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children that depict what the victim may have looked like prior to their disappearance and killing.

The person was a biological male but due to the fact that they were dressed in women's clothing, may have identified as a female; it is believed they may have worked as a sex worker in New York City, Tierney said.

On April 4, 2011, skeletal remains were recovered on Ocean Parkway, Gilgo Beach, Tierney said.

The victim was a biological male of Asian descent, likely from Southern China (Han Chinese South), about 17 to 23 years old at the time of death and 5-feet, 3 inches to 5-feet 9 inches tall, Tierney said.

(Suffolk County DA's Office)

The death occurred at least five years priors to April 4, 2011, the DA said.

Clothing recovered included a Chrysantheme blue ribbed short-sleeve shirt with crew neck, a Rafaella brand shirt and Bill Blass pants and a bra, all women’s clothing.

When asked about similarities with the murders accused Gilgo suspect Rex Heuermann has been charged with, Tierney said that the remains of Asian Doe were found about 300 feet from those of Megan Waterman, between her remains and those of Jessica Taylor.

The remains of Asian Doe were not wrapped in burlap, the DA said.

(Suffolk County DA's Office)

In addition, he said, the bail application indicated that some of Heuermann's internet searches did involve those for individuals that could "arguably be related," because he used similar terms.

The 2023 bail application for Heuermann said that at least one internet search he'd performed was for "Asian twink tied-up porn," according to the application.

However, Tierney said, Heuermann has not been charged with Asian Doe's death.

Tierney said the goal is to reach out to the Asian immigrant community, translating the information, with the hope that the victim can be identified and closure brought to their family and friends.

He added that there are individuals from South Asia are underrepresented in the genealogy database, making the investigation challenging; he urged those of Asian descent to upload their family DNA to help.

Tierney said the press event was a "call to action. This person had a name, family, friends. We are reaching out to anyone who may have known this individual to help with this ID."

Anyone who was in the New York City area in the late 90s and early 2000s should also think about anyone who might have gone missing, he said. "Let's give this victim their name back."

Tierney announced the press conference Monday during to provide "new information as to a Gilgo Beach homicide victim," as well as an update on the investigation by the Gilgo Beach Homicide Investigation Task Force.

Heuermann returned to court in July for a routine appearance where "voluminous amounts" of discovery were turned over to the defense, according to Tierney — and at the time, the DA said it was "safe to say" that he might be considered a suspect in the death of a seventh woman.

In June, Heuermann was slapped with new second-degree murder charges in the deaths of two additional women, Jessica Taylor and Sandra Costilla, according to a superceding bail application released to the press before the proceedings — bringing the total number of his alleged victims to six.
In July 2023, 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 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.

Heuermann 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 also pleaded not guilty to that charge.
When asked if Heuermann may be charged in the death of Valerie Mack, whose remains were found in Manorville and near Cedar Beach, Tierney said: "It's safe to say he would be a suspect, yes."

Recently, the DA's office said, of an ongoing search in areas of Suffolk County, including Manorville, Calverton and Southampton: "DA Tierney has repeatedly publicly stated that the task force would continue to investigate additional murders beyond Gilgo."

Anyone with information regarding this case or the identification of the victim is asked
to contact Crimestoppers at 1-800-220-TIPS, or via email or mobile app, which can be submitted in your native language. Translation services are available. A reward of up to $2,500 from Suffolk
County Crime Stoppers is being offered for information leading to the identification of
the victim.