Cops air details in cold-case Gilgo Beach murder spree
New information was released Thursday about the first four victims of the Gilgo Beach serial killer as investigators ramped up their efforts to solve the long-cold investigation into the Long Island murder spree.
Suffolk County Police Commissioner Rodney Harrison issued his renewed call for details from the public shortly after a new $50,000 reward was posted seeking tips on the suburban slayings where the victims’ remains were discovered in December 2010.
“As the homicide squad continues its tireless work on this investigation, we believe now is the right time to disseminate the previously unreleased information in hopes of eliciting tips from the public and providing greater transparency about the victims,” said Harrison.
A total of 10 victims were killed, including eight women, an Asian man dressed as a woman and a toddler. The new details involve the first four victims, all prostitutes in their 20s and each discovered within a one-mile radius as police searched for the body of another missing woman more than 11 years ago.
The first of the “Gilgo Four,” 25-year-old Maureen Brainard-Barnes, was reported missing in July 2007 after arranging to meet with a customer, followed by Melissa Barthelemy, 24, last seen alive two years later before she went off to see a client.
The youngest victim, 22-yearold Megan Waterman of Scarborough, Maine, disappeared on June 6, 2010, and was last seen boarding a bus to New York — possibly with her pimp. She was the mother of a 3-year-old daughter.
Victim No. 4 was identified as Amber Costello, a 27-year-old heroin addict with tattoos of a butterfly on her lower back, the word “Kaos” on her neck and the name “Margaret” on her leg.
Costello disappeared after heading off on foot to meet a john on Sept. 2, 2010, with her body recovered three months later near Gilgo Beach.
Harrison announced earlier this year that a team of investigators culled from the FBI, state police and three Suffolk County law enforcement agencies would take a fresh look into the deaths.
“Our hope is that the public will review this information and come forward with any additional tips about the victims or a potential suspect or suspects,” said the police commissioner.