Gilgo Beach Murder Investigation Links Suspect's Planning Document to Former Bronx Sex Worker

Investigators have made a significant connection in the Gilgo
Beach murder case, linking one of the phone numbers listed in an
alleged planning document belonging to Rex A. Heuermann, the
prime suspect, to a former Bronx sex worker. This discovery sheds
new light on the case, which has captivated the public for
years.

Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney made the phone
number public in June 2023, seeking help from the public in
identifying a woman who may have been targeted by Heuermann
around 2002. The number has now been traced to Danielle Goodling,
a former Bronx sex worker who died in 2021 from an apparent drug
overdose, according to her family.

Goodling’s involvement in the case highlights the brutal reality
of the crimes Heuermann is accused of committing. Goodling worked
as a sex worker in New York during the late 1990s and early
2000s, a period when Heuermann is alleged to have been planning
his heinous acts. She had multiple arrests, two of which occurred
in 2002 near Heuermann's former office, raising questions about
whether their paths might have crossed.

The second phone number found in the document, a pager number,
remains unverified. Investigators are continuing their efforts to
determine its relevance to the case. According to authorities,
Heuermann used the planning document between 2000 and 2002,
outlining his methods for carrying out his crimes and evading law
enforcement. The document included phone numbers associated with
individuals identified as "Megan?" and "Target 1," which may
refer to Goodling, though her mother, Cindy Fitt, has stated she
does not recall her daughter using the name Megan.

The connection between Goodling and Heuermann adds another layer
to the complex and disturbing investigation. On July 13, 2023,
Heuermann, now 60, was arrested outside his Manhattan office in
connection with the 2010 murders of Melissa Barthelemy, 24; Megan
Waterman, 22; and Amber Costello, 27, according to reports from
Front Page Detectives. These women, along with Maureen
Brainard-Barnes, 25, whose remains were found near the others,
became known as the "Gilgo Four."

The scope of the case widened as authorities continued their
investigation. In June 2024, Heuermann was charged with the
alleged murders of Jessica Taylor in 2003 and Sandra Costilla in
1993. These charges brought the total number of alleged victims
to six, all of whom were involved in sex work, according to
prosecutors. The timeline of the crimes spans three decades, from
Costilla's 1993 death to Heuermann's arrest in 2023.

Despite the mounting evidence and the gravity of the charges
against him, Heuermann has maintained his innocence, pleading not
guilty to all charges. The ongoing investigation continues to
uncover more details about Heuermann's activities and potential
victims, as law enforcement works to bring justice to the
families of the victims.

The revelation of Goodling's connection to one of the phone
numbers in Heuermann's planning document is a critical piece of
evidence in the broader case. However, with the second phone
number still unverified, the investigation is far from over.
Authorities remain committed to piecing together the full scope
of Heuermann's alleged crimes, as they work to ensure that no
stone is left unturned.

The Gilgo Beach case, which has haunted the community and
captured national attention, continues to evolve as new evidence
comes to light. The families of the victims, alongside law
enforcement, are seeking closure and justice for the lives lost
in what has become one of the most chilling serial murder cases
in recent history. As the investigation progresses, the public
remains watchful, eager for answers in a case that has left so
many questions unanswered for so long.

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