49: Did Rex Heuermann Torment Victim's Families By Calling Them From Victim's Phones?

In a chilling episode of the "Hidden Killers" podcast, host Tony
Brueski delved into the mind and motives of the alleged Long
Island serial killer, Rex Heuermann, accused of the 2010 murders
at Gilgo Beach. Joined by renowned psychotherapist and author,
Shavaun Scott, the episode peeled back the layers of deception,
sadism, and apparent normality that often cloak such
predators.
 
Scott, who penned the book "The Minds of Mass Killers:
Understanding and Interrupting The Pathway to Violence," painted
a disturbing portrait of Heuermann. Beyond the brutal act of
killing, Heuermann, according to Brueski, took perverse pleasure
in tormenting the families of his victims. "Why on earth are you
calling the family? Why are you messing with the people that are
just trying to grieve?" Brueski mused.
 
Shedding light on this morbid curiosity, Scott explained, “Serial
killers aren't killing for personal gain. They're killing for
pleasure, typically sexual pleasure.” Such individuals find the
suffering of others arousing, and some, like Heuermann, even
derive pleasure from the emotional turmoil of grieving relatives.
Heuermann's audacity was evident when he telephoned the sister of
one of his victim’s multiple times to revel in her
distress.
 
The duality in Heuermann's personality was another aspect
dissected during the discussion. While some acquaintances found
him likable, neighbors described him as "grumpy and menacing."
This juxtaposition, Scott pointed out, is a hallmark of many
serial killers, “They hide this split-off, separate personal
quality very, very well.” The narcissism accompanying this is
evident in the cat-and-mouse games they play, either with law
enforcement, the press, or in Heuermann's case, the victim's
family.
 
His attention to detail, Scott hypothesized, was probably a
significant factor in evading capture for so long. "He was very
detail-oriented when it came to what he was doing," Brueski
noted, highlighting Heuermann's reported obsessive nature. This
obsession, according to Scott, would have made him more
meticulous about leaving no evidence behind.
 
The arrest finally came about when a strand of his hair, along
with some from his wife, was discovered on the burlap sacks
containing the bodies. Such seemingly minor mistakes eventually
become instrumental in solving cases that have stymied
investigators for years.
 
One of the most unsettling aspects of such killers is their
sexual gratification from their heinous deeds. While some might
jump to the conclusion that a history of sexual abuse might be
behind such urges, Scott clarified that this isn't always the
case. “Sometimes it's exposure to violent pornography at a young
age, or even sadistic kinds of horror movies,” she added,
suggesting that repeated exposure at a young age can rewire the
brain.
 
But what of the killer's family? Heuermann had a wife and
children. Was there any inkling of his double life? Drawing
parallels to the infamous BTK killer, Scott postulated that such
killers are experts at compartmentalization, meticulously hiding
evidence and possibly leading seemingly normal domestic lives. As
Brueski aptly put it, it's a case of finding "breadcrumbs" in
retrospect.
 
The "Hidden Killers" episode underscored the complex and often
baffling psyche of serial killers. As investigations unfold and
more information emerges, society grapples with the uncomfortable
reality that monsters can sometimes hide in plain sight, masked
by a veneer of normality.
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