26°
Police investigators have identified another victim in the Long Island Gilgo Beach murder investigation.
The name for a victim who had been known as Fire Island Jane Doe No. 7 was revealed to be Karen Vergata, age 34, Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney and the Gilgo Beach Investigative Taskforce announced in a news conference late Friday morning, Aug. 4.
Vergata went missing on Feb. 14, 1996 and had been living in Manattan where she was believed to be working as an escort, Tierney said.
It's unknown if Vergata is connected to suspected serial killer Rex Heuermann, age 59, of Massapequa Park, who is charged in the murders of three of the 10 women found on Gilgo Beach, off Suffolk County's south shore.
Heuermann is also the main suspect in the murder of a fourth victim, Maureen Brainard-Barnes, who vanished in 2007. Sources told ABC News that the case is expected to be resolved soon.
An architect with an office on Fifth Avenue in Manhattan and the father of two, Heuermann was arrested on Thursday, July 13 for the murders of three victims Megan Barthelemy, Megan Waterman, and Amber Costello.
The remains of the women were found on the south shore of Long Island in December 2010 during a police K9 training exercise. Investigators said all four were killed between July 2007 and September 2010 in what became known as the Gilgo Beach murders.
The women disappeared in 2009 and 2010 and their bodies were found on Long Island in 2010, Suffolk County Police said.
Heuermann has pleaded not guilty to the crimes.
Following his arrest, police investigators tore apart his Massapequa Park home looking for evidence tying him to the crime and for potential additional witnesses.
Using DNA the taskforce also hopes to identify additional victims, Suffolk County Police said.
Investigators, who received Heuermann's DNA from a piece of pizza have requested an official "cheek swab," from him for a complete DNA analysis.
In other news, a belt found at the scene on Gilgo Beach with the initials "WH," or "HM" was used to bind Brainard-Barnes. WH are the initials of Heuermann's father, officials said.
This continues to be a developing story. Check back to Daily Voice for updates.
Click here to follow Daily Voice Windham-Willimantic and receive free news updates.
