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

True Crime Today | A True Crime Podcast

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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