Rex Heuermann Finally Gets a DNA “Win”

The Medical Examiner concluded the accused Gilgo Beach serial killer could be “excluded” as source of “unidentified male A” DNA found on Colleen McNamee’s body. (Photo: James Carbone)

Rex Heuermann, the accused Gilgo Beach serial killer charged with killing seven women, was excluded from involvement in another, high-profile case this past week.

The Office of Medical Examiner in Suffolk County, New York compared Rex Heuermann’s DNA with genetic material found on—and near— the body of 20 year old homicide victim, Colleen McNamee. It was not a match.

Attorneys for Manorville carpenter John Bittrolff, who was convicted in 2017 for the early 1990’s strangling and beating of McNamee and another woman, Rita Tangredi, successfully lobbied Judge Richard Ambro to have Rex Heuermann’s DNA compared with “unidentified male A” DNA discovered in McNamee’s case.

John Bittrolff was convicted of strangling and beating two women to death. His DNA was found on victims Rita Tangredi and Colleen McNamee.

McNamee’s body was found in the woods of Shirley, New York near the Long Island Expressway in January 1994. Police believe the 20 year old was a sex worker, like Tangredi. Tangredi’s beaten body was found in Patchogue in November 1993.

Rita Tangredi was the first murdered woman connected to John Bittrolff, a Manorville, LI carpenter.

The Suffolk County crime lab did a comparison between a DNA profile created by Cybergenetics of “unknown male A” found on McNamee and DNA from Rex Heuermann.

The lab noted, “…based on possible genotypes present as listed in the profile, Rex Heuermann is excluded as ‘unknown male A.’”

Lab report from Office of the Medical Examiner in Suffolk County says Rex Heuermann’s DNA not found on/near 1994 Bittrolff victim Colleen McNamee.

The DNA from “unknown male A” was discovered in Colleen McNamee’s vaginal area, on the crotch of her stretch pants, and also on a pair of men’s jeans found near her body with the brand label “MM.”

Bittrolff’s DNA was discovered in the victim’s anal cavity.

DNA from “Unidentified male A” was found in vaginal area, on victim’s stretch pants, and a pair of jeans discovered near Colleen McNamee’s body with label “MM.”

A woman found dead in Southampton, Long Island a month before McNamee—Sandra Costilla—was initially considered a potential Bittrolff victim, when the married carpenter and father of two was arrested in 2014.

The body of Sandra Costilla, 28, was discovered a month after Rita Tangredi, but she was miles away in the hamlet of North Sea. Former DA Tom Spota initially thought Bittrolff might have killed her, but Rex Heuermann was charged in 2024.

Bittrolff was caught after his brother’s DNA was entered into a state database and proved to have similar genetic markers to another person wanted for the cold case killings of McNamee and Tangredi. That person turned out to be John Bittrolff.

Bittrolff has long argued that he may have patronized sex workers, but he didn’t kill them. Yet a jury convicted him in 2017. He was sentenced to 50 years to life.

In June 2024, the public and journalists were shocked to learn Rex Heuermann was being charged with the 1993 torture and murder of Sandra Costilla, who was living in Queens before she was killed. Heuermann has pleaded not guilty to all seven murders that he's accused of. He remains housed in the Suffolk County Correctional Facility awaiting trial.