GILGO MURDERS: 2 storage units searched in connection to investigation, Suffolk DA says
The second site search was conducted at another Omega facility at 185 Sunrise Highway.
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State police and members of the Suffolk County police removed items from an Omega Self-Storage facility Monday afternoon on Sunrise Highway in Amityville in connection to the Gilgo Beach murder investigation.
Suffolk police had executed a search warrant Sunday at another storage unit in Amityville. A police vehicle, police tape and floodlights could still be seen at the scene Monday morning. A tent was also set up in the area.
LIVE BLOG: Updates on the case as they happen
The first search site was at Omega Self Storage near 497 Route 110. The second site search was conducted at another Omega facility at 185 Sunrise Highway. It's still unclear who the storage units belong to or what was in them.
"We have to do it very methodically, to see if there is anything that's connected to the victims that were discovered back in 2011," says Suffolk County Police Commissioner Rodney Harrison.
News 12 made several attempts to reach out to managers and the owner of both Omega self-storage facilities, but they would not say who owns the storage units being searched.
RELATED: Court documents reveal Gilgo Beach suspect history of financial issues
Rex Heuermann, 59, of Massapequa Park, was arrested in New York City on Thursday, more than a year after a police task force explored his possible connection to the Gilgo murders.
Prosecutors say DNA evidence and cellphone data point to the architect and father of two as a suspect in the murders of Melissa Barthelemy, Megan Waterman and Amber Costello.
WATCH: DOCUMENTARY AND BACKGROUND INFORMATION - Gilgo Beach: Unsolved
Rex Heuermann, 59, of Massapequa Park, was arrested in New York City on Thursday, more than a year after a police task force explored his possible connection to the Gilgo murders.
Prosecutors say DNA evidence and cellphone data point to the architect and father of two as a suspect in the murders of Melissa Barthelemy, Megan Waterman and Amber Costello.
Authorities say Heuermann, who officials say is on suicide watch at the Suffolk County Correctional Facility, is also the prime suspect in the 2007 disappearance and death of a fourth woman, Maureen Brainard-Barnes.
Heuermann's attorney released a statement to News 12 asserting his client's innocence after pleading not guilty to multiple first-degree and second-degree murder counts on Friday:
"Rex Heuermann is 59 years old with no prior criminal history. He is a college graduate and is a hardworking licensed architect who has his own NYC firm. He is a loving husband to his wife of over 25 years and an involved and dedicated father to his daughter and stepson. He has entered a not guilty plea and has insisted he did not commit these crimes. There is nothing about Mr. Heuermann that would suggest that he is involved in these incidents. And while the government has decided to focus on him despite more significant and stronger leads, we are looking forward to defending him in a court of law before a fair and impartial jury of his peers."
Heuermann pleaded not guilty to the charges against him.
Heuermann is due back in court on Aug. 1.
200 guns recovered from Gilgo Beach suspect’s home, police say
Police say they have recovered more than 200 guns from Gilgo Beach suspect Rex Heuermann’s home.
Neighbors of the house on First Avenue woke up to a heavy police presence in the area Friday morning. As of Monday morning, a portion of the road was blocked off by police tape. State police, along with Suffolk and Nassau command post trucks also remained in front of the home.
News 12 was told that investigators removed over 200 guns from his house.
"There was a large stash of rifles and handguns that were recovered from his residence, which is very, very scary," Suffolk Police Commissioner Rodney Harrison says.
Suffolk Police Detective Lt. Kevin Beyrer said "there is no end in sight" regarding the search of the Massapequa Park home.
Chopper 12: Police investigate storage unit in Amityville
Chopper 12 over Rex Heuermann's home in Massapequa Park
