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LI shooting club links Rex Heuermann to Manorville, aiding police in Gilgo Beach murders investigation

Peconic River Sportsman’s Club provided evidence to detectives that is believed to place Rex Heuermann near an area in Manorville where partial remains were found at a time when one of the victims disappeared.

Rachel Yonkunas

Jun 12, 2024, 10:26 PM

Updated 5 days ago

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A shooting club helped police in the Gilgo Beach murders investigation, Team 12 Investigates has learned.
Peconic River Sportsman’s Club provided evidence to detectives that is believed to place Rex Heuermann near an area in Manorville where partial remains were found at a time when one of the victims disappeared.
News 12 was the first to obtain new photos of Heuermann at the Peconic River Sportsman’s Club in 2006 and 2010. The club said he was not a member, and never applied to be a member, but he did attend many of their public high-powered rifle events.
Michael McEnroy, president of the Peconic River Sportsman’s Club, said Heuermann would often volunteer as a coach at their Small Arms Firing School (SAFS) program. Coaches stand next to beginners during range firing and offer hands-on safety instruction.
Club members said Heuermann always showed up to their public events alone and mostly kept to himself.
“I have spoken to several of them and he didn’t seem to have any friends at the club or anyone that he socialized with,” McEnroy said.
More than a decade later, club members were shocked to see Rex Heuermann’s picture all over the news as the suspected Gilgo Beach serial killer. Heuermann has been charged with the murders of six women and is a suspect in a seventh murder.
“Shortly after that, we were contacted by the Suffolk County police,” said McEnroy. “We actually have computerized records of these events taking place and that’s how we were able to give this information to Suffolk police.”
The Manorville Shooting Sports Club is located about three miles from where police found the partial remains of victims Valerie Mack and Jessica Taylor.
Prosecutors recovered a calendar from Heuermann’s Palm Pilot that shows he visited the club on July 20, 2003 – a day before Taylor disappeared on July 21.
Credit: Suffolk County district attorney's office.
Taylor was reported missing after failing to show up for her mother’s birthday in Poughkeepsie. A person walking their dog near Halsey Manor Road in Manorville discovered her torso on July 26.
Heuermann’s calendar also showed that his wife was in Vermont from July 20 until July 27 – an important detail to the investigation. Prosecutors said it is consistent with four other Gilgo Beach murders that allegedly happened while Heuermann’s family was out-of-state and he had the house to himself.
“We were just devastated to find out that this person, who’s involved in these accusations, was even at our club,” McEnroy said. “As Long Islanders, we have been following this case since everyone on Long Island has been for many years. We’re just thankful that the Suffolk County police and the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office has worked so diligently to try to bring some justice and closure to the victims’ families.”


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