The intensive police search of a distant space on Lengthy Island isn’t tied to suspected Gilgo Seaside killer Rex Heuermann — however to a different doable serial killer, police sources advised The Put up.
Cops are in search of new proof associated to the 1993 homicide of Sandra Costilla — and they’re hoping to lastly tie the case to convicted killer John Bittrolff, in line with sources with information of the Suffolk County case.
Cops have additionally shifted their focus from the woods in Manorville to North Sea, a hamlet positioned inside Southampton City.
That’s the place Costilla, 28, of Queens, was discovered savagely crushed and strangled by hunters on Nov. 20, 1993.
Bittrolff, who’s in jail after being convicted of killing two different ladies on Lengthy Island, was beforehand named as a suspect in Costilla’s homicide, however has by no means been charged.
Authorities on Saturday continued combing by the dense North Sea woods, together with with cadever-sniffing canine.
It was unclear what new data led detectives again to each places — or if they’ve discovered something pertinent throughout the searches, the sources mentioned.
Bittrolff, a 57-year-old former carpenter, lived in Manorville, not removed from the place cops had been conducting their search this previous week.
He was arrested in 2014 for the murders of two ladies: Rita Tangredi, 31, a recognized intercourse employee discovered useless November 2, 1993, in East Patchogue, and Colleen McNamee, 20, who was discovered killed on January 30, 1994, in a wooded space alongside William Floyd Parkway in Shirley.
In 2017, jurors discovered Bittrolff responsible of second-degree homicide in each instances. He’s now serving 50 years to life.
Investigators have by no means been in a position to pin Costilla’s unsolved homicide on Bittrolff.
A number of police sources verify Bittrolff was, for years after his arrest, the lead suspect within the Gilgo Seaside murders investigation.
After his sentencing, Suffolk County prosecutors revealed Bittrolff was additionally suspected in not less than one of many 10 murders attributed to the Gilgo Seaside killer.
The torsos of two of the Lengthy Island Serial Killer’s victims, Jessica Taylor and Valerie Mack, had been present in Manorville — three miles from Bittrolff’s residence.
Police have famous Tangredi’s grownup daughter mentioned she was greatest buddies with Melissa Barthelemy, one of many first victims found at Gilgo Seaside.
Previous to disappearing, police mentioned Barthelemy made a number of calls to a Manorville quantity. Police have by no means mentioned who the quantity was registered to.
Sources confirmed police ended up dismissing Bittrolff as a Gilgo Seaside suspect months earlier than arresting Heuermann for 4 of the grisly murders, together with Barthelemy’s.
Suffolk District Lawyer Ray Tierney later publicly mentioned Bittrolff was not concerned within the Gilgo Seaside serial murders.
Heuermann has pleaded not responsible to the 4 costs of homicide he faces.
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