Gilgo Beach serial killer suspect accused neighbor pictured over fence.
Patricia Maresa, 65, was the subject of unwanted attention from alleged killer Rex Heuerman, who used to peer over the fence at her when she and her husband first moved to the Massapequa Park, Long Island, neighborhood in the 1990s.
Her husband, former FDNY firefighter Etienne Devilliers, 68, said Heuermann would stare at his wife during the summer months and try to strike up a conversation while sunbathing.
Speaking to Newstimesuk.com on Wednesday, Devilliers, 65, explained that he thought the architect was ‘probably just being friendly.’
But eventually Devilliers decided to confront his neighbor, who is now accused of being behind three of the 11 Gilgo Beach murders.
Rex Heurman’s next-door neighbor Etienne Devilliers claims accused killer Rex Heurman, 59, peeked over the fence to look at his 65-year-old wife, Patricia Maresa.
De Villiers, pictured outside his home on Wednesday, explained that he thought the architect was ‘probably just being friendly’ but eventually asked him to stop looking at his wife.
Heurman has been charged with three murders of the 11 bodies found on Long Island’s Gilgo Beach.
Of the subsequent conversation, she said: ‘It was unpleasant, he complied.
‘He stopped, didn’t argue with me.’
Devilliers said Heuerman would casually mention his weight, 200 pounds, and height, 6’4, during conversations.
‘The man was strange and strange but never violent,’ the neighbor added. ‘We talked almost every day. He was always kind and respectful. I am surprised by the violence.
‘I feel really bad for the kids.’
He and his wife were asked by police to move their car Friday morning while they searched the suspect’s home.
Heuermann often spoke of his taste in guns and once mentioned that he had a safe door to ‘protect his guns’.
Heuerman, who runs RH Consultants & Associates in Manhattan, was arrested outside his office last Thursday night.
The married father of two is accused of killing victims Melissa Barthelemy, Megan Waterman and Amber Costello, whose bodies were found in 2010.
Police, however, said they were ‘confident’ they would soon charge him with the murder of Maureen Brainerd-Berners.
He was seen carrying at least four long-barreled firearms as well as several blue plastic boxes containing weapons from Human’s ‘dungeon’-like Massapequa home Sunday morning, days after his arrest.
Shocked neighbors of the suspected killer said they felt like they were living in ‘a true crime documentary’ as huge crowds thronged the sleepy streets.
The white fence dividing the two houses can be seen above
Heuerman is charged with the murders of Megan Waterman (right) and Melissa Barthelemy.
He is also accused of murdering Amber Costello (left). Police, however, said they were ‘confident’ they would soon charge him with the murder of Maureen Brainerd-Berners (left).
In addition to his cluttered home, Heuerman kept two storage units in Amityville. They were searched yesterday and today
They described the suspected serial killer as a quiet family man who was often seen tinkering away in his garage.
Investigators revealed Friday that they had moved to arrest Heuerman amid fears the suspected killer could strike again.
Police had been keeping Heuerman under surveillance since last year, and had planned to pursue him as they built their case, but decided to swoop in and make an arrest ‘in the interest of public safety,’ Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney told reporters.
Tierney cited a number of red flags, saying that Heuermann ‘continues to patronize sex workers’, uses false IDs and burner phones, and has a staggering 92 firearms permits.
‘That certainly made us very nervous,’ said Tierney, who has led a secret investigative task force focused on Heuerman since spring 2022.
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