Dennis Rader, the infamous “BTK” Killer, sees striking similarities between himself and Gilgo Beach murder suspect Rex Heuermann—once going so far as to call him a “clone of myself.”
The 81-year-old Rader—who pleaded guilty to murdering 10 people in the Wichita, Kansas, area from 1974 to 1991, and is currently serving 10 life sentences in prison—wrote a letter to Fox News Digital in 2023 comparing the details of the case on New York’s Long Island to his own. “I was arrested age 59. Married, two kids,” Rader said in the letter. “Husband, dad longtime a serial killer, stalker, used electronic devices, lives in a neighborhood undetected.”
Heuermann was arrested on July 13, 2023, and charged with six counts of murder in connection to the deaths of three women—Amber Lynn Costello (27 years old), Megan Waterman (22), and Melissa Barthelemy (24). All three disappeared between 2009 and 2010 while working as escorts, according to The New York Times, and Suffolk County Police discovered their remains in December 2010.
Heuermann, 61, is now accused of killing seven women total on Long Island between 1993 and 2011. DNA obtained from rootless hairs on six of the victims provided a link to the architect, who has denied his involvement. However, according to reports, he is expected to enter a guilty plea during an appearance at Suffolk County Court on April 8.
Dennis Rader—whose BTK nickname represented his method of binding, torturing, and killing victims—pointed out in his letter that advances in science and technology led to Heuermann’s arrest. Investigators used DNA found on discarded pizza crust to match him with male hair found at the crime scene. They also traced Heuermann through burner phones and email accounts.
“DNA and electronics his downfall, much like me,” Rader said.
Police found Rader using the metadata from a floppy disk he sent to a local television station, and investigators used a DNA sample from his daughter to cement their case against him. He pleaded guilty to the 10 murders in 2005.
Gilgo Beach isn’t the only recent case to attract Rader’s attention. In a February 2023 interview with Fox News Digital, he expressed sympathy for Bryan Kohberger—the 31-year-old who pleaded guilty to killing four University of Idaho students in November 2022. “Since I spent from February 2005 to April 2005 in a cell by myself, I know how he feels. Very lonely,” Rader told the outlet.
What Other Evidence Was Found in the Gilgo Beach Case?
The Associated Press reported that investigators used a yellow excavator to dig in the yard of Heuermann’s Long Island home. Police also dismantled a wooden deck at the property and are trying to determine if any of the murders occurred inside the house.
A Suffolk County Police spokesperson confirmed crews found a vault containing multiple guns. Police removed more than 100 firearms from the house in total, according to the AP, as well as a large doll encased in glass and a portrait of a woman with a bruise on her face.
Police also received a warrant to search Heuermann’s property in South Carolina.
According to USA Today, Heuermann was held without bail at the Suffolk County Correctional Facility after his arrest and placed on suicide watch. He pleaded not guilty to the murder charges.
Heuermann’s ex-wife of 27 years, Asa Ellerup, filed for divorce on July 19, 2023. She and the couple’s daughter, Victoria Heuermann, spoke publicly about the case in the 2025 docuseries The Gilgo Beach Killer: House of Secrets.
Tyler Piccotti joined the Biography.com staff as an Associate News Editor and is now the News and Culture Editor. He previously worked as a reporter and copy editor for a daily newspaper recognized by the Associated Press Sports Editors. In his current role, he shares the true stories behind your favorite movies and TV shows and profiles rising musicians, actors, and athletes. When he's not working, you can find him at the nearest amusement park or movie theater and cheering on his favorite teams.
