The gruesome discovery of bodies on Gilgo Beach has perplexed authorities for years. In a recent episode of "Hidden Killers," host Tony Brueski sits down with forensic psychologist Joni Johnston to dissect the enigma surrounding Rex Heuermann and his potential link to the Gilgo Beach murders.

 

"The fact that the state of the bodies... all very similar... on the beach when they were found," Brueski starts, referring to the conditions of the bodies connected to Heuerman due to the discovery of his and his wife's hair. Yet, there are other victims whose conditions don't match these, raising the question of whether Heuermann was responsible for their deaths.

 

Johnston admitted the perplexity of the situation, "You look and you kind of go, there's no way this could be the same person." She drew attention to the fact that while some victims were neatly placed and bound, others were gruesomely dismembered and scattered in different areas. These stark differences make it challenging to believe that the same perpetrator committed all the crimes.

 

However, she emphasized that a serial killer's method of operation (MO) can evolve based on different situations and over time. "Is it possible that the same person starting out in their serial killing career... was very, very concerned about being caught?" she posed. By suggesting that the serial killer may have started by dismembering victims to reduce chances of detection and later evolved to a more "careful" method due to overconfidence, she offers a fresh perspective to the investigation.

 

"We don't know... how these other women died," she adds. If the other victims' death method matches those linked to Heuerman, it strengthens the possibility of him being responsible for all the crimes. She discussed the possibility that the killer might have viewed the location as a private graveyard to suit their psychological needs, emphasizing that how the killer treated the bodies post-mortem might be less significant than their actual killing method.

 

Brueski then brought up a curious piece of evidence: a belt left at the crime scene with the initials "WH" or "HM". He asked if this could be a calling card, a signature left intentionally by the killer. Johnston responded that while some killers have left 'calling cards', "it isn't very often that they leave a calling card." She explained that in most cases, it's inadvertent, with the killer possibly dropping something unintentionally in the rush or the darkness.

 

A critical question posed during their conversation was how someone, potentially like Heuermann, rationalizes their dark actions while leading a seemingly normal life. Johnston discussed the surprising ways some criminals justify their actions, often blaming the victim and diverting responsibility. "It's not my fault, it's the victim's fault," she highlighted as a common theme among many.

 

Addressing the duality of being a family man by day and a potential killer by night, Johnston pointed out that it's an "exaggerated version" of the compartmentalization everyone experiences. Using the example of law enforcement officers, she explained how people manage to separate their personal and professional lives. Serial killers, in her view, do the same but in a much more extreme manner.

 

The conversation provided valuable insights into the psyche of serial killers and the challenges involved in connecting seemingly unrelated crimes. As investigations continue, it's imperative to remain open to all possibilities, understanding that the minds of criminals can be as complex as the crimes they commit.

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