In a chilling episode of the "Hidden Killers" podcast, host Tony Brueski delved into the mind and motives of the alleged Long Island serial killer, Rex Heuermann, accused of the 2010 murders at Gilgo Beach. Joined by renowned psychotherapist and author, Shavaun Scott, the episode peeled back the layers of deception, sadism, and apparent normality that often cloak such predators.

 

Scott, who penned the book "The Minds of Mass Killers: Understanding and Interrupting The Pathway to Violence," painted a disturbing portrait of Heuermann. Beyond the brutal act of killing, Heuermann, according to Brueski, took perverse pleasure in tormenting the families of his victims. "Why on earth are you calling the family? Why are you messing with the people that are just trying to grieve?" Brueski mused.

 

Shedding light on this morbid curiosity, Scott explained, “Serial killers aren't killing for personal gain. They're killing for pleasure, typically sexual pleasure.” Such individuals find the suffering of others arousing, and some, like Heuermann, even derive pleasure from the emotional turmoil of grieving relatives. Heuermann's audacity was evident when he telephoned the sister of one of his victim’s multiple times to revel in her distress.

 

The duality in Heuermann's personality was another aspect dissected during the discussion. While some acquaintances found him likable, neighbors described him as "grumpy and menacing." This juxtaposition, Scott pointed out, is a hallmark of many serial killers, “They hide this split-off, separate personal quality very, very well.” The narcissism accompanying this is evident in the cat-and-mouse games they play, either with law enforcement, the press, or in Heuermann's case, the victim's family.

 

His attention to detail, Scott hypothesized, was probably a significant factor in evading capture for so long. "He was very detail-oriented when it came to what he was doing," Brueski noted, highlighting Heuermann's reported obsessive nature. This obsession, according to Scott, would have made him more meticulous about leaving no evidence behind.

 

The arrest finally came about when a strand of his hair, along with some from his wife, was discovered on the burlap sacks containing the bodies. Such seemingly minor mistakes eventually become instrumental in solving cases that have stymied investigators for years.

 

One of the most unsettling aspects of such killers is their sexual gratification from their heinous deeds. While some might jump to the conclusion that a history of sexual abuse might be behind such urges, Scott clarified that this isn't always the case. “Sometimes it's exposure to violent pornography at a young age, or even sadistic kinds of horror movies,” she added, suggesting that repeated exposure at a young age can rewire the brain.

 

But what of the killer's family? Heuermann had a wife and children. Was there any inkling of his double life? Drawing parallels to the infamous BTK killer, Scott postulated that such killers are experts at compartmentalization, meticulously hiding evidence and possibly leading seemingly normal domestic lives. As Brueski aptly put it, it's a case of finding "breadcrumbs" in retrospect.

 

The "Hidden Killers" episode underscored the complex and often baffling psyche of serial killers. As investigations unfold and more information emerges, society grapples with the uncomfortable reality that monsters can sometimes hide in plain sight, masked by a veneer of normality.

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