A significant search operation is underway in a wooded area off the Long Island Expressway in Manorville as part of the ongoing investigation into the notorious Gilgo Beach murders, according to law enforcement sources. The search began early last week and continued for several days, involving multiple police agencies.

The Suffolk County Police, New York Police Department, and New York State Police are collaborating in this extensive search, with assistance from two NYPD Emergency Services Unit K-9s. These efforts focus on an area near exit 70, a region previously linked to parts of this complex case.

"The Suffolk County Police Department, the New York Police Department, and the New York State Police are working with the District Attorney's Office on an ongoing investigation," stated the Suffolk County District Attorney's Office. "We do not comment on investigative steps while they are underway. We will make further statements when appropriate."

This renewed search comes after Rex Heuermann was charged with the murders of four women, whose bodies were discovered near Gilgo Beach more than a decade ago. These women, known as the "Gilgo Four," include Melissa Barthelemy, Megan Waterman, Maureen Brainard-Barnes, and Amber Costello. Despite Heuermann's not guilty plea, the investigation seeks to determine if he can be connected to additional victims found in the area.

Manorville has surfaced in discussions about the Gilgo Beach murders before. Notably, it was the site where the remains of Jessica Taylor, a 20-year-old sex worker, were discovered in March 2011, several miles from where the "Gilgo Four" were found. Taylor's other remains had been found in the same area in July 2003. Similarly, the remains of Valerie Mack, a 24-year-old escort, were located about a mile and a half east of Taylor's remains in April 2011, with partial remains also discovered in Manorville back in September 2000.

Authorities have hinted at a possible connection between the remains of Taylor and Mack, though no charges have been filed in relation to their deaths. The current search may be an effort to find further evidence that could link these cases or uncover new clues in the chilling series of unsolved crimes.

As the community watches closely, law enforcement continues to piece together the fragments of a puzzle that has haunted Long Island for years. The outcome of this search could provide crucial evidence needed to bring further closure to the victims' families and clarity to a case that has gripped the public's imagination with its mysteries and horrors.

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