A woman whose remains were discovered as early as 1996 in a number of areas along the Long Island coast, some of them close to the Gilgo Beach locations where victim’s investigators suspect were placed by a serial killer, have been identified, according to law enforcement authorities on Friday.
Karen Vergata was the lady, also known as “Jane Doe No. 7,” according to detectives. Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond Tierney revealed on Friday. She was 34 years old. Like the other victims in the Gilgo Murder case, she was working as an escort.
On Fire Island, her fragmented remains were initially found in 1996. Later, in 2011, more of her bones were discovered close to Gilgo Beach.
Elements of Discovery
On April 20, 1996, individuals strolling along Blue Point Beach on Fire Island near Davis Park came across the victim’s legs. The legs had been plastic-wrapped. The victim’s skull was discovered on April 12, 2011, near Ocean Parkway in Nassau County, west of Tobay Beach. “She was known as “Fire Island Jane Doe” and is one of eleven victims found along the remote Long Island highway. Ten of the victims are believed to be victims of a serial killer.” reported The Doe Project. The Doe Project also reported, “Distinguishing Marks/Features: Right lower leg has a 3 1/2″ scar on the lateral mid leg area, a 1″ linear scar on the lateral mid to lower leg and a 1/2″ scar on the medial ankle. The left leg has a 2″ surgical scar with adjacent suture scars on the medial left ankle. The victim may have had surgery on her left ankle. Red polish on all toes.”
According to Tierney, a DNA profile of the woman in July 2011, DNA analysis connected Vergata’s two sets of remains, and in October 2022, genetic genealogy and a related buccal swab provided conclusive identification, according to Tierney.
Tierney said a DNA profile of the woman was created by a new investigative task force that was established last year to look into the murders that have come to be known as the Gilgo Beach murders. The task team received a relative’s DNA to confirm the identification in October after the FBI had tentatively identified her as Vergata using genetic genealogy procedures.
BREAKING: Suffolk County (NY) District Attorney Ray Tierney provides an update on the Gilgo Beach suspect as he appears in court on Long Island. pic.twitter.com/UGTz2ALzbT
— Brad Porcellato (@BradPorcellato) August 1, 2023
He said that officials withheld the information while getting in touch with her family and carrying out their investigation, which resulted in Rex Heuermann’s arrest last month in connection with the deaths of three other women whose bones were discovered along a coastal parkway close to Gilgo Beach. He has also been identified as a possible key suspect in the murder of a fourth person. He entered a not-guilty plea, and his attorney claims Rex Heuermann maintains his innocence.
A DNA cheek swab will be taken again from Rex Heuermann to see if they can tie him to Karen Vergata. However, his attorneys will argue probable cause in order to get him to take a new DNA test to see if there is a match with Vergata.
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