A chilling three-part documentary series has left Netflix viewers reeling, with many describing it as "insane" and "heartbreaking." Gone Girls: The Long Island Serial Killer, which premiered on the streaming platform on March 31, 2025, delves into the shocking unsolved case of sex workers who vanished in New York City and Long Island over three decades. The discovery of a body in 2010 finally brought attention to the string of missing women and the horrific attacks they suffered.
Through emotional interviews with the victims' loved ones and law enforcement, the series chronicles the hunt for the elusive Long Island Serial Killer. According to the synopsis: "In 2010, female remains were found in the Gilgo Beach area of Long Island, leading to a string of additional discoveries at a virtual dumping ground steps away from New York's busiest beaches." Despite the gruesome findings, the case of the Long Island Serial Killer remained unsolved for 13 years - until a major breakthrough in July 2023, following the eradication of corruption within the police force handling the case.
Viewers who have watched the series have taken to social media to express their outrage and sadness over the tragic story, with many questioning why more wasn't done to prevent the attacks on the sex workers, reports Surrey Live. One touched viewer wrote: "Gone Girls: The Long Island Serial Killer on Netflix is just heartbreaking. Sex workers are treated so horribly already but it's sad how it reflects even in death and danger. These women were murdered and their families had to wait years for it to be truly treated as such. Awful!" Another viewer called on fellow Netflix fans with urgency, saying: "Stop everything you're doing and watch," as a third was moved to tears, sharing: "I just watched Gone Girls on Netflix and it made me cry so hard but I'm glad that these women and their families can have a voice." "Sex workers are your friends, your family, your neighbors, your coworkers, the people you see at the grocery store. Their stories and cases matter."
Architect Rex Heuermann is a key suspect in the case. He was arrested in July 2023 at the age of 59 and lived with his wife and two children at the time. He has been charged with the murders of seven women: Melissa Barthelemy; Megan Waterman; Amber Costello; Maureen Brainard-Barnes; Sandra Costilla; Jessica Costilla; and Valerie Mack. He has maintained his innocence, pleading not guilty to all charges. Currently awaiting trial, he remains in Riverhead Correctional Facility in Suffolk County without the opportunity of bail. According to People Magazine, the local Sheriff remarked that Heuermann has been "very compliant."
Discussing the difficulties of documenting an ongoing case, Liz Garbus, director of Gone Girls, told Tudum: "After we completed and turned in our cuts to Netflix, there was another victim added to [Heuermann's] docket. Will there be more between now and the time that we air? It's possible. Will there be more between now and the time that we go to trial, if they go to trial? It's probable."
As the documentary unfolds, it reveals the tragic stories of the victims, who were all young women working as sex workers. Their disappearances, which began in the early 1990s, went largely unnoticed until the body found in 2010 sparked a renewed investigation. This led to the grim realization that a serial killer was preying on vulnerable individuals, highlighting the societal failures that allowed these crimes to continue for so long.
In July 2023, Heuermann was arrested and charged with murder in connection with the deaths of Megan Waterman, 22; Melissa Barthelemy, 24; and Amber Costello, 27. He was also charged in 2024 with the murders of Maureen Brainard-Barnes, 25; Jessica Taylor, 20; Sandra Costilla, 28; and Valerie Mack, 24. His legal team has argued against combining the seven murders into a single trial, claiming that the evidence for some cases is weaker than for others.
The Suffolk County District Attorney's Office, however, contends that the victims are "inextricably interwoven by geographic proximity, victimology, digital and physical evidence, forensic analysis, and defendant's own planning document." Judge Timothy Mazzei is expected to rule soon on how the killings will be tried in court.
In addition to the trial logistics, Heuermann's legal team is seeking to exclude certain DNA evidence from trial, citing the use of nuclear DNA testing, or whole genome sequencing. This method examines the complete DNA make-up of an organism with greater precision. However, Heuermann's attorneys argue that the technique is not widely accepted in the scientific community and has never been used in a New York court of law. In response, prosecutors assert that this technology is employed in various scientific and forensic settings.
Assistant District Attorney Andrew Lee emphasized the advancements in forensic science, stating that this analysis has allowed law enforcement to link genetic profiles consistent with the defendant to six of the seven victims through hairs found at the crime scene or on the victims.
As the case continues to unfold, a trial date for Heuermann has yet to be set, pending the court's decision on the admissibility of evidence and whether the seven murders will be tried together. Proceedings are set to resume on April 2, 2025, where more experts will testify.
Adding another layer of complexity to the case, Heuermann has reached a divorce settlement with his estranged wife, Asa Ellerup, who filed for divorce shortly after his arrest. The terms of the settlement remain confidential, but a judge will review them to finalize the agreement.
For those interested in the haunting details of this case, all three episodes of Gone Girls: The Long Island Serial Killer are now available to stream on Netflix, providing a detailed exploration of the lives lost and the ongoing quest for justice.
