On November 19, 2000, three hunters in Manorville, New York, stumbled upon a black plastic bag secured with duct tape in the woods.
Inside the bag were the dismembered remains of a woman. Her hands were missing, and one of her legs was severed at the mid-calf. The rest of her body was tied up with rope.
For years, authorities struggled to identify her.
More than a decade later, on April 4, 2011, while searching along Ocean Parkway for the remains of several missing online escorts, officials discovered the skull and right foot of the same woman. She was later named Valerie Mack, a victim linked to the suspected Gilgo Beach serial killer, Rex Heuermann.
On December 17, 2022, Heuermann was charged with Mack’s murder by Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney, making her the seventh victim associated with him. Heuermann is also accused of killing other women whose bodies were found near Gilgo Beach.
Valerie Mack, who often went by the alias “Melissa Taylor,” had run-ins with the law for prostitution in the Philadelphia area from 1996 to 2000. Authorities noted that she had a tough upbringing and spent time in foster care, having become a mother at just 17.
Investigators believe Mack’s murder took place between September 1 and November 19, 2000. Evidence indicated that Heuermann had looked at disturbing images that matched the injuries inflicted on Mack. Files traced back to Heuermann’s computer also showed he visited a police website discussing Mack’s case.
Additionally, investigators found parallels in how the victims were handled and the tools used in their dismemberment. Mack’s remains were discovered in a way that suggested attempts to hinder identification, such as severe mutilation and dismemberment.
A significant detail in the case was the discovery of a hair belonging to Heuermann’s daughter found in the bag containing Mack’s remains, providing another thread linking the suspect to this crime.
Authorities continue to investigate and connect the dots between the victims and the suspect, seeking justice for all the families affected.
