When news broke that a Manhattan architect had been arrested for the Gilgo Beach murders, the focus immediately stayed on Long Island. We all saw the yellow tape around that cramped house in Massapequa Park. But then, the cameras pivoted. They moved 700 miles south to a quiet, rural stretch of Chester County.
Rex Heuermann South Carolina was suddenly the phrase on everyone’s lips.
Why South Carolina? Honestly, it felt like a plot twist from a detective novel. Neighbors in the small town of Chester started seeing FBI jackets and local deputies swarming a series of wooded lots and a "ramshackle" home owned by Rex’s brother, Craig. People wanted to know if the alleged Long Island Serial Killer had brought his horrors to the South.
The Chester County Connection
The reality is a bit more grounded than the wildest internet theories, but it's still plenty eerie. Rex Heuermann didn't just have a passing interest in the Palmetto State. He owned four parcels of land on Rippling Brooke Drive.
He bought them recently, too. Around 2022.
The plan, according to his own family and public records, was retirement. Imagine that. A man now accused of seven murders—including the 2024 addition of Valerie Mack to his charge sheet—was preparing to spend his golden years in a secluded "doomsday prepper" style environment.
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What the FBI was actually looking for
When investigators descended on the Chester County property in July 2023, they weren't just taking a scenic tour. They were looking for trophies. Specifically, the search warrants (which were later pushed for release by local media) listed:
- Victims' cell phones
- Jewelry or articles of clothing
- Identification cards
- DNA evidence (hair, fur, fingernails)
They also had a very specific target: a dark green 2002 Chevrolet Avalanche.
That truck is basically the smoking gun of the early investigation. A witness in New York had seen a vehicle just like it when Amber Costello disappeared back in 2010. Finding that exact truck sitting in a South Carolina driveway was a massive win for the Suffolk County task force. They towed it away on a flatbed, and it’s been a central piece of evidence ever since.
The "Odd" Brother and the Neighbors
If you talk to the people living on Rippling Brooke Drive, they'll tell you Rex was a ghost. They didn't know him. But they knew Craig Heuermann.
Craig's property is... a lot.
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Neighbors described it as a junk-filled lot guarded by a "Bad Motherf---er" business card and plenty of "No Trespassing" signs. It’s the kind of place where you hear dogs barking constantly but never see the owner. One neighbor mentioned they rarely saw him outside at all.
It’s worth noting that Craig hasn't been charged with any crimes related to the Gilgo case. However, the sheer contrast between Rex’s "successful Manhattan architect" persona and the rugged, secluded life his brother led in South Carolina is jarring.
Are there South Carolina victims?
This is the question that keeps people up at night. Could Rex Heuermann have been active in the South?
Shortly after his arrest, authorities in South Carolina began re-examining cold cases. Most notably, they looked into the 2017 disappearance of a local mother. The FBI and local sheriff’s offices have been tight-lipped, but as of early 2026, no direct forensic links have been publicly confirmed between Rex and any South Carolina homicides.
But investigators haven't stopped digging.
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The 2024 discovery of Heuermann's "planning document"—a digital manifesto found on a hard drive in his basement—changed everything. It was a literal blueprint for murder. It included checklists for "Body Prep" and notes on how to remove identifying marks like tattoos. Because this document shows he was "methodical" and had been active since at least 1993 (based on the Sandra Costilla charges), police everywhere he spent time are on high alert.
What’s happening now in 2026?
We are finally approaching the trial.
Judge Tim Mazzei has been firm: no more delays. The trial is set to move forward, and the evidence inventory is staggering—over 700 pages long. The defense tried to get the South Carolina truck evidence tossed, along with the "magic" DNA evidence found on a pizza crust, but the court said no.
The South Carolina property remains a symbol of what might have been. A retirement plan for a man who, if prosecutors are right, spent decades leading a double life.
Key Takeaways for Following the Case
If you’re tracking the Rex Heuermann South Carolina developments, keep these specific things in mind:
- The Avalanche is Key: That truck found in Chester is the physical link between the 2010 disappearance and Heuermann's arrest.
- Cold Case Reviews: Keep an eye on the Richland and Chester County Sheriff's updates. They are still cross-referencing Heuermann's travel dates with local missing persons reports.
- Trial Testimony: Expect the South Carolina investigators who seized the truck to be called as witnesses when the trial begins in New York.
- Property Status: The land in Chester is part of the broader legal battle over Heuermann's assets and potential restitution for victims' families.
The investigation officially "ended" in early 2025, but the trial is where the South Carolina connection will finally be laid bare in front of a jury. It’s not just about what happened on a beach in Long Island; it’s about the reach of a man who thought he could hide in plain sight, even in the woods of the South.
Follow the Trial Schedule
Keep an eye on the Suffolk County court calendar for the specific dates when "Out of State Evidence" is introduced. This is when the details of the South Carolina search will be fully testified to under oath. You can also monitor the Chester County property records to see if the land is sold to cover legal fees or seized by the state.