Nicole Brass, a former escort, has come forward with a chilling account of her encounter with Rex Heuermann, the man accused of being the Gilgo Beach serial killer. Brass, who was struggling with opioid addiction at the time, met Heuermann eight years ago for a dinner date that quickly turned into a horrifying experience.
Brass, now 34, was advertising on websites like BackPage and Seeker at the time, seeking wealthy men to go out with to fund her addiction. She connected with Heuermann through one of these sites, leading to a dinner at the Steamroom seafood restaurant in Port Jefferson. Initially, Heuermann seemed normal, discussing his job and everyday topics. However, the conversation took a dark turn when he brought up the Gilgo Beach murders.
Brass recounted how Heuermann seemed to derive pleasure from discussing the murders. He had a "glossed-over look in his eye" and a smile on his face as he spoke about the killings, leaving Brass with a deeply unsettling feeling. Heuermann allegedly shared details about the cases that were not widely known, leading Brass to believe he was speaking from experience.
The former escort claimed that Heuermann showed no remorse for the victims and seemed excited to discuss the killings. "It seemed like somebody who really wanted to brag about what they did, but couldn’t," Brass told the New York Daily News. She also noted a change in his body language and the look in his eyes, suggesting that talking about the victims was enjoyable for him.
Brass managed to end the dinner quickly, feeling an intense need to get away from Heuermann. He reportedly tried to convince her to leave her car and go with him to a hotel room he had booked, but she refused, fearing for her safety. Brass believes that Heuermann targeted women who were less likely to go to the police due to their circumstances, such as addiction or a criminal record.
Heuermann, a 59-year-old married father of two and an architect, was arrested last week and pleaded not guilty to murdering Melissa Barthelemy, Megan Waterman, and Amber Costello. He is also the prime suspect in the killing of Maureen Brainard-Barnes. The victims, known as the "Gilgo Four," were found along Ocean Parkway near Gilgo Beach in December 2010.
Upon learning of Heuermann's arrest, Brass felt a mix of vindication and regret for not going to the police after her dinner date. Despite her fears, she now wishes she had spoken up, potentially preventing further harm.