The Gilgo Beach Killer on Peacock: The story behind Rex Heuermann and the murders on Long Island
The documentary series 'House of Secrets' follows the investigation of architect Rex Heuermann and the long-unsolved murders at Gilgo Beach
What is the series about?
The Gilgo Beach Killer: House of Secrets (Peacock, 2025) documents the shocking case of the serial killer who terrorized the coastline of Long Island in New York for over a decade. Through three episodes, including the premiere episode 'Monster Among Us', viewers follow the discovery of the first victims in 2010 and the subsequent frustration over an investigation that stalled for years. The series focuses heavily on the arrest of the 59-year-old architect Rex Heuermann , who was officially charged in 2024 as the man behind the gruesome crimes. The documentary depicts the contrast between Heuermann's mundane life as a family man and the dark secrets police believe he hid in his office in Manhattan and in his home in Massapequa Park.
The real case
The Gilgo Beach case, also known as the 'Long Island Serial Killer' case, began by chance in May 2010 when police were searching for the missing woman Shannan Gilbert. During the search, investigators did not find Shannan immediately but instead discovered the remains of four other women, all of whom had been strangled and left in bags along Ocean Parkway. These victims became known as 'The Gilgo Four'. Over the next year, the remains of at least ten people were found in the same area. The case remained unsolved until a new task force in 2022 reopened the evidence. Using DNA technology from a pizza slice and surveillance data, police were finally able to connect the Gilgo Beach murders to Rex Heuermann. He was arrested on the street in July 2023, sending shockwaves through the community where he was known as an ordinary businessman.
Timeline of the case
The course of the case spans several decades, which the series highlights through interviews with relatives and investigators. From the early discoveries in 2010 to the technical breakthroughs in 2023, the case has been marked by rumors of corruption within the local police and inadequate investigation of the victims, many of whom were sex workers. In