(NEW YORK) — Alleged serial killer Rex Heuermann returns to court next week on Long Island where he is expected to be charged in the death of a fourth woman whose remains were found in a marshy spot near Gilgo Beach, multiple sources told ABC News.
Heuermann, 60, is already charged with killing three women whose bodies were found wrapped in burlap in close proximity and prosecutors have said he is the prime suspect in the death of a fourth, Maureen Brainard-Barnes.
Heuermann has pleaded not guilty to killing Megan Waterman, Melissa Barthelemy and Amber Costello, all of whom were found dead in December 2010. He is being held without bail.
He is due back in court in Riverhead Tuesday when prosecutors are expected to announce that a grand jury has returned an indictment charging him with a fourth murder, the sources said.
Brainard-Barnes was found wrapped with a belt that had a distinctive buckle bearing the initials WH, which could stand for Heuermann’s father, prosecutors have said.
There was no immediate comment from the Suffolk County District Attorney’s office, which is handling the prosecution of Heuermann. The suspect is an architect who investigators linked to the women, all sex workers, through DNA evidence, including a sample taken from pizza crust in the trash outside his Manhattan office.
There are six other Gilgo Beach victims whose deaths remain unsolved.
(OKLAHOMA) — A series of earthquakes struck Oklahoma Friday evening into Saturday morning, including at least two of 4.4 magnitude.
A 3.2 magnitude earthquake was recorded at 9:37 p.m. CT near Arcadia, which is located just northeast of Oklahoma City, according to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS)
This was followed by two smaller earthquakes of 2.7 magnitude and 2.5 magnitude, respectively, according to the USGS.
On Saturday morning, the earthquakes started again with one of 2.6 magnitude recorded near Acadia around 4:45 a.m. CT.
About an hour later, another 4.4 magnitude earthquake struck, this time near Edmond, which is just north of Oklahoma City, USGS data shows. This was followed by a smaller earthquake of 2.7 magnitude around 6:55 a.m. CT.
As of Saturday morning, no damages or injuries have been reported.
However, the USGS says earthquakes of 4.9 magnitude or under typically only cause disturbances and may be felt by many who are indoors. Earthquakes with a 5.0 magnitude or greater typically cause damage.
The Oklahoma Geological Survey (OGS) released a statement Saturday reporting “strong shaking in the immediate area and across Oklahoma City” as a result of the earthquakes.
“Whereas most aftershocks are smaller than the mainshock, a very small fraction of aftershocks result in a larger earthquake than the main event,” the OGS said in its statement. “The seismic hazard remains high in the area. Citizens should secure valuables that might shake during possible strong aftershocks and practice Drop, Cover, and Hold On in the event of damaging events.”
The earthquakes did not match the most powerful recorded in the state’s history, which was a 5.8 magnitude earthquake that occurred Sept. 3, 2016, near Pawnee, located in northern Oklahoma.
In March 2017, Pawnee Nation filed a lawsuit suing some Oklahoma oil companies in tribal court, alleging that the companies had injected wastewater underground, which led to the earthquake.
(NEW YORK) — Over 2,000 flights have been canceled nationwide Friday as the Midwest is pummeled by snow and the South and Northeast brace for rough weather of their own.
The Midwest and the Great Lakes are facing blizzard warnings on Friday.
Whiteout conditions, heavy snow, wind gusts up to 50mph and low visibility will continue through rush hour Friday night from Iowa to the Great Lakes, including Chicago.
Days ahead of Monday’s Iowa caucuses, the National Weather Service in Des Moines is urging drivers to stay off the roads.
The weather is also crippling travel by road and air in Illinois.
A ground stop was issued at Chicago O’Hare International Airport for part of Friday morning due to snow and ice.
Chicago O’Hare and Chicago Midway International Airport are seeing the highest number of cancellations in the U.S.
Six to 12 inches of snow is forecast for the Midwest through Saturday.
In the South, severe storms will be ongoing from Atlanta to Raleigh, North Carolina, on Friday night.
Damaging winds are expected and tornadoes are possible across the South.
The storm will move into the Northeast overnight, bringing up to 2 inches of heavy rain and winds up to 40 mph to Washington, D.C., New York City and Boston.
Rivers remain swollen in the Northeast from recent rainfall, so the incoming downpour will only prolong flooding issues. New Jersey’s Passaic River reached its crest on Thursday night in the major flood stage. Flash flooding, river flooding and coastal flooding are all possible into the weekend across the Northeast.
Moving in behind the storm is a major arctic blast that will bring brutally cold temperatures to millions this weekend and early next week.
Starting Saturday morning, the wind chill — what temperature it feels like — could plunge to minus 60 degrees in Montana and minus 40 degrees across the central and northern Plains.
In Kansas City on Saturday, when the Chiefs host the Miami Dolphins, the wind chill is forecast to be minus 23 degrees.
In New York, Gov. Kathy Hochul is warning “of potentially dangerous and life-threatening blizzard-like conditions” along Lake Erie and Lake Ontario on Saturday night and Sunday.
Some areas could get up to 1 foot of snow and residents should be prepared for freezing temperatures and possible power outages, the governor said.
Ahead of Sunday’s playoff game, Hochul urged Buffalo Bills fans to “enjoy the game from home,” adding, “however, if they are planning to attend the game, they should travel with extreme caution.”
On Monday, the temperature will be bone-chilling across the Plains and Midwest. During the Iowa caucuses Monday, the wind chill will clock in at minus 25 degrees.
There’s also the potential for snow and ice to develop in the South, from Texas to Tennessee, on Sunday and Monday.
(NEW YORK) — A New York judge ordered Donald Trump to pay The New York Times $392,638 in legal fees Friday following the former president’s failed lawsuit against the newspaper.
In 2021, Trump sued his niece Mary Trump, The New York Times and three of its reporters over an alleged breach of a confidentiality agreement related to his tax records. Trump alleged that the reporters were “motivated by a personal vendetta” when they engaged in a “insidious plot” to get his personal tax records.
New York Supreme Court Justice Robert Reed dismissed the case last year, clearing the way for the Times to recoup its fees.
“Courts have long recognized that reporters are entitled to engage in legal and ordinary news-gathering activities without fear of tort liability — as these actions are at the very core of protected first amendment activity,” Reed wrote.
Trump opposed the amount of money requested by the New York Times, arguing that the legal work included “unjustified or duplicative work and exorbitant hourly rates.”
“Considering the complexity of the issues presented in this action, the number of causes of action, the experience, ability and reputation of defendants’ attorneys, the considerable amount in dispute, and the attorneys’ success in dismissing the complaint against their defendants … the court finds that $392,638.69 is a reasonable value for the legal services rendered,” Reed said in a decision posted on the court’s docket Friday.
(NEW YORK) — The Justice Department said Friday in a court filing it will seek the death penalty for Payton Gendron, the then-19-year-old who killed 10 people in a racially motivated shooting at a Tops Supermarket in Buffalo, New York, in May 2022.
“United States believes the circumstances in Counts 11-20 of the Indictment are such that, in the event of a conviction, a sentence of death is justified,” the filing said.
Lawyers for Gendron previously said he would consider pleading guilty to the federal charges if the death penalty was taken off the table.
Gendron was sentenced to life in prison without parole on state charges in February 2023 after pleading guilty to 15 charges, including domestic terrorism motivated by hate, murder and attempted murder.
Garland has pursued two death penalty cases under his tenure — one against Sayfullo Saipov, who killed eight people with a truck on a Manhattan bike path in October 2017, and the second against Robert Bowers, who killed 11 people in a shooting at Pittsburgh’s Tree of Life synagogue in October 2018. A jury decided not to sentence Saipov to death, while Bowers was given the death penalty.
Both of those cases were carried over from the previous administration, however, and Garland instituted a moratorium on the death penalty in July 2021. The moratorium remains in place.
This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.
(NEW YORK) — Over 1,800 flights have been canceled nationwide Friday as major winter storms prepare to unleash blizzard conditions, flooding rain and tornadoes.
The Midwest and the Great Lakes are in the crosshairs Friday morning.
Blizzard warnings are in effect for six states from Nebraska to Wisconsin, including the major cities of Des Moines, Iowa, and Green Bay, Wisconsin. Strong winds are expected to accompany the snow, creating whiteout conditions, Snowfall could range from 6 to 12 inches.
In Illinois, roads are already covered with snow and visibility is poor.
The National Weather Service in Chicago asked drivers to consider postponing their travel Friday morning.
A ground stop was issued at Chicago O’Hare International Airport for part of Friday morning due to snow and ice.
Chicago O’Hare has canceled more than 650 flights so far.
In the South, the same storm system is bringing damaging winds, large hail and potential tornadoes from Texas to the Carolinas.
On Friday, severe weather is forecast from Mississippi to North Carolina with the bull’s-eye for damaging winds in northern Mississippi, from Jackson to Tupelo.
Tornadoes are possible in Mississippi, Alabama, Tennessee, Florida, Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina.
The storm will move into the Northeast on Friday night, bringing heavy rain and strong winds.
Flood watches have been issued from North Carolina to Massachusetts, where local rainfall amounts of 1 to 3 inches is possible within a short period of time.
Rivers remain swollen in the Northeast from recent rainfall, so the incoming downpour will only prolong flooding issues. New Jersey’s Passaic River reached its crest on Thursday night in the major flood stage. Due to the additional rainfall, the river is forecast to stay in the major flood stage over the weekend and possibly into early next week.
A potentially record-breaking cold blast is moving in behind this storm. Up to 100 record-low temperatures are forecast from the Pacific Northwest to the Gulf Coast this weekend and into next week. The National Weather Service has already issued wind chill alerts for 17 states from Washington to Texas.
In Montana, wind chills — what temperature it feels like — could reach 50s and 60s below zero, during which frostbite could occur in less than five minutes.
Kansas City, Missouri, and Chicago could see temperatures below zero on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday.
The coldest air will reach the Gulf Coast from Texas to Louisiana by Sunday into Monday and will last into Tuesday.
Another storm system is expected to sweep across the country this weekend into early next week with snow and ice possible for the South, from Texas to Tennessee.
This storm is forecast to move into the West on Saturday, bringing heavy snow to the Cascades and northern Sierra mountain ranges, before reaching the Rockies on Sunday, where snowfall amounts could get up to 2 feet.
By Sunday night into Monday, the storm will move into the Deep South with freezing rain and a wintry mix possible for parts of Texas, from Dallas to San Antonio and just north of Houston.
The storm will move into the rest of the South on Monday afternoon and evening with snow and ice possible in Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Georgia.
(NEW YORK) — One brother is dead while the other managed to survive after the siblings plunged into a freezing cold pond while ice fishing, authorities say.
The incident occurred on Saturday at approximately 2:45 p.m. in the town of Burlington in Ostego County, New York, when a man walking his dog alerted the authorities after seeing two ice fishermen fall through the ice on Basswood Pond, approximately 14 miles west of Cooperstown, according to a statement released by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation.
“Forest Ranger Laymon was at the Jacobs Road trailhead one minute away from the pond,” officials said. “Ranger Laymon saw one of the men treading water, but lost sight of the other. The ice was approximately one-inch thick, unsafe for fishing.”
Ranger Laymon then entered the ice and managed to crawl toward the two brothers – aged 41 and 42 – and was able to pull the 42-year-old man from Richfield Springs out of the water by using a throw bag.
“The subject grabbed the rope and Ranger Layman pulled him onto a sled,” the DEC said. “At 2:55 p.m., the Ranger pulled the sled to shore where he was met by members of the Edmeston Fire Department, who used their truck to start the drying and warming process to help the subject suffering from hypothermia.”
Officials said that Ranger Laymon immediately returned to the scene of the accident to search for the second brother.
“At 3:05 p.m., Ranger Laymon located the 41-year-old from Richfield Springs in seven to eight feet of water,” said the DEC in their statement. “New York State Police, Otsego County Emergency Services, and Edmeston, Fly Creek, Schuyler Lake, and West Edmeston volunteer fire departments helped pull Ranger Laymon and the submerged man out of the water and onto shore.”
The younger brother was transferred over to EMTs at approximately 3:23 p.m. as medics immediately began CPR in an attempt to revive the man.
Both brothers were taken to the hospital where the 42-year-old was treated and released. The younger brother, however, was declared deceased by the hospital later on Saturday night.
The New York State DEC issued a warning to others interested in ice fishing following the tragic accident.
“Before leaving shore, ice anglers are advised to check the thickness of ice. Four inches of solid, clear ice is usually safe for anglers accessing ice on foot. However, ice thickness can vary between waterbodies and even within the same waterbody, increasing the need to ensure thickness,” authorities said.
(NEW YORK) — Over 1,000 flights have been canceled nationwide Friday as major winter storms prepare to unleash blizzard conditions, flooding rain and tornadoes.
The Midwest and the Great Lakes are in the crosshairs Friday morning.
Blizzard warnings are in effect for six states from Nebraska to Wisconsin, including the major cities of Des Moines, Iowa, and Green Bay, Wisconsin. Strong winds are expected to accompany the snow, creating whiteout conditions, Snowfall could range from 6 to 12 inches.
In Illinois, roads are already covered with snow and visibility is poor.
The National Weather Service in Chicago asked drivers to consider postponing their travel Friday morning.
A ground stop was issued at Chicago O’Hare International Airport Friday morning due to snow and ice.
Chicago O’Hare has canceled more than 650 flights so far.
In the South, the same storm system is producing severe weather such as damaging winds, tornadoes and large hail from Texas to the Carolinas.
On Friday, severe weather is forecast from Mississippi to North Carolina with the bull’s-eye for damaging winds in northern Mississippi, from Jackson to Tupelo.
Tornadoes are possible in Mississippi, Alabama, Tennessee, Florida, Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina.
The storm will move into the Northeast on Friday night, bringing heavy rain and strong winds. Flood watches have been issued from North Carolina to Massachusetts, where local rainfall amounts of 1 to 3 inches is possible within a short period of time.
Rivers remain swollen in the Northeast from recent rainfall, so the incoming downpour will only prolong flooding issues. New Jersey’s Passaic River reached its crest on Thursday night in the major flood stage. Due to the additional rainfall, the river is forecast to stay in the major flood stage over the weekend and possibly into early next week.
A potentially record-breaking cold blast is moving in behind this storm. Up to 100 record-low temperatures are forecast from the Pacific Northwest to the Gulf Coast this weekend and into next week. The National Weather Service has already issued wind chill alerts for 17 states from Washington to Texas.
In Montana, wind chills — what temperature it feels like — could reach 50s and 60s below zero, during which frostbite could occur in less than five minutes.
Kansas City, Missouri, and Chicago could see temperatures below zero on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday.
The coldest air will reach the Gulf Coast from Texas to Louisiana by Sunday into Monday and will last into Tuesday.
Another storm system is expected to sweep across the country this weekend into early next week with snow and ice possible for the South, from Texas to Tennessee.
This storm is forecast to move into the West on Saturday, bringing heavy snow to the Cascades and northern Sierra mountain ranges, before reaching the Rockies on Sunday, where snowfall amounts could get up to 2 feet.
By Sunday night into Monday, the storm will move into the Deep South with freezing rain and a wintry mix possible for parts of Texas, from Dallas to San Antonio and just north of Houston.
The storm will move into the rest of the South on Monday afternoon and evening with snow and ice possible in Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Georgia.
In this Aug. 24, 2023, file photo, law enforcement officials patrol the edge of Eagle Pass’ Shelby Park, in Eagle Pass, Texas. — Suzanne Cordeiro/AFP via Getty Images, FILE
(EAGLE PASS, Texas) — The state of Texas has seized control of a nearly 50-acre park on the banks of the Rio Grande in Eagle Pass, Texas, against the city’s desires, Mayor Rolando Salinas said.
In a video posted on Facebook by the mayor on Wednesday night, Salinas said officials from the Texas Department of Public Safety informed him that the state is taking “full control” of Shelby Park to prevent migrants from illegally crossing into Texas from Mexico.
“That is not a decision that we agreed to. This is not something that we wanted. This is not something that we asked for as a city, I want to make that clear,” Mayor Salinas said in the video.
Images shot by the mayor showed the entrance to the park blocked off by fencing and military vehicles.
Shelby Park has been at the epicenter of Gov. Greg Abbott’s efforts to deter unlawful crossings. It’s a known staging area for the Texas National Guard and Texas DPS deployed to the border as part of Abbott’s Operation Lone Star.
Salinas said he was informed the state is taking control of the park “indefinitely” under the governor’s border disaster declaration that he renewed in December.
During a conference on Thursday, Salinas said he believed U.S. Border Patrol Agents were being kept from entering the area.
“I’m sure that’s going to be an issue that will be litigated between the federal government and the state governments,” he said.
ABC News has not confirmed those claims.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection did not immediately respond to ABC News’ request for comment.
Gov. Abbott’s office did not respond when asked by ABC News if CBP agents would be blocked from entering the park.
Texas DPS referred ABC News’ questions to the Texas Military Department, which did not respond to requests.
The move follows a visit to the city by Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas on Monday, where he met with CBP agents.
Abbott’s office released a statement, pushing blame on President Joe Biden, “Texas is holding the line at our southern border with miles of additional razor wire and anti-climb barriers to deter and repel the record-high levels of illegal immigration invited by President Biden’s reckless open border policies. Instead of enforcing federal immigration laws, the Biden Administration allows unfettered access for Mexican cartels to smuggle people into our country,” spokesperson Renae Eze said.
“Texas will continue to deploy Texas National Guard soldiers, DPS troopers, and more barriers, utilizing every tool and strategy to respond to President Biden’s ongoing border crisis.”
Salinas says city officials are determining if they have legal options to regain control of the park.
(JACKSON, Miss.) — Residents of Jackson and Flowood, Mississippi, have been advised to boil their water after routine water samples tested positive for E. coli, the state’s health department said Thursday.
“Health officials strongly recommend that all water be boiled vigorously for one minute before it is consumed,” the Mississippi State Department of Health said in boil water alerts issued for both cities. “This precaution will last at least two full days and water system officials will be immediately notified when the boil water alert is lifted.”
The alerts impact nearly 190,000 customers in Jackson, the state capital, and nearly 28,000 customers in the nearby city of Flowood, the state health department said.
The presence of the bacteria could indicate the water may be contaminated with “human or animal wastes,” which “generally results from a problem with the treatment process or pipes which distribute the water,” the health department said.
The state health department said its Public Health Laboratory reviewed lab protocols and the results were not false positives.
The lab is expediting the tests of new samples from both cities. After two consecutive days of clear testing, the boil water alerts will be lifted, health officials said.
“The safety and protection of the public is the top priority of the Mississippi State Department of Health,” the state health department said in a news release. “The MSDH looks forward to its continued partnership with both the City of Jackson and City of Flowood to keep the water systems safe for all their citizens.”
State health officials advise residents of both cities to not drink tap water or drink from water fountains in parks, public or private buildings that receive water from the affected systems while the boil water advisories are in place. They should not use ice unless it’s been made with boiled water.
Impacted residents should wash their dishes, fruits and vegetables with boiled water and brush their teeth with boiled or bottled water.
“Bringing water to a rolling boil for one minute will inactivate all major types of harmful bacteria,” the health department said.
Symptoms of an E. coli infection include severe stomach cramps, watery or bloody diarrhea and vomiting, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Some infections are very mild, but others are severe or even life-threatening, according to the CDC.
