Killing Grounds: The Gilgo Beach Murders Review – A Binge Worthy, Taken From the Headlines, Crime Drama
- Details
- Category: Haute This Issue
- Published on Wednesday, 22 April 2026 12:23
- Written by Janet Walker
Killing Grounds: The Gilgo Beach Murders, from Prime Video, brings to the screen the true crime drama of the Gilgo Beach serial killer, the gross failures of victim rights, and how this Manhattan architect was finally caught.
Throughout the four episodes, Kristin Thorne, a local Investigative journalist in the New York area, who covered most of the discoveries, begins to build a foundation for viewers. We also travel the desolate stretch of beach with former FBI Intelligence Officer Adrienne Corson, who explains it is dark, no business, no street lights, and traffic at night is extremely light.
Kangaroo Island Review – Breathtaking Cinematography, Excellent Story Driven Performances
The series moves through the failures of the Suffolk County Police. High risk victims, skeletal remains, lack of special interest in anything but a cursory investigation. The women were all of an age, where leaving, just leaving, dropping everything and everyone and moving, and becoming someone else, was a real possibility. A missing 20 year old is not considered missing until a body show up.
The interest in finding out anything about the Gilgo Four, Melissa Barthelemy, Maureen Brainard-Barnes, Megan Waterman, and Amber Lynn Costello, which was the name of the four different skeletal remains found on Gilgo Beach, was not deemed a priority. We also meet Shannon Gilbert, who knew someone was trying to murder her, tried to escape, called 911, was terrified, and ran, frantic, knocking on doors, hoping to find help. Her remains were also found in the same area, and although Heuerman has not been charged, the predicate act, which caused her actions, points to him.
The episodes trace the transfer of power in Suffolk County, how the incoming Police Chief persuaded all outside agencies that they would handle the cases and then how the case, once again, became a priority and included all agencies, and by chance adding the New York State Troopers, which is when the break in the case surprised everyone.
Wasteman Review - Gritty Prison Drama Delivers Sharp Story Driven Performances
A Magnificent Life Review – Masterful Animation, Visually Intoxicating, A Must See
A state female trooper assigned to the case, began reading each file, and found a description supplied by a friend on one of the victims. Heuerman had arrived at the women's home to pick her up, and something was off, when she didn't return after another job, he telephoned the police, made the report and included a description of Rex Heuerman, and his truck.
Detectives had always believed he was someone who lived in the area, and the tracing the cellphones of the victims, they found pings of towers in Midtown Manhattan, so they assumed a commuter. And really the rest was simply old fashioned detective work.
After the suspect was arrested and his home searched the layers of this double life unfold. The advancement in digital forensics, which are highlighted in this case, was impressive and critical to the case. Through search warrants the investigators were able to gather information, and evidence, from laptops, and computer hardware dating back to the 1990s.
Baseball: Beyond Belief Review – A Celebration of Baseball, Religion, and Miracle Moments, Uplifting
Understanding what can be unpacked from laptops and hard drives was extremely interesting. Unallocated space, which was a new term in digital forensic, at least to the public, is space on a hard drive, where deleted documents seem to live, and through digital forensics, the Gilgo Beach Task Force was able to retrieve a murder document, a task-oriented list of items necessary to have in order to complete murder.
As Heuerman was an architect, the document was essentially a blue print with bolded subsections that included supplies, dumping grounds, targets, how to remove evidence, clean up, completion, and notes as to which style worked better.
It was detailed and fine-tuned. Although the one piece of evidence that was not on his blue print for murder was search history. He seemed to believe that burner phones covered any search history or links to these women. While his computer search history highlighted all the expected deviant behaviors, some known and others one does not wish to know.
The Fantasy Life Review – An Amusing, Romantic Dramedy, Entertaining
We also here from Raymond Tierney, the Suffolk County DA, who explains why they wanted him arrested in the city, outside his Fifth Avenue offices. Heuerman was an avid hunter, and had both shotguns, and long guns, plenty of ammunition, and they did not want to be facing a standoff situation. And moreover, he explains why it is critical to not discount the possibility of guilt based on preconceived ideas or on profession, religion, appearance, or other external factors.
We also hear from the family and friends of the victims. As we learn about them, we understand they were more than just the soundbites that filled the news when the remains began to be discovered. The women were mothers, sisters, friends, daughters, and how they chose to earn money should not have entered into the investigation equation.
What is interesting also are the friends who explained that 90% of the men that frequented the trade were married, and professionals. These weren't women turning tricks on 12th avenue, and even if they were they still deserved to be treated with respect. The law looks at high risk behavior with disdain, and there is a pervasive belief that these women were somehow culpable in their own demise.
Don’t Be Prey Review – Riveting, Ocean Swimming Endurance Documentary, A Must See
Throughout the series, what crystalized is a cavalier attitude toward sex, and when you're down so low you can't see up, society screams that selling sex is the way out, and for some it is. High priced escorts, which have made the headlines, are not burned at the stake for the same actions. However, the victims were damned if they did and damned if they didn't, simply due to their economic status and side hustle.
Heuerman has confessed to murdering Megan Waterman, Melissa Barthelemy, Amber Lynn Costello, Maureen Brainard-Barnes, Valerie Mack, Jessica Taylor, Sandra Costilla, and Karen Vergata. He is expected to be sentenced to multiple life terms in June 2026.
Haunting and shocking, Killing Grounds: The Gilgo Beach Murders are available to stream on Prime Video.
Spacewoman Review – A Captivating Story of Life, Love, and Space Flight, A Must See
Country: US.
Language: English.
Runtime: 180 minutes (4 episodes).
Director: Emma Cooper.
Executive Producer: Emma Cooper, Eben Davidson, Phil Donlon, Cisco Henson, Matt Ochacher, Michael Pelmont, Brian Volk-Weiss,
Featuring: Kristin Thorne, Dave Schaller, Lynn Barthelemy, Amanda Funderberg, James Burke, Geraldine Hart, Michael Pak, Antoine Amira, Robert Macedonio, Nicolette Brainard-Barnes, Sara Karnes, Raymond Tierney, Thomas Spota, John Mallia, Timothy Sini, Mary Shell, Dominick Varrone, Gloria Allred, Michael Brown, Steve Canston, Adrienne Corson, Leanne, Donny Ophals, Shelia Tampersad, John Ray, Katherine Sheperd, Stevie Smith, Donna Sturman, Stephen Udice.
Janet Walker is the publisher, founder, and sole owner of Haute-Lifestyle.com. A graduate of New York University, she has been covering international news through the Beltway Insider, a weekly review of the nation's top stories, for more than a decade. A general beat writer/reporter and entertainment/film critic, she is also an accomplished news/investigative news/crime reporter and submitted for Pulitzer Prize consideration "Cops Conspire to Deep Six Sex Assaults" in the Breaking News Category and was persuaded to withdraw the submission. Ms. Walker has completed five screenplays "The Six Sides of Truth," "The Assassins of Fifth Avenue," "The Wednesday Killer," "The Manhattan Project," and the sci-fi thriller "Project 13: The Last Day." She has also published "Unholy Alliances: A True Crime Story," and "Days, Times, Seasons, and Events: A Collection of Poetry & Prose," which can be purchased here. She is a member of the Los Angeles Press Club, the National Writers Union, and a member of the International Federation of Journalists.
