Accused Gilgo Beach serial killer Heuermann's lawsuit over 2022 car accident dismissed
Alleged Gilgo Beach serial killer Rex A. Heuermann appears in a courtroom at Suffolk County Court in Riverhead on Feb. 25. Credit: Newsday/James Carbone
A lawsuit filed by suspected Gilgo Beach serial killer Rex A. Heuermann in Brooklyn Supreme Court over a 2022 car accident was dismissed on Monday, according to court records.
The lawsuit sought $5 million in damages from Suffolk County residents Lindsay Fenimore and C.D. Fenimore for "severe and permanent personal injuries," physical pain, mental anguish and financial loss Heuermann claims he suffered as a result of the Feb. 23, 2022, crash in the Williamsburg section of Brooklyn.
The lawsuit said Lindsay Fenimore was driving a 2017 Volkswagen when it made "violent contact" with Heuermann’s 2012 Chevrolet at the intersection of Union Avenue and Devoe Street.
Lindsay Fenimore was operating the vehicle at a "dangerous and careless rate of speed" and failed to stop the Volkswagen to avoid the accident, the lawsuit claimed. The Fenimores were also negligent in their ownership, operation and maintenance of the car, the lawsuit argued.
The court records do not explain why the lawsuit was dismissed. Heuermann’s attorney in the lawsuit, Paul B. Edelman, of Westbury, did not return a request for comment. Harold Campbell, of Hicksville, an attorney representing the Fenimores, also did not return a request for comment.
Heuermann, 61, of Massapequa Park, was charged with first-degree murder in the slayings of Gilgo Beach victims Melissa Barthelemy, Amber Lynn Costello and Megan Waterman. He was charged with second-degree murder in the deaths of Maureen Brainard-Barnes, Jessica Taylor, Valerie Mack and Sandra Costilla. He has pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Attorney Michael J. Brown, of Central Islip, who represents Heuermann in the criminal case, did not respond to a call for comment.
Heuermann is scheduled to appear before Suffolk Supreme Court Justice Timothy Mazzei for a conference hearing in Riverhead on Wednesday.
His defense team asked Mazzei last month to exclude DNA evidence from the case and to try Heuermann for the killings of Barthelemy, Costello and Waterman separately from the four other Gilgo victims.
Defense attorneys said they want to break up the trial because they fear a cumulative effect if he is put on trial for all seven slayings at once.
Sarra Sounds Off, Ep.16: From Island to island, how football helped overcome tragedy Newsday's Gregg Sarra talks to Carey football player James McGrath about how he has persevered after losing his parents at a young age, and to the Lahainaluna (Hawaii) High School football coach about how his team persevered after the Maui wildfires of 2023, plus a behind-the-scenes look at the All-Long Island teams photo shoot.
Sarra Sounds Off, Ep.16: From Island to island, how football helped overcome tragedy Newsday's Gregg Sarra talks to Carey football player James McGrath about how he has persevered after losing his parents at a young age, and to the Lahainaluna (Hawaii) High School football coach about how his team persevered after the Maui wildfires of 2023, plus a behind-the-scenes look at the All-Long Island teams photo shoot.
