The photo shows the neighbor who was allegedly stared at over the fence by the Gilgo Beach serial killer suspect.
Patricia Maressa, 65, was the subject of unwanted attention from suspected killer Rex Heuermann, who eyed her over the fence when she and her husband first moved to Long Island’s Massapequa Park neighborhood in the 1990s.
Her husband, former FDNY firefighter Etienne Devilliers, 68, said Heuermann made his wife uncomfortable during the summer months by staring at her and trying to start conversations while she sunbathed.
Speaking to on Wednesday, Devillers, 65, said he thinks the architect is “maybe just being friendly.”
Ultimately, however, Devillers decided to confront his neighbor, who is now accused of being behind three of the ten bodies found on the Gilgo Beach shore.
Rex Heuermann’s neighbor Etienne Devillers claims suspected killer Rex Heuermann, 59, looked over the fence to see his 65-year-old wife Patricia Maressa
Devillers, pictured outside his home on Wednesday, said he thought the architect was “maybe just being friendly” but eventually told him to stop staring at his wife
Heuermann was charged with the murders of three out of 10 women found on Long Island’s Gilgo Beach
In the conversation that followed, he said: “It was uncomfortable, he stuck to it.”
“He quit and didn’t argue with me.”
Devillers said Heuermann would casually mention his weight of 200 pounds and height of 1.90 meters during conversations.
“The guy was weird and weird but never violent,” the neighbor added. “We spoke almost every day. He was always friendly and respectful. I was surprised by the violence.
“I really feel sorry for the kids.”
He and his wife were woken up Friday morning by a police officer who told them to move their cars while they searched the suspect’s home.
Heuermann often spoke about his fondness for guns, once mentioning that he had a safe door to “protect his guns”.
Heuermann, who ran RH Consultants & Associates in Manhattan, was arrested outside his office last Thursday night.
The married father of two is accused of killing victims Melissa Barthelemy, Megan Waterman and Amber Costello, whose bodies were found in 2010.
However, police say they are “confident” of soon charging him with the murder of Maureen Brainard-Barners.
Days after his arrest, police officers were seen Sunday morning removing at least four long-barreled firearms from Heuermann’s “dungeon”-like home in Massapequa, as well as several blue plastic crates containing guns.
Stunned neighbors of the alleged killer said they felt like they were living “in a true crime documentary” as large crowds poured into the sleepy street.
Above is the white fence separating the two houses
Heuermann has been charged with the murders of Megan Waterman (right) and Melissa Barthelemy
He is also accused of killing Amber Costello (left). But police say they are “confident” of soon charging him with the murder of Maureen Brainard-Barners (left).
In addition to his cluttered home, Heuermann maintained two storage facilities in Amityville. They were searched yesterday and today
They described the alleged serial killer as a quiet family man who could often be spotted tinkering in his garage while keeping to himself.
Investigators announced on Friday that they wanted to arrest Heuermann because they feared the alleged killer could strike again.
Police had had Heuermann under surveillance since last year and had planned to continue pursuing him as they worked out their case, but decided to step in and make the arrest in the interest of “public safety,” Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney told reporters.
Tierney cited a series of warnings, saying that Heuermann “continues to patronize sex workers,” uses false IDs and burner cell phones, and has permits for a staggering 92 firearms.
“Which of course made us very nervous,” said Tierney, who has headed a secret investigation team focused on Heuermann since spring 2022.