Detectives in South Carolina are looking into a nearly decade-old missing persons case to find out if suspected Gilgo Beach serial killer Rex Heuermann may have been involved, can reveal.
Police in Rock Hill, just 20 miles from where Heuermann bought a wild 18-acre property, have confirmed they are again looking into the case of Aaliyah Bell Hall, who went missing in 2014.
The news gives Aaliyah’s family new hope for closure. She had to live without knowing what happened to the beautiful 18-year-old, who disappeared after leaving her uncle’s house on November 25, 2014.
Now they’re hoping the police will search Heuermann’s property to find out if Aaliyah – or anyone else – might be buried there.
“We had a lot of false leads, a lot of people said they saw things but nothing was solid,” her aunt Laroy Hall told .
“I can understand why they would want to look into this because a lot of what is being said now was said then.” “People saw a dark truck near where she disappeared.”
Aaliyah Bell Hall was 18 when she disappeared on November 25, 2014 in Rock Hill, South Carolina
Rex Heuermann has pleaded not guilty to the three Gilgo Beach murders
Rex Heuermann bought 40 acres of vacant land 20 miles from where Aaliyah went missing. Now the family is hoping the police will search it to see if there are any bodies buried there
A Rock Hill Police Department spokesman told : “We have not been contacted by any other agency. But we are reviewing the case and are investigating possible links or matching time frames to the disappearances of Aaliyah Bell and Rex Heuermann.”
Heuermann was charged with the murders of three women whose bodies were found on Gilgo Beach on Long Island, New York, in 2009 and 2010 and is expected to be charged with a fourth murder.
New York police say Heuermann is targeting sex workers. Aaliyah’s relatives say she was not involved in prostitution – but admit they heard after her disappearance that she was “doing what she had to do to make ends meet”.
Aaliyah was last seen leaving her uncle’s house at around 10pm on November 25, 2014, two days before Thanksgiving.
Family members told that neighbors heard “screams” just before they disappeared and spotted a dark-colored vehicle in the area.
The teenager regularly used the path down Chestnut Street to get to her godmother’s house on Confederate Avenue, where she lived
Aaliyah’s aunt told that despite the fact that a new investigator was appointed to the case in 2020, police have not been in contact with the family regarding the possible update.
She said, “I think at this point it’s worth exploring any lead they might have because their family still has hope.” Her mother wants her home and the rest of her family hopes and prays that we do find a degree.
“But it would make sense that the police would investigate, neighbors said it was almost as if they knew the person.”
“As a family, we want her to have a home and for her to finally come to a conclusion about what happened to her.”
“It’s not like I have any thoughts about him, we don’t know if he’s the one responsible.”
“But I would like to say to everyone involved: We know what efforts we are willing to make to protect our family.”
Hall said whoever killed her niece “should be punished to the utmost.”
“That’s someone’s child.” She evaporated and just disappeared. We want justice and a conclusion to what happened.
“If the police take it seriously and check if it fits, then we appreciate it,” said the aunt.
“So far there hasn’t been any real support from them.” No one has contacted us, no teams have been put together. My niece was not granted the assistance of the police, the FBI, or anyone else.
“It’s amazing to me that we’re here nine years later and they’re going to look into this.” As it is, we’re hoping to get closure, but we’re not going to put all our eggs in one basket.
Hall said she will never forget that she went for Thanksgiving and her niece didn’t show up. “It’s a traumatic experience that my family faces every day,” she said.
understands Heuermann has sold his green Chevy to his brother Craig, whom neighbors described as “insane” and “insane”. Craig Heuermann was spotted leaving his property on Tuesday morning
Members of Hall’s family told that shortly before she disappeared, neighbors heard “screaming” and spotted a dark-colored car in the area. The green Chevy was seized by police on Tuesday
Land registry documents show that Rex Heuermann bought land in Chester for $154,000 in 2021. Neighbors said he planned to set up a “settlement” with his brother, who lives on the property
The family spent weeks scouring creeks and woods in search of Aaliyah and desperately tried to get her home, saying they had “done everything they could do”.
Aaliyah had her younger sister’s hair done before she left her uncle’s house.
Her cousin Latricia Hall added that while they had hoped for her return, some believed she had been killed in the area.
Aaliyah’s cousin Latricia Hall told that while the family had hoped for her return, some believed she had been killed in the area
“She was a wildcat. She would have fought anyone who tried to take her, but none of this makes sense,” she said.
“Aaliyah wouldn’t have just walked away. She had money from her uncle, with whom she wanted to buy new shoes.
“They left them in the store hoping she’d get them, but she didn’t.” A huge sneaker fan, she wouldn’t just have got up and left.
“Many of us didn’t find out she was gone until the next morning, we knocked on doors and searched the woods looking for her.”
Aaliyah’s family organizes a balloon launch on the anniversary of her disappearance every year and have always hoped for answers. They post about their disappearance hoping to stir someone’s mind or conscience.
“Her mother needs something to hold on to because she wants her daughter back,” Latricia said. Even when it comes to finding out what happened to her.
“In my heart I have a feeling that he’s probably the person who did this and we won’t know if he doesn’t talk.”
“But I hope he gives her mother a chance to know what happened to her daughter because that’s the worst feeling in the world.” Hopefully we can find the ending and she will find out.
“As far as we know, there are bodies in this area of Chester,” Hall added. “The police should investigate everything they can.”
Rock Hill Police said Hall’s family will be “notified immediately” if any leads arise.
Aaliyah’s family spent weeks scouring streams and woods looking for her, trying desperately to get her home and saying they “did everything they could do”.
New York police say Heuermann is targeting sex workers. Relatives of Aaliyah said she was not involved in prostitution but heard after her disappearance that she was “doing what she had to do to make ends meet”.
In 2020, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children released an age breakdown photo showing what Bell might look like at age 24
Aaliyah was last seen leaving her uncle’s house at around 10pm on November 25, 2014, two days before Thanksgiving. She regularly used the path down Chestnut Street to get to her godmother’s house on Confederate Avenue, where she lived
After her disappearance, Bell may have been sighted at hotels or apartment complexes in Columbia, South Carolina and Charlotte, North Carolina, but officers located the women they believed to be her.
Police have not been able to find any tax records, police records, registrations or any sign that she applied for a credit card since her disappearance.
Rock Hill police officer Tayler Tucker took over the unsolved case last year. He said in an update at the time, “It’s hard to imagine an 18-year-old girl just getting up and disappearing out of nowhere.”
“There are no clues, no sign of a struggle along the way, it’s like she got up and disappeared.”
“We will always have hope of solving this case,” Tucker added. And we will continue to work until we solve the case.”
In 2020, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children released an age breakdown photo showing what Bell might look like at age 24.
Las Vegas authorities also confirmed they are investigating her cold cases after it was revealed Heuermann owns a timeshare in a luxury condo just minutes from the Strip.
confirmed that the married Heuermann bought his share of the two-bedroom, two-bathroom Nevada condo alongside his wife Asa Ellerup for $16,955 in 2005, four years before one of the Gilgo Beach murders took place.
The Vegas Apartment is located in a spacious complex that features a resort style pool, spa, tennis court, putting green and gym.
Las Vegas police have confirmed that they are “aware” of the Gilgo Beach serial murder suspect’s ties to the city and are actively investigating possible crime ties.
In a statement, they said: “We are currently reviewing our unsolved cases to see if he is involved in any way.”
Heuermann pleaded not guilty to the murders of Melissa Barthelemy, Megan Waterman and Amber Costello, all of whose bodies were found on Gilgo Beach near his Massapequa Park home.
He has also been named the prime suspect in the Maureen Brainard-Barnes murder case, with officials “confident” they can charge him in the case.
Suffolk County Police officials have also confirmed they have not ruled out links to six other bodies found in a similar area in 2010 and 2011.
Land registry records show Heuermann bought land in Chester for $154,000 in 2021. Neighbors said he planned to set up an “estate” with his brother Craig, who lives on the property.
Melissa Barthelemy, top left, Amber Costello, top right, Megan Waterman, bottom left, and Maureen Brainard-Barnes. Long Island authorities have vowed to continue investigating the Gilgo Beach murders after blaming an architect for the deaths of three of the 11 victims
Aaliyah had been preparing for her family’s Thanksgiving and doing her younger sister’s hair before leaving her uncle’s house and disappearing in 2014. Her family hopes for justice
On Friday, a day after Heuermann was arrested outside his midtown Manhattan office, authorities stormed the derelict compound and removed a green Chevy Avalanche truck.
Police linked the avalanche to Costello’s murder. Her body was found in December 2010. She had disappeared three months earlier.
A witness had seen the rare first generation vehicle in Costello’s driveway.
understands Heuermann sold the vehicle to his brother, who regularly drives it on the roads around his 18-acre site in Chester, South Carolina.
The Chester County Sheriff’s Office would not confirm whether it is seeking arrests in the area in connection with the Long Island killings. Rex Heuermann is currently the only person detained.
A statement said: “On Thursday, July 13, 2023, Rex Heuermann was criminally charged and arrested as part of the investigation into the Gilgo Beach murder in Suffolk County, New York.”
“During the investigation and prior to the arrest, the Chester County Sheriff’s Office was asked by the Gilgo Beach Task Force to assist in gathering evidence in Chester County that is relevant to their investigation.”
“The Chester County Sheriff’s Office has worked and will continue to work closely with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and Suffolk County law enforcement agencies during this very important and difficult investigation.”