LONG ISLAND, NEW YORK: An interior designer who was once connected to the suspected Gilgo Beach serial killer, Rex Heuermann, has come forward to reveal a disturbing voicemail message he left her and divulged their unsettling conversations about the notorious murders. Dominique Vidal disclosed these unsettling details in an interview with ABC 7, shedding light on her uncomfortable encounters with Heuermann.
Currently behind bars on Long Island, Heuermann faces charges of first- and second-degree murder in relation to the deaths of three Gilgo Beach victims: Melissa Barthelemy, Megan Waterman, and Amber Costello. Additionally, he is the prime suspect in the death of a fourth woman, Maureen Brainard-Barnes. He has pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Who is Dominique Vidal?
Dominique Vidal is a highly accomplished interior designer, who graduated from the prestigious Westphal College at Drexel University, known for its top-tier CIDA interior design programs. During her studies, Vidal specialized in biophilic and sustainable design. She collaborated with the Academy of Natural Sciences, sketching and studying their private collection to enhance her understanding of biophilic design. For her thesis project, titled Market Zero, Vidal developed a closed system market and restaurant concept, focusing on sustainable design principles.
Vidal gained valuable experience working at renowned architecture and design firms, including Stantec, L2, and The Sheward Partnership, with expertise in various design sectors like transportation, commercial, healthcare, residential, education, and mercantile design. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Interior Design, LEED Green Associates Certification, and OSHA 30 hr Certification, demonstrating her knowledge and commitment to sustainable design practices and maintaining safety standards.
'He asked me if I knew about the Gilgo Beach murders'
Vidal who is an interior designer revealed that she met Heuermann in a networking group of architects and designers in February, and it wasn't long before he began leaving her voicemails that made her feel uneasy. One of these messages stood out, as Vidal recounted, "He asked me if I knew about the Gilgo Beach murders."
According to individuals who have worked with Heuermann, he was known for his fastidious nature, impressing some clients with his attention to detail, while simultaneously annoying others. Vidal herself admitted that she had felt uncomfortable in Heuermann's presence even before she was aware of his alleged crimes. When Heuermann began leaving her voicemails at the end of February, Vidal assumed it was related to potential work opportunities. However, she stated, "He always made me a little bit uncomfortable." She recalled an instance when Heuermann spontaneously brought up the Gilgo Beach murders, leading her to believe at the time that he was simply discussing local news. Reflecting on the conversation, Vidal now sees it as a chilling attempt by a serial killer to flaunt his actions.
'I'm really disturbed'
In a TikTok video, Vidal shared one of the voicemails Heuermann left her at the end of February after she had already left the networking group. She found it odd that he was calling her when there was no ongoing professional relationship between them. The voicemail played in the video featured Heuermann's voice saying, "Hey, this is Rex from the BNI Group. I actually heard you're no longer part of the group, but I still wanted to talk to you, I had a question for you... Um... and also wanted to touch base. So if you get an opportunity, you can always find me at the office, or feel free to use my cell [number retracted]. Hope you're doing good, hope to talk to you soon. Thanks."
In another video, Vidal shared that she had mentioned her interest in true crime to Heuermann, who then inquired about her "favorite case." When she jokingly responded that "anybody could be a serial killer," Heuermann laughed and mentioned that he lived in the Gilgo Beach area. Recalling the conversation, Vidal expressed deep unease, stating, "I just cannot stop running that conversation over and over in my head, and I'm really disturbed."
Investigation and disturbing online activities
Law enforcement sources told the Daily Mail that Heuermann had been under their scrutiny since the previous year. Prosecutors allege that he utilized burner phones and multiple email accounts to engage with sex workers, search for sites depicting sexual violence, and stay updated on the investigation into the Gilgo Beach murders. Allegedly, Heuermann used fake identities for email accounts and phones to conduct thousands of searches related to sadistic, torture-related pornography, child pornography, and violent sexual acts involving minors.
The authorities further disclosed that a burner phone belonging to Melissa Barthelemy, one of the victims, was used to make taunting phone calls to her family members after her disappearance. In those calls, a male voice confessed to killing and sexually assaulting her. The calls were later traced to a location near Heuermann's Manhattan office. Over the weekend, investigators congregated at Heuermann's residence on Long Island to collect numerous boxes of evidence, which were loaded into large vehicles. Personnel from multiple agencies were observed on-site, wearing masks, hairnets, gloves, and plastic coats as they handled the sensitive materials.
Heuermann had garnered a reputation for his work in redeveloping New York City's skyline from his Manhattan office. He claimed to have worked with esteemed clients, including Catholic Charities, the NYC Department of Environmental Protection Sewerage Treatment, and major tenants at John F Kennedy International Airport, such as American Airlines. As Vidal continues to process her encounters with Heuermann, the chilling revelation of his alleged crimes and the unsettling voicemails and conversations have left her deeply disturbed. She remains haunted by the realization that a monster was hiding in plain sight, emphasizing Heuermann's egotistical nature. The investigation into the Gilgo Beach murders and Rex Heuermann's alleged involvement continues.
