On Monday, September 16th, the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office in Long Island held a press conference seeking the public’s help in identifying the victim of a murder case from several years ago.
According to the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office, the image displayed is a facial reconstruction image created by forensic artists from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC), depicting the appearance of the victim before their disappearance and murder.
On November 4, 2011, authorities discovered a set of skeletal remains on Ocean Avenue at Gilgo Beach in Long Island, New York. The victim was identified as a male of Asian descent – possibly from southern China, aged between 17 and 23 years old, and standing at a height between 5 feet 3 inches and 5 feet 9 inches.
The “Asian John Doe” was determined to have been killed by blunt force trauma. Investigations indicate that the victim’s death occurred in 2006 or earlier.
The Suffolk County prosecutors have released a description of the clothing worn by the victim at the time of death, along with images of clothing labels. Despite being male, the “Asian John Doe” was dressed in women’s clothing including a Chrysantheme blue ribbed short-sleeve shirt, a “Rafaella” brand shirt and “Bill Blass” pants, as well as a “Bill Blass” bra.
Prior to 2006, this individual had friends, possibly classmates or coworkers, and had a family – someone must know who he is.
The prosecutors are offering a reward of $2,500 for information leading to the identification of the victim. Anyone with information about this case or the victim’s identity is urged to call 1-800-220-8477 or visit https://suffolkpd.org/Alerts/Crime-Stoppers. Translation services are provided by the prosecutors and can be accessed in your native language.
The prosecutors do not rule out the accused Long Island serial killer, Rex Heuermann, as a suspect.
The victim was a suspected cross-dressing sex worker, whose body was dumped on a desolate road on Ocean Parkway along with over a dozen other discarded bodies, suggesting a possible connection to Heuermann through online interactions.
“This is a call to action,” said Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney at the press conference, “We hope to get the public’s help in identifying this Asian John Doe.”
Details of some internet searches conducted by the suspect are outlined in a court document filed by the prosecutors.
Heuermann is currently facing charges related to the deaths of six sex workers, all unsolved murder cases spanning over a decade, with the victims’ bodies being dumped along Ocean Parkway.
Heuermann was arrested outside his office in Midtown Manhattan in 2022, where police extracted DNA from a pizza box he had discarded, as well as an energy drink can belonging to his daughter, linking him to the crimes. Heuermann remains in custody without bail.