Introduction to the Gilgo Beach Case
The identity of one of the first victims to be found in connection to the Gilgo Beach killings is set to be revealed by police, according to a law enforcement source.
Investigators have identified the woman who has become known as "Peaches," due to a tattoo found on her body when her remains were found in 1997. The victim has been a Jane Doe for nearly 20 years, but police plan to share the woman’s identity on Wednesday, a law enforcement source told NBC New York.
The Discovery of "Peaches"
The woman’s dismembered torso was discovered in a rubber garbage bin, along with a red towel and a floral pillowcase, in a wooded area of Hempstead Lake State Park in the Nassau County hamlet of Lakeview on June 28, 1997. It was believed that the woman had been killed about three days before the body was found, according to federal investigators.
Description of the Victim
The victim was said to be between 16 and 30 years old. She had a scar on her abdomen, which the FBI said may have been the result of a cesarean section performed. There was also a notable tattoo on her torso: a peach in the shape of a heart, with a bite taken out of it. Two drips from the peach fell further down, onto the victim’s breast, according to the FBI.
Connection to Other Gilgo Beach Victims
It wasn’t until 2011 that the woman’s severed arms, legs and head were recovered in Jones Beach State Park. When police found additional remains of another Gilgo Beach victim, Valerie Mack, along Ocean Parkway in April 2011, the remains of an unidentified female toddler were also discovered nearby. More than five years later, in Dec. 2016, DNA analysis found that the unidentified toddler found on Gilgo Beach was believed to be the daughter of "Peaches."
Investigation and Identification
Aside from the woman having brown hair and brown eyes, police did not have any other information to describe the victim, making it near impossible for them to identify her. In 2022, the FBI expanded its search for answers in the woman’s death to Alabama, where law enforcement sought family members of Elijah "Lige" Howell Howard, who died in 1967. The police department believes his relatives may be able to help identify the Jane Doe known as "Peaches," due to the peach tattoo on her chest, as well as her toddler.
The Accused Serial Killer
Rex Heuermann, a Manhattan architect, was charged in 2024 in the string of deaths known as the Gilgo Beach killings. Since late 2010, police on Long Island have been investigating the deaths of at least 10 people — mostly female sex workers — whose remains were discovered along an isolated highway not far from Gilgo Beach. Heuermann has maintained his innocence and pleaded not guilty to all counts.
Conclusion
The identification of "Peaches" brings closure to a case that has been ongoing for nearly two decades. The revelation of her identity is a significant step forward in the investigation into the Gilgo Beach killings, and it may lead to further breakthroughs in the case. As the investigation continues, the community remains hopeful that justice will be served for the victims and their families.
FAQs
- Q: Who is "Peaches"?
A: "Peaches" is the nickname given to a victim of the Gilgo Beach killings, identified by a peach tattoo on her torso. - Q: When was "Peaches" discovered?
A: The torso of "Peaches" was discovered in 1997, with her severed arms, legs, and head found in 2011. - Q: Who is the accused serial killer in the Gilgo Beach case?
A: Rex Heuermann, a Manhattan architect, has been charged in connection to the Gilgo Beach killings. - Q: How many victims are associated with the Gilgo Beach killings?
A: At least 10 people, mostly female sex workers, have been found dead in connection to the Gilgo Beach killings. - Q: What is the current status of the case against Rex Heuermann?
A: Heuermann has pleaded not guilty to all counts and is awaiting trial, with his legal team requesting to break the case into multiple trials due to concerns about the cumulative effect of the evidence.
