Convicted Long Island man John Bittrolff is pushing for a re-examination of his case following the charges against Rex Heuermann, the alleged Gilgo Beach serial killer. Bittrolff, who was found guilty in the early 1990s murders of Rita Tangredi and Colleen McNamee, asserts that the similarities between his case and the homicide Rex Heuermann is accused of – the 1993 killing of Sandra Costilla – warrant a fresh look at the evidence.
Lisa Marcoccia, John Bittrolff’s attorney, has highlighted the “eerily similar” nature of the crime scenes in all three cases. She has formally requested the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office to conduct DNA testing on hair samples discovered at the Tangredi and McNamee murder sites. In letters obtained by Newsday, Marcoccia also urged the release of forensic evidence from the Costilla crime scene to aid in a comparative analysis.
John Bittrolff during a court hearing in Riverhead, NY, 2014, as his lawyer seeks a case review.
According to Marcoccia, the parallels across the murders are striking. “All three women — Sandra, Rita and Colleen — were killed within the same time frame. Their bodies were all discovered in wooded areas, positioned with legs spread apart and hands above their heads, and notably, each victim was missing a shoe,” she stated to Newsday. Furthermore, Marcoccia pointed out that “Colleen and Sandra both had their shirts pulled up over their faces, and the District Attorney’s office has indicated the presence of wood chips on all three bodies. It’s logical to consider that one individual could be responsible for all three murders.”
District Attorney Ray Tierney, who assumed office after Bittrolff’s conviction, has responded to Marcoccia’s requests by stating his office has reviewed the cases. “I’ve looked at those cases, and if I thought there was a problem with them, I would do something,” Tierney told the press, suggesting no immediate action would be taken based on the current evidence.
Rex Heuermann at his arraignment in Suffolk County, NY, charged in connection to the Gilgo Beach murders.
Prior to John Bittrolff’s arrest in 2014, Suffolk County investigators had publicly suggested a link between the murders of Tangredi and McNamee and the killing of Costilla. Marcoccia’s renewed efforts come after two previous unsuccessful attempts to overturn Bittrolff’s conviction. On June 6, the same day Rex Heuermann pleaded not guilty to second-degree murder in Costilla’s death, Marcoccia sent a formal letter to Tierney.
In this letter, she requested access to records related to Heuermann’s case, specifically forensic analysis from the Costilla crime scene and any data obtained from devices relevant to all three homicides. Following no response, Marcoccia sent a second letter on June 18, reiterating her requests. Assistant District Attorney Guy Arcidiacono denied this request on June 20, stating, “there is no basis on law or fact for providing you with these materials.”
Mugshot of John Bittrolff from 1990, convicted in the murders of Rita Tangredi and Colleen McNamee.
Arcidiacono’s letter, obtained by Newsday, further clarified the DA’s stance: “Whether your client was ever investigated for the Costilla murder, it is evident he was not charged in that case. Neither the fact that he was not charged, nor that Mr. Heuermann has been charged is exculpatory as to Bittrolff’s murder convictions.”
Rex Heuermann, 61, was connected to Sandra Costilla’s murder through mitochondrial DNA testing of hair found at the scene. John Bittrolff’s conviction, conversely, relied on DNA evidence from semen found on Tangredi and McNamee. Heuermann was initially arrested in July 2023 for the murders of three women, with charges for three additional murders added later that year. His trial in Suffolk County Supreme Court is anticipated to commence in September.
John Bittrolff with his attorney in court, as his case is revisited after new evidence in similar killings.
Despite the District Attorney’s rejection, Marcoccia remains determined, believing that further DNA testing could be crucial for John Bittrolff’s appeal. “There were unknown hairs found on both Rita and Colleen’s bodies that were never tested against,” Marcoccia stated, indicating a potential avenue for new evidence that could impact Bittrolff’s case in light of the Gilgo Beach investigation and the charges against Rex Heuermann.
