An attorney who represents the family of victims linked to the Gilgo Beach serial killer case will hold a symposium at St. John’s University on Tuesday to discuss “new evidence” that he says he has found in the case as well as discuss all of the evidence he has gathered over the past 13 years.
MIller Place-based attorney John Ray will host the symposium Tuesday from 3:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the St. Louise De Marillac Hall Auditorium at St. John’s University in Queens.
Ray has been associated with the story for a long time, as he represents, or has represented, several victims’ families. He represents the family of Shannan Gilbert – the woman police were searching for when they found the Gilgo Four – Melissa Barthelemy, Amber Lynn Costello, Megan Waterman, and Maureen Brainard-Barnes.
Gilbert’s cause of death remains inconclusive.
Suspected serial killer Rex Heuermann has not been officially named a suspect in the murder of Gilbert or Vergata, although Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney told reporters that the same grand jury that indicted Heuermann for the Gilgo Four is investigating the other bodies found on Gilgo Beach.
Ray, however, has asserted connections in the past. He held a news conference in October alongside now-former Suffolk County Police Commissioner Rodney Harrison citing sworn affidavits allegedly linking Heuermann to both Gilbert and “Fire Island Jane Doe” Karen Vergata – a press conference that Tierney criticized.
Donation’s to Ray’s Long Island Serial Killer-related nonprofit can be made here.
CORRECTION: A previous version of this article stated that John Ray represents the family of Karen Vergata. However, Ray’s firm confirmed to the Long Island Press that he does not.
