News12 New York
N12 Originals
Numbers & Links
Local
Crime
Weather
Taxing Long Island
Vote 2026: Long Island elections
Clear
52°
Local
Crime
Weather
Taxing Long Island
Vote 2026: Long Island elections

'He was odd and strange.' Neighbor says he spoke daily with accused Gilgo serial killer

Etienne Devilliers says his wife felt "creeped out" that Rex Heuermann continuously looked over at her while she would sunbathe.

Jul 19, 2023, 5:17 PM

•

Updated

Share:

More Stories

A neighbor of the accused Gilgo Beach serial killer says he and his family have known 59-year-old Rex Heuermann for nearly three decades.

Etienne Devilliers, of Massapequa Park, says he and his wife live next door to Heuermann and that he spoke daily with him.

MORE: Gilgo Murders: Search for evidence expands to other states including South Carolina, Las Vegas

"He was odd and strange, but never violent," Devilliers says.

Devillers says they moved in 28 years ago and that Heuermann would look over the fence and try to talk to his wife while she would sunbathe in the backyard.

He says his wife felt "creeped out" that Heuermann continuously looked over at her, so he pulled him over to talk.

"We had the talk, and it wasn't a pleasant talk, but he stopped, and he didn't argue with me or anything," Devilliers says. "He just backed off."

LIVE BLOG: Updates on the case as they happen

Since then, Devillers says they became cordial neighbors. He was stunned to learn that Heuermann is accused of murdering three women and is a prime suspect in a fourth murder.

MORE: Neighbors of accused Gilgo serial killer say they've had anxiety, problems sleeping


Heuermann is behind bars in a Suffolk County jail.

Suffolk County Sheriff Errol Toulon Jr. tells News 12 he has visited Heuermann three times.

"Twice he has been sleeping, once he was just looking up at the ceiling," Toulon says. "Very quiet, didn't have much to say."

Heuermann is on suicide watch in a cell alone, and Toulon says he has not had any visitors and has two guards watching him.

WATCH: DOCUMENTARY AND BACKGROUND INFORMATION - Gilgo Beach: Unsolved

Toulon says that Heuermann has emphasized that he is not going to be a problem and will be compliant.

The Sheriff's Office Human Trafficking Unit has been showing women in custody a photo of Heuermann.

Toulon says two sex workers previously in custody were contacted by Heuermann.

"They chose not to engage with him, and I do not know the reason they chose not to," Toulon says.

Top Stories

01:26
LITicksatSchoolKK_2026-10-05-22-20-07

Kings Park middle school reports ticks on students, prompting activity changes

01:40
F P2 PM 1

A midweek chill hits Long Island before late-week warmup

00:34
LIDogbitesStudentKK_2026-10-05-22-20-17

Student-athlete bitten by unleashed dog at Center Moriches HS

00:54
LITaxesPossUp_2026-10-05-18-23-41

Suffolk County taxes could be going up, local governments ask for meeting with state

01:45
Fire Safety MS 100526_2026-10-05-17-31-08

Nassau sees 7 house fires over the weekend, prompting safety reminder

02:11
MT Aide Plea Deal TTT 1005_2026-10-05-21-30-56

'I felt sick.' In first interview, wife of abused Gulf War veteran breaks silence on care aide's plea deal

00:58
30e3b85d-6ded-4bed-b4f1-18c7d5fb6301

Florida woman charged in $50K theft from Cerebral Palsy Association of Nassau County

Vote 2026

Submit Your Questions: Congressional District 3 Debate between Suozzi and LiPetri

02:10
mail1

Stolen Post Office keys could be linked to surge in mail theft

00:45
AI Cancer MS 100526_2026-10-05-17-21-45

Molloy University student develops AI-powered cancer detection software

01:48
Suffolk Sleight of Hand Scams Thumbnail

Suffolk police searching for 2 women accused of stealing $1,800 from stores using sleight-of-hand

00:27
LIFSBURGLARY105_2026-10-05-05-05-18

Man found sitting inside Franklin Square home, bedroom window shattered

00:32
huntinton1

2 men wanted for allegedly stealing over $4K worth of clothing at Bloomingdale's store

01:55
IMG 1632

Long Island chefs take on hunger, one dinner at a time

00:28
LINORTHWELLLAYOFFS105_2026-10-05-05-30-05

Northwell Health eliminating 'limited number' of positions

01:41
halloween1

The Cost Of: Halloween Candy

01:35
558aaa66-dc46-4e90-be0b-522506c4eedc

Made on Long Island: Chattoo 1942 Wines in Hicksville

00:18
bellmore fire

Multiple departments respond to electrical fire at Bellmore home

01:49
10426CIfire_2026-10-04-12-33-12

Court records: Man accused of breaking into parents' home before deadly fire

01:47
RTLIPFASTreatSystemJRGaertner10pm_2026-10-04-22-24-08

Navy launches interim PFAS treatment system for Calverton groundwater plume in Riverhead

App StoreGoogle Play Store

info

Newsletter

Send Photos/Videos

Contact

About Us

News Team

News 12 New York

follow us

Twitter

Facebook

Instagram

more resources

Optimum Corporate

Optimum Service

Advertise on News 12

Careers

Content Removal Policy

© 2026 N12N, LLC

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

Ad Choices