Latest news with #SuffolkCountySheriff'sOffice
25-07-2025
- Health
12-year-old sworn in as honorary sheriff ahead of organ transplant
A 12-year-old New York boy who has kidney failure was sworn in as an honorary sheriff this week. Suffolk County Sheriff Errol D. Toulon Jr. oversaw the swearing-in ceremony of Wyatt Houppert on Tuesday, calling it an important event for everyone at the sheriff's office. "Welcoming Wyatt Houppert as 'Sheriff for the Day' was a meaningful moment for our agency," Toulon said in a statement to "Good Morning America." Wyatt's mom, Devan Houppert, told "GMA" they found out in 2021 that Wyatt was born with one regular kidney and another "the size of a walnut" that "had never developed." Houppert said doctors told them that over the years, Wyatt's one full-size kidney began to fail, and by February 2025, they learned both of Wyatt's kidneys had gone into failure, and he needed to be treated with hemodialysis and would eventually require a kidney transplant. According to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, hemodialysis is a treatment that helps the body filter water and waste from the bloodstream because the kidneys are unable to do so by themselves. Despite having to undergo dialysis three to four times a week for at least four hours per session, Houppert said her son has not lost hope and has kept a positive outlook for months. "Never for a second did he even consider it's not going to be OK," Houppert said. "It's always, 'We got this. Come on, let's just do it. Where's my kidney? Let's go right now.' And just so positive, just, 'It's going to be OK.'" "Many times, me and my husband have been upset sitting there, and then we're looking at him, going, 'Wait a second, we have so much to learn from this child,'" she added. "Because he's sitting there with the best attitude." Houppert said Dawn Rice, a family friend, volunteered to get evaluated to see if she could donate a kidney to Wyatt, and after testing, she said doctors surprised the family with the news that Rice was "a perfect match" for Wyatt. Rice also happens to be the wife and sister of two corrections officers with the Suffolk County Sheriff's Office, which honored her as well at Wyatt's "sheriff for the day" ceremony. "[Wyatt's] strength and courage are truly inspiring, and the selfless kidney donation by Dawn Rice reflects the compassion and unity of our Sheriff's Office family," Toulon said. Houppert said her 12-year-old was "over the moon" to be "sheriff for the day." "He's a very, like, stoic, serious guy. So when you get those smiles, and he's telling you, 'It's the best day ever,' you know that it really was," Houppert recalled. "He definitely took his sheriff duties very seriously all day," she added. "It was so funny hearing him telling his older brother, 'Turn the TV up. I'm the sheriff. We have to get pizza for dinner. I'm the sheriff.'" Wyatt is scheduled to undergo his kidney transplant at Hassenfeld Children's Hospital at NYU Langone in New York City on Monday. Dr. Marissa Lipton, a pediatric nephrologist in the Pediatric Kidney Transplant Program at Hassenfeld Children's Hospital, told "GMA" the kidney transplant will be life-changing for the boy. "Wyatt is an incredible kid with a wonderfully supportive family and community behind him. Our entire team at Hassenfeld Children's Hospital at NYU Langone is honored to care for him and support his family as he prepares for his transplant on Monday," Lipton said in an emailed statement. "We're looking forward to getting him off dialysis. This transplant will truly change his life, and we're so grateful to his living donor for this incredible gift," Lipton added. "We can't wait to see Wyatt back to playing outside and enjoying his video games like any active 12-year-old."
New York Post
08-05-2025
- New York Post
Here are the 10 worst deadbeat dads in Suffolk County — and what the sheriff wants for Mother's Day
Suffolk County named its 10 worst deadbeat dads ducking their baby mamas and kids — as officials pushed Thursday to track down the alleged bums ahead of Mother's Day. The men plastered to the 'Wall of Shame' collectively owe their baby mothers nearly $1.5 million, with one alleged deadbeat — Gustave Schotker of Farmingdale — dodging $420,000 in child support by himself, officials said. 'We are talking about thousands of dollars that could have gone to food, clothing, doctor's appointments, or school supplies for the children — not just children, but their children,' Sheriff Errol Toulon Jr. told reporters outside of Yaphank Correctional Facility. Advertisement Suffolk Sheriff Errol Toulon announced the county's top 10 list of deadbeat dads standing alongside Suffolk County Legislator Trish Bergin. Suffolk County Sheriff's Office Officials said the timing of the unveiling days before Mother's Day on Sunday was meant to send a message to the men dodging their responsibilities — and to the women forced to carry the load of raising their children alone. 'A lot of times, a two-income household dissolves, and then the mother is left there holding the bag — financially and emotionally — and then there are men that take advantage of this system and choose not to pay or be responsible,' Suffolk County Legislator Trish Bergin told The Post. Advertisement The 'Wall of Shame,' displayed at the sheriff's office in Yaphank, includes the names, photos, and last known cities of each of the 10 men, along with the amount they owe. The sheriff claimed some of the alleged offenders haven't made a single payment in years, despite court orders and arrest warrants hanging over their heads. The Suffolk County men on the 'wall of shame owe their baby mothers nearly $1.5 million. Toulon warned of a near-future filled with garnished wages, seized property and jail time for no-show dads who think they can abandon their parental obligations. Advertisement 'It's really the children that suffer even though these men may think they're punishing their former girlfriend, wife, or significant other,' the sheriff said. Toulon is now asking for help from the public to assist in locating and holding these absentee fathers accountable. 'This Mother's Day, let's honor the parents who show up every day, and let's bring justice to those who refuse to,' Toulon said. Advertisement Previous 1 of 11 Next Advertisement Gustave Schotker Suffolk County Sheriff's Office Ralph Dickinson Suffolk County Sheriff's Office Advertisement John Maynes Suffolk County Sheriff's Office Christopher Haylett Suffolk County Sheriff's Office Christian Brown Suffolk County Sheriff's Office Advertisement Mark Olivo Suffolk County Sheriff's Office Jose Cuahutle-Bonilla Suffolk County Sheriff's Office Jose Bran Suffolk County Sheriff's Office Advertisement Here's the list, according to officials: Gustave Schotker – $422,584 Ralph Dickinson – $371,726 John Maynes – $209,192 Christopher Haylett – $169,912 Christian John Brown – $154,047 Lauro Encalada – $44,171 Mark Olivo – $42,712 Marlo Giro-Fuentes – $26,859 Jose Cuahutle-Bonilla – $19,115 Jose Bran – $17,716 Total: $1,478,034
Forbes
02-04-2025
- Forbes
Where Is Rex Heuermann Now? The Latest On The Long Island Serial Killer's Trial
RIVERHEAD, NEW YORK - FEBRUARY 25: Alleged Gilgo serial killer Rex Heuermann appears in Judge ... More Timothy Mazzei's courtroom at Suffolk County Court for a status conference on February 25, 2025 in Riverhead, New York. The 61-year-old has pleaded not guilty to murder charges in the deaths of seven women between 1993 and 2011. (Photo by James Carbone-Pool/Getty Images) More than a decade after multiple bodies were discovered along Gilgo Beach in Long Island, N.Y., authorities finally identified a suspect following a lengthy investigation: Rex Heuermann. The Manhattan architect now stands accused of murdering seven women. So where is the alleged Long Island Serial Killer now, and what's the latest on his trial? The case against the Long Island Serial Killer has drawn increased media attention following the release of Netflix's new docuseries, Gone Girls: The Long Island Serial Killer. The series delves into the years-long investigation that ultimately led to Heuermann's high-profile arrest in 2023, while also examining how the stigma surrounding the victims' work as escorts may have slowed the pace of the case. 'These family members were never going to give up. These women knew that there was a need to shake [up] the establishment to get attention for this case,' Director Liz Garbus told Netflix's Tudum. 'Of course, they shouldn't have [had] to work so hard. The system should work to protect them and should've protected their family members. But at the end of the day, their voices really mattered.' The three-episode documentary features interviews with journalists, law enforcement officials, and the victims' loved ones and those connected to the accused. It also includes reenactments designed to help viewers connect with the real people behind the headlines. As you watch, read on to learn what happened to the main suspect Rex Heuermann — including what he's accused of and where he is now in 2025. LONG ISLAND, NY - JULY 14: In this handout provided by the Suffolk County Sheriff's Office, Rex ... More Heuermann poses for his booking photo on July 14, 2023. Heuermann, 59, is charged with three counts of first-degree murder for the killings of Melissa Barthelemy in 2009, and Megan Waterman and Amber Costello the following year, according to the Suffolk County District Attorney. He pleaded not guilty to the murders and a judge ordered he be held without bail. (Photo by Suffolk County Sheriff's Office via Getty Images) Rex Heuermann was born and raised on Long Island and attended Berner High School in Massapequa Park. Former classmates told The New York Times in 2023 that he had a troubled home life and was bullied for being a loner. One described him as 'everybody's punching bag" because he never fit in with any specific clique. Heuermann studied architectural technology at the New York Institute of Technology before launching his own architectural consulting firm in Manhattan. In the 1990s, he purchased his childhood home in Massapequa Park and married Asa Ellerup — though he later admitted in a deposition that he had been married once before. He, Ellerup, their daughter, and Heuermann's stepson have lived in the house ever since. According to the Long Island Press, neighbors described the family as distant and the home as creepy. 'The family is very to themselves, quiet,' neighbor Frankie Musto told the site. 'We never saw anything suspicious.' Suffolk County Police Commissioner Rodney Harrison told CNN that when Ellerup and her daughter were informed about the crimes Heuermann was accused of, the pair were 'shocked, they were disgusted, they were embarrassed.' Gone Girls: The Long Island Serial Killer Rex Heuermann is accused of murdering the Gilgo Beach Four — Melissa Barthelemy, Megan Waterman, Amber Costello, and Maureen Brainard-Barnes — all escorts in their early to mid-20s who disappeared between 2007 and 2010. Their bodies were discovered in December 2010, bound with belts or tape and wrapped in burlap, lying in close proximity along a stretch of Gilgo Beach. Following the discovery of the Gilgo Beach Four, police uncovered six additional sets of remains while searching for 24-year-old escort Shannan Gilbert. Gilbert had vanished after meeting a client she found on Craigslist in the community of Oak Beach, Long Island. Authorities said they did not believe her death was connected to the Gilgo Beach Four and suggested she may have gotten lost in the marshland and died from exposure or accidental drowning, according to People. BABYLON, NEW YORK - JULY 18: A general view of Gilgo Beach on July 18, 2023 in Babylon, New York. ... More Rex Heuermann, a 59-year-old New York architect, has been charged with murdering three women and suspected in the death of a fourth. A total of 11 bodies, mostly women, have found along the remote beach area starting in 2010. (Photo by) The Suffolk County Police Department and District Attorney's Office, working alongside the FBI and New York State Police, began surveilling Heuermann and his family for several months after identifying him as a suspect in early 2022. Authorities eventually tracked down Heuermann using his Chevrolet Avalanche. An eyewitness had previously reported seeing a Chevy Avalanche, later found to be registered to Heuermann, driving away from the area where Costello was last seen the day before she disappeared. The Chevrolet Avalanche ultimately led investigators to Heuermann's home in Massapequa Park and his office in Midtown Manhattan. Another key piece of evidence came when authorities observed Heuermann adding minutes to a burner phone, which matched the movements of burner phones used during the murders. Additionally, DNA recovered from a discarded pizza crust linked Heuermann to the crimes, matching his genetic profile to his wife's hair, which was found on several of the victims, according to Netflix's Tudum. In July 2023, Heuermann was arrested and charged with the murders of Barthelemy, Waterman, and Costello. Six months later, in January 2024, he was additionally charged with the murder of Brainard-Barnes. In 2024, Heuermann was also charged with the murders of two additional women killed a decade apart on Long Island: Sandra Costilla in 1993 and Jessica Taylor in 2003. According to the Suffolk County District Attorney's Office, DNA from hair found near both victims' remains, as well as evidence linked to his pickup truck, connected him to the killings, CBS reported. Several other bodies found in the Gilgo Beach area are also believed to be connected to the Long Island Serial Killer. RIVERHEAD, NEW YORK - JUNE 6: Alleged Gilgo serial killer Rex Heuermann appears in Suffolk County ... More court on June 6, 2024 in Riverhead, New York. Heuermann has now been charged with the murder of two more women. Heuermann's arrest came more than a decade after the disappearance of four women whose bodies were found within a quarter mile of each other along remote Gilgo Beach on Long Island's South Shore. (Photo by James Carbone-Pool/Getty Images) As of April 1, 2025, Heuermann is being held in a 60-square-foot cell at Riverhead Correctional Facility in Suffolk County, N.Y., as he awaits trial. While no official trial date has been set, Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney told ABC7 the case is 'heading toward the trial phase,' with Heuermann now facing a single indictment that includes seven murder charges. In a March 2025 exclusive interview with People, Suffolk County Sheriff Dr. Errol D. Toulon Jr. shared that Heuermann has 'become more acclimated with jail life,' since entering the facility. 'For the most part, it just seems like this is a new way of life for him,' Toulon told the publication. 'In the beginning he was a little bit more starry-eyed as to his surroundings. Life has transformed over the last several months. He receives visits, he makes phone calls, and he doesn't congregate with the rest of the population because of the crimes he's accused of.' He continued, 'I think he lived this double life, and he used the anonymity of phones and computers to shield himself from the rest of society. Unfortunately for him — and fortunately for the rest of us — he wasn't successful.' Less than a week after Heuermann's arrest in 2023, his wife filed for divorce. However, she has since begun visiting him about once a week and is also participating in a multi-part documentary that will follow her journey throughout Heuermann's upcoming trial. 'Within the first three or four months [of his incarceration] she did not visit him,' he said. 'Maybe in the last two months she started visiting more frequently.' In late March, Heuermann and his wife finalized a divorce settlement. According to prosecutors from the Suffolk County District Attorney's Office, Ellerup and the couple's children were out of town at the time the victims were killed, ABC7 reported. "She has a difficult time throughout this whole process believing the husband that she was married to for 29 years now was capable of committing these horrific acts," Ellerup's attorney Robert Macedonio said. 'It is even more concerning that her hair and her daughter's hair were found on some of these victims. So, this process is very important to getting closure for her and her family.' Gone Girls The Long Island Serial Killer is now streaming. Watch the official trailer below.
