Rex Heuermann, suspected Gilgo Beach serial killer, worked summer jobs at Jones Beach as a young adult, where he allegedly developed a motive to hunt and murder women. Heuermann's familiarity with the area from his job patrolling Jones Beach at night is believed to have aided in his crimes. Prosecutors oppose splitting the charges against Heuermann into multiple trials, as they argue the crimes share a similar modus operandi and many witnesses overlap. The victims, described as petite women, were allegedly tortured, mutilated, and dismembered by Heuermann, who has been compared to convicted serial killer Dennis Rader.