MASSAPEQUA PARK, N.Y. (1010 WINS/WCBS 880) -- Investigators were preparing to pull out of the Massapequa Park home of suspected Gilgo Beach serial killer Rex Heuermann after a 12-day search yielded a "massive amount of material," Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney said Tuesday.
"We have reached the end of the search of the Gilgo house," Tierney told reporters during an afternoon news conference near the home on First Avenue. "We're going to be pulling out shortly."
Tierney couldn't think of any one piece of evidence that "jumped out" at investigators or led them to believe victims were killed in the home.
"We're going to wait. I think everyone wanted that singular piece of evidence, but we're going to wait until we see all the evidence," he said. "But I don't think there's anything that really jumps out at us at this juncture."
Asked if investigators believe anyone was killed in the home, he said a sizable amount of material needs to be analyzed before some questions can be answered. "I don't believe at his time that we can say one way or the other; evidence does not point either one way or the other," he said.
When a reporter asked if any human remains were found there, Tierney said, "No, but what I would say is we're still going over evidence."
He then clarified that he was referring specifically to the excavation in the backyard, saying, "nothing of note was taken from the backyard as far as remains."
"I would say we have obtained a massive amount of material of which has to be cataloged and analyzed, and it's going to take quite some time," he said.
Tierney described the interior of the house as "cluttered" and confirmed a vault in the basement was large enough to walk into and packed with guns, boxes and other items.
"There was a lot of just boxes, and it was a very cluttered, I would say, environment," he said.
In total, 279 "weapons" were recovered from the home, though some of them may not be categorized as "complete weapons" under New York State law, he said. Police have previously said more than 200 firearms, including handguns and long guns, were found there.
Tierney declined to go into details about any of the items that were found.
"There is a whole entire trace analysis that we have to go through with the house with regard to hair fibers, DNA, blood, which we'll just have to wait for the results on," he said.
The next step is to pour over items from the home, a storage unit and elsewhere, as well as interview potential witnesses.
"I don't think this investigation is limited to New York State, certainly," he said when asked where those witnesses are located.
Neighbors like Frankie Musto, who lives across the street, are relieved the search is ending. "It's been mayhem," she said, "and I'm glad it's wrapping up at this point."
Police said Monday that they'll continue to keep tabs on the area even after the search ends amid fears it will become a "sideshow" for true crime fans, curious kids and others.
Nassau County Police Commissioner Patrick Ryder said officers will be out watching for people stopping to take photos or trying to enter the property.
"We're putting cameras on the block," Ryder said. "We're going to have enforcement out there, vehicle and traffic enforcement. And we're going to make sure we're not going to turn this into some kind of sideshow."
"We're watching the street to make sure kids aren't climbing through yards to go take some pictures or photographs on the property," the commissioner said.
Cops are hoping to avoid the circus-like atmosphere seen at other true crime locations like the Amityville Horror house, also on the South Shore. Heueurmann's home has already become a hotspot of sorts since his arrest on July 13, with spectators and members of the media watching investigators.
Police said "no standing" signs will be placed near the one-story, red-colored house. People who stop in front of it could be handed a $150 fine.
Neighbors have previously told WCBS 880 they worried their streets would become a macabre circus, with crowds coming from all over to catch a glimpse of the now-infamous house. Some said they wanted the home torn down altogether.
Meanwhile, Suffolk County Police Commissioner Rodney Harrison said Monday that the nearly two week search has been "fruitful" but didn't elaborate on any potential evidence found there. By Monday afternoon, an excavator had dug up most of the backyard, Chopper 880 photos show.
Officials have said they'll continue to investigate if any other murders on Long Island may be connected to Heuermann, 59.
The Manhattan architectural consultant was charged earlier this month with the murders of three women in the Gilgo Beach case—Melissa Barthelemy, Amber Costello and Megan Waterman. Police said he's also the prime suspect in the murder of a fourth victim, Maureen Brainard-Barnes, but he hasn't been charged with her killing.
All four women were sex workers and were found along the same-quarter mile of Ocean Parkway in December 2010. The remains of more women, as well as of a man and an infant, were found in 2011, though police have said it's unlikely all 10 people are the victims of a single killer.
Heueurmann has said he's innocent, according to his lawyer. His wife filed for divorce last week as she and their two adult children remain at an undisclosed location. Tierney reiterated Tuesday that there's no evidence they knew of the killings and were out of town when they occurred.
Tierney said authorities had notified the family's counsel that the search of their home had reached its end.
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