Amber Costello: The Text Message That Exposed Gilgo Killer Heuermann

Amber Costello: The Text Message That Exposed Gilgo Killer Heuermann

Author: Real Story Media April 11, 2026 Duration: 14:59

"That was not nice, so do I get credit for next time." That text message — sent from a burner phone after a failed scam at a West Babylon house in September 2010 — sat in phone records for over a decade. It was sent to Amber Costello, a 27-year-old escort, after her roommate scammed a client out of cash. The next night, the same phone contacted Amber again. She walked out to meet the man. Her roommate saw a dark-colored Chevrolet Avalanche. Amber was never seen again.

Episode 7 of "The Seven" — the final installment. That truck description is what cracked the Gilgo Beach case. When the task force ran it through registration records in 2022, Rex Heuermann's name came back. From there — surveillance, the pizza-crust DNA, the house searches, the planning document, the arrest.

Amber was from North Carolina, battling heroin addiction, living with roommates in West Babylon. Friends called her quirky, goofy, generous. Her sister said she forgives Heuermann. Without Amber's case — the witness, the truck, the text, the cell tower data — the Gilgo Beach investigation might still be cold. Her story, the evidence, and how the last known victim became the one that broke everything — all covered here.

Join Our SubStack For AD-FREE ADVANCE EPISODES & EXTRAS!: https://hiddenkillers.substack.com/

Want to comment and watch this podcast as a video? Check out our YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8-vxmbhTxxG10sO1izODJg?sub_confirmation=1

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/hiddenkillerspod/

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/hiddenkillerspod/

Tik-Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@hiddenkillerspod

X Twitter https://x.com/TrueCrimePod

This publication contains commentary and opinion based on publicly available information. All individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Nothing published here should be taken as a statement of fact, health or legal advice.

#AmberCostello #RexHeuermann #GilgoBeach #GilgoFour #LISK #TrueCrime #ChevyAvalanche #TrueCrimeToday #ColdCase #TheSeven


From the team at Real Story Media, True Crime Today | Daily True Crime News & Interviews cuts through the noise to deliver a clear, daily account of the stories gripping the true crime community. This isn't just a recap of headlines; it's a focused dive into the latest developments, ongoing investigations, and the pressing legal questions that emerge each day. We move beyond the surface, offering thoughtful commentary that considers the real-world impact of these cases on families, communities, and the justice system itself. The daily format of this podcast ensures you're informed with a current, sober perspective, while exclusive interviews with journalists, experts, and sometimes those close to the cases provide depth you won't find elsewhere. If you're looking for a reliable source that respects the gravity of the subject while satisfying a need to understand the ever-evolving narrative of crime and justice, this is the essential listen. Tune in for a straightforward, daily update that prioritizes factual reporting and meaningful context over sensationalism.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

True Crime Today | Daily True Crime News & Interviews
Podcast Episodes
Larry Millete: Maya Saw It Coming and Said It [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 26:28
"If anything happens to me, it was Larry." Maya Millete didn't say it once. She said it to multiple people, in different settings, over the course of weeks leading up to her disappearance. That's not a woman having a bad…
Samuel Bateman FLDS Case: Federal Prosecution and Ongoing Impact [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 19:27
Samuel Bateman, a self-proclaimed prophet of a breakaway FLDS sect, was sentenced in December 2024 to fifty years in federal prison followed by lifetime supervised release after pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit tr…
Speaking Directly to Kendra Duggar: Choose Your Family [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 33:53
A family photo without a daughter in it can say more than a courtroom ever will. The Caldwell family — Kendra Duggar’s parents and siblings — posted their first group portrait in years, and for the first time, Kendra is…
Bill Gothard: Decades of Allegations Against IBLP’s Founder [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 18:44
Thirty-four women. That's how many came forward with allegations of harassment and misconduct against Bill Gothard, the founder of one of the most powerful fundamentalist Christian organizations in American history. Some…
Duggar Family: Two Brothers, Two Cases, One Systemic Pattern [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 12:47
Joseph Duggar faces two felony counts in Bay County, Florida — lewd and lascivious molestation of a victim under twelve and lewd and lascivious conduct by a person eighteen or older — plus four misdemeanor counts each fo…
Duggar Case Communications: Legal Implications of Private Statements [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 30:44
Joseph Duggar currently faces two felony charges in Bay County, Florida — lewd and lascivious molestation of a victim under twelve and lewd and lascivious behavior conducted by a person eighteen or older — stemming from…
Heuermann Guilty Plea — Legal Mechanics and the Psychology of Denial [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 41:50
Rex Heuermann entered guilty pleas to three counts of first-degree murder and four counts of intentional murder in Suffolk County Court. He admitted to killing Karen Vergata — an eighth victim — as part of a plea agreeme…