Was John Bittrolff Wrongfully Convicted? The Long Island Murders and Gilgo Beach DNA Twist

John Bittrolff's mugshot (Credit: Suffolk County Police Department)

Introduction

The bucolic neighborhoods and sandy beaches of Long Island have been hiding dark secrets for decades. The alleged serial killer, Rex Heuermann, has taken the spotlight the past few years, however, a convicted murderer, John Bittrolff, is about to upset the status quo.

Few Long Island murder cases have drawn as much attention, or recent controversy as that of John Bittrolff, the carpenter from Manorville. Bittrolf was convicted of killing two women and suspected in a third. His crimes shook the Suffolk County community for years and thanks to Prosecutor Robert Biancavilla, Bittrolff entered the Gilgo Beach serial killings discussion.

Now, new DNA testing, the recent indictment of Rex Heuermann in the murder of Sandra Costilla, and a court order, are forcing investigators to re-examine everything. Was Bittrolff wrongfully convicted, or are there two predators who hunted the same territory decades apart? Let us break down the cases, the evidence, and the timeline that is redefining a Long Island mystery.

Timeline of Key Events in the John Bittrolff Case

November 2, 1993 – Murder of Rita Tangredi

Rita Tangredi, age 31, was found dead in a wooded area in East Patchogue, New York by some hikers. She had was beaten by an unknown subject, strangled, had a fractured skull, and was bound with her own clothes. Also at the scene, investigators found wood shavings.

November 21, 1993 – Murder of Sandra Costilla

Sandra Costilla, age 28, was discovered by hunters in the North Sea section of Southampton. She had been strangled and left partially clothed. Her shirt was pulled over her head, and she was missing one shoe – same as Colleen McNamee. In addition, wood shavings were found at her crime scene too. At the time, DA Thomas Spota and Detective Lieutenant John Gierasch believed that Sandra’s case was linked to both Tangredi and McNamee, but Bittrolff was never charged in the case.

January 30, 1994 – Murder of Colleen McNamee

Colleen McNamee, age 20, was discovered in a wooded area near William Floyd Parkway in Shirley, New York. Her death showed similar patterns to Tangredi’s murder, with both victims strangled and posed in similar ways. Colleen’s short was pulled over her head and she was missing a shoe. Also at the scene, investigators found wood shavings.

July 21, 2014 – Arrest of John Bittrolff

Two decades later, DNA evidence connected the crimes to John Bittrolff. The match came from a familial DNA hit through his brother’s genetic sample in a state database. Police later confirmed the match using DNA collected from a discarded plastic cup found in Bittrolff’s trash after a lengthy attempt to obtain a sample.

July 5, 2017 – Guilty Verdict

After a six-week trial in Suffolk County, a jury convicted Bittrolff on two counts of second-degree murder for the killings of Rita Tangredi and Colleen McNamee.

September 12, 2017 – Sentencing

Bittrolff received two consecutive 25-years-to-life sentences, totaling 50 years to life in prison. He is incarcerated at the Clinton Correctional Facility in Dannemora, New York, under inmate number 17A3925.

June 2024 – Heuermann Indictment Brings New Evidence

In a surprising twist, prosecutors charged alleged Gilgo Beach serial killer Rex Heuermann with the 1993 murder of Sandra Costilla. Forensic evidence excluded Bittrolff as a contributor but did not exclude Heuermann, sparking renewed scrutiny of the original Bittrolff investigation.

January 2025 – Motion to Vacate Conviction

Bittrolff’s legal team filed a New York State Criminal Procedural motion, known as a 440 Motion. That 440 requests to vacate his convictions, citing new DNA testing results that detected male DNA on evidence from Colleen McNamee’s case that did not match Bittrolff. The defense called for direct comparison to Rex Heuermann’s DNA.

Bittrolff 440 Motion.pdf

Download PDF • 411KB

October 2025 – Judge Orders DNA Comparison

A Suffolk County judge approved the defense request to compare DNA from both Tangredi and McNamee crime scenes with Heuermann’s profile. The decision could lead to new forensic testing and could potentially alter the future of Bittrolff’s case.

Analysis: What’s Next for the Bittrolff Case?

The connection between John Bittrolff and the Gilgo Beach killings has long been debated, however, no evidence exists to tie him to any other cases. Both Bittrolff and Heuermann have ties to Manorville, to victims who were sex workers, and the crimes shared disturbing similarities. Now, with DNA advances and Heuermann facing his own murder charges, investigators are re-evaluating whether Bittrolff’s conviction was justified or a miscarriage of justice. Only time will tell.

Closing Thoughts

The story of John Bittrolff is far from over. Decades after the murders of Rita Tangredi and Colleen McNamee, new DNA evidence and the emergence of Rex Heuermann as a suspect in seven murders, have raised questions investigators thought were settled. Whether the courts find proof of a wrongful conviction or confirm Bittrolff’s guilt, this case shows how evolving forensic science continues to reshape justice on Long Island and elsewhere.

If you follow true crime, cold cases, or forensic breakthroughs, stay tuned to True Crime with the Sarge on YouTube for updates on this developing story. Subscribe, share your thoughts in the comments, and join the conversation as we uncover the truth behind America’s most haunting mysteries.