An almost 30-year mystery is finally solved! Gilgo Beach Victim known as "Peaches," because of a distinctive tattoo, and her toddler daughter have finally been identified. But are their deaths linked to Long Island serial Killer Rex Heuerman?
A simple greeting of "Happy Resurrection Day" ends with a daughter behind bars...and her parents in critical condition. Plus, Texas beachgoers get more than eggs this Easter! Jennifer Gould reports.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Crime Alart hourly update, breaking crime news Now.
Speaker 2 (00:03):
I'm Jennifer Goold. A twenty seven year mystery surrounding the
Gilgo Beach serial killings has finally yielded a major breakthrough.
Nassau County Police identified the victim, known for decades only
as Peaches, as Tanya Denise Jackson, a twenty six year
old US Army veteran, and her toddler daughter as two
(00:25):
year old Tatiana Marie Dykes. The long awaited announcement marks
a pivotal step in a case that has haunted Long
Island since Jackson's dismembered torso was found in nineteen ninety seven.
Here's Detective Captain Stephen Fitzpatrick at the news conference.
Speaker 3 (00:41):
We never gave up on striving for justice for either
Tan or a Tatiana, and we will not well. We
notice more work to be done, and we're determined to
find the reasons and circumstances that led to their untimely deaths.
Speaker 2 (00:53):
While the case is often linked to the Gilgo Beach
serial killings, where suspect Rex Huerman has been charged with
seven other murders, Captain Fitzpatrick stresses that although no current
evidence connects Huerman to the deaths of Jackson and Dykes,
they are not discounting the possibility that their cases are related.
(01:14):
Born in Alabama on October twenty second, nineteen seventy, Tanya
Jackson honorably served in the Army from nineteen ninety three
to nineteen ninety five, stationed across Texas, Georgia, and Missouri.
By nineteen ninety seven, she was a single mom living
in Brooklyn, potentially working as a medical assistant. Jackson drove
(01:35):
a distinctive nineteen ninety one black geo stormman, was estranged
from much of her family. A detailed police believe explains
why she was never reported missing. Her daughter, Tatiana Marie Dykes,
born in Texas on March seventeenth, nineteen ninety five, was
found wearing poignant gold jewelry when her skeletal remains were
(01:55):
uncovered years later. The grim saga began on June twenty eighth,
nineteen ninete, with the discovery of Jackson's torso marked by
a telltale heart shaped peach tattoo inside a rubber maid
container at Hempstead Lake State Park in Lakeview. This tattoo
became her haunting moniker Peaches It wasn't until April twenty
(02:19):
eleven that Tatianas skeletal remains were found along Ocean Parkway
near Gilgo Beach, alongside additional dismembered parts of Jackson's body.
DNA analysis in twenty fifteen confirmed the tragic mother daughter connection,
but their identities remained elusive until advanced genetic genealogy and
(02:40):
FBI assistants provided the crucial breakthrough in twenty twenty four.
Nassau County District Attorney Anne Donnelley described the identification as
quote unquote bittersweet, emphasizing that this is merely, quote the
first step to solving these murders end quote. Authorities are
now offering a twenty five one thousand dollars reward for
(03:01):
any information leading to an arrest in the murders of
Tanya Denise Jackson and Tatiana Marie Diykes. The mother and
daughter have been laid to rest with military honors in Alabama,
where surviving family members provided the DNA that ultimately confirmed
their identities. The pursuit of justice for Peaches and her
(03:22):
little girl continues. More Prime and Justice news.
Speaker 1 (03:25):
After this.
Speaker 2 (03:32):
A seemingly innocuous easter greeting ignites a horrific family meltdown
in Washington State, as a nineteen year old woman allegedly
tried to kill her parents after a brutal argument over faith.
Cops swiftly apprehended Mackenzie Hayfer outside the family's Vancouver home
after her mom made a frantic nine one one call.
(03:54):
Upon arrival, officers found Hayfer's parents, Aaron Hetzler and Benjamin Hayfer,
suffering from serious injuries. According to court documents, a terrified
Hetzler recounted to police how her own daughter had first
plunged a knife into her husband and then turned the
blade on her, attempting to slit her throat. The Easter
egg hunt gone wrong reportedly began with the simple utterance
(04:17):
of Happy Resurrection Day from Benjamin Hayfer to his daughter.
This well intentioned greeting allegedly triggered a sharp and volatile
response from Mackenzie, who declared her non belief in God.
This initial class, though seemingly brief, reignited later in the
confines of the family kitchen, escalating into a full blown
(04:39):
and violent confrontation. Court documents reveal the terrifying sequence of
events Hayfer allegedly grabbed a knife and with murderous intent,
plunged it into her father's stomach. When her mom, Aaron,
bravely intervened attempting to stop the assault on her husband,
Hayfer allegedly turned the blade on her, slicing her throat.
(04:59):
In wa court papers chillingly described as a deliberate and
cold blooded attempt to end her life. Both parents were
rushed to a local hospital for critical medical treatment. Amazingly,
both officials say will survive. Hayfer, who lived with her
parents and brother Dakota, reportedly admitted to the brutal attacks.
(05:19):
Investigators were reportedly stunned by the sheer ferocity of the violence,
especially considering the lack of any prior history of domestic
disturbances involving the nineteen year old Hayfer now sits in
a jail on a hefty five hundred thousand dollars bail,
facing two counts of second degree attempted murder. Her arraignment
is set for May fifth. And finally, Texas beachgoers got
(05:43):
a whole lot more than seashells this Easter. Packages of
what is believed to be cocaine made a surprise appearance
on Galveston and Jamaica beaches. Cop say the suspected narcotics
likely came from a smuggling ship and were ditched during
a drug raid Oceans then delivered the goods to Beachcomber's
(06:03):
authorities are telling everyone to call if they find anything
unusual during their stroll on the sand. Turns out this
is not a first either. Cocaine has popped up on
coastlines before, like after Hurricane Debbie, when Florida found itself
with a bit of a white Christmas in August. Talk
about Hi. It is high for the latest crime and
(06:24):
justice news. Follow the Crime Alert hourly update on your
favorite podcast app with this crime Alert, I'm Jennifer Gould.
Speaker 1 (06:33):
How could a beautiful, young first grade teacher be stabbed
twenty times, including in the back, allegedly die of suicide? Yes,
that was the medical examiner's official ruling after a closed
door meeting. He first named it a homicide. Why what
Happened to Ellen Greenberg? A huge American miscarriage of justice.
(06:59):
For an n depth look at the facts, see what
Happened to Ellen on Amazon. All proceeds to the National
Center for Missing and exploited children,
Crime Alart hourly update, breaking crime news Now.
Speaker 2 (00:03):
I'm Jennifer Goold. A twenty seven year mystery surrounding the
Gilgo Beach serial killings has finally yielded a major breakthrough.
Nassau County Police identified the victim, known for decades only
as Peaches, as Tanya Denise Jackson, a twenty six year
old US Army veteran, and her toddler daughter as two
(00:25):
year old Tatiana Marie Dykes. The long awaited announcement marks
a pivotal step in a case that has haunted Long
Island since Jackson's dismembered torso was found in nineteen ninety seven.
Here's Detective Captain Stephen Fitzpatrick at the news conference.
Speaker 3 (00:41):
We never gave up on striving for justice for either
Tan or a Tatiana, and we will not well. We
notice more work to be done, and we're determined to
find the reasons and circumstances that led to their untimely deaths.
Speaker 2 (00:53):
While the case is often linked to the Gilgo Beach
serial killings, where suspect Rex Huerman has been charged with
seven other murders, Captain Fitzpatrick stresses that although no current
evidence connects Huerman to the deaths of Jackson and Dykes,
they are not discounting the possibility that their cases are related.
(01:14):
Born in Alabama on October twenty second, nineteen seventy, Tanya
Jackson honorably served in the Army from nineteen ninety three
to nineteen ninety five, stationed across Texas, Georgia, and Missouri.
By nineteen ninety seven, she was a single mom living
in Brooklyn, potentially working as a medical assistant. Jackson drove
(01:35):
a distinctive nineteen ninety one black geo stormman, was estranged
from much of her family. A detailed police believe explains
why she was never reported missing. Her daughter, Tatiana Marie Dykes,
born in Texas on March seventeenth, nineteen ninety five, was
found wearing poignant gold jewelry when her skeletal remains were
(01:55):
uncovered years later. The grim saga began on June twenty eighth,
nineteen ninete, with the discovery of Jackson's torso marked by
a telltale heart shaped peach tattoo inside a rubber maid
container at Hempstead Lake State Park in Lakeview. This tattoo
became her haunting moniker Peaches It wasn't until April twenty
(02:19):
eleven that Tatianas skeletal remains were found along Ocean Parkway
near Gilgo Beach, alongside additional dismembered parts of Jackson's body.
DNA analysis in twenty fifteen confirmed the tragic mother daughter connection,
but their identities remained elusive until advanced genetic genealogy and
(02:40):
FBI assistants provided the crucial breakthrough in twenty twenty four.
Nassau County District Attorney Anne Donnelley described the identification as
quote unquote bittersweet, emphasizing that this is merely, quote the
first step to solving these murders end quote. Authorities are
now offering a twenty five one thousand dollars reward for
(03:01):
any information leading to an arrest in the murders of
Tanya Denise Jackson and Tatiana Marie Diykes. The mother and
daughter have been laid to rest with military honors in Alabama,
where surviving family members provided the DNA that ultimately confirmed
their identities. The pursuit of justice for Peaches and her
(03:22):
little girl continues. More Prime and Justice news.
Speaker 1 (03:25):
After this.
Speaker 2 (03:32):
A seemingly innocuous easter greeting ignites a horrific family meltdown
in Washington State, as a nineteen year old woman allegedly
tried to kill her parents after a brutal argument over faith.
Cops swiftly apprehended Mackenzie Hayfer outside the family's Vancouver home
after her mom made a frantic nine one one call.
(03:54):
Upon arrival, officers found Hayfer's parents, Aaron Hetzler and Benjamin Hayfer,
suffering from serious injuries. According to court documents, a terrified
Hetzler recounted to police how her own daughter had first
plunged a knife into her husband and then turned the
blade on her, attempting to slit her throat. The Easter
egg hunt gone wrong reportedly began with the simple utterance
(04:17):
of Happy Resurrection Day from Benjamin Hayfer to his daughter.
This well intentioned greeting allegedly triggered a sharp and volatile
response from Mackenzie, who declared her non belief in God.
This initial class, though seemingly brief, reignited later in the
confines of the family kitchen, escalating into a full blown
(04:39):
and violent confrontation. Court documents reveal the terrifying sequence of
events Hayfer allegedly grabbed a knife and with murderous intent,
plunged it into her father's stomach. When her mom, Aaron,
bravely intervened attempting to stop the assault on her husband,
Hayfer allegedly turned the blade on her, slicing her throat.
(04:59):
In wa court papers chillingly described as a deliberate and
cold blooded attempt to end her life. Both parents were
rushed to a local hospital for critical medical treatment. Amazingly,
both officials say will survive. Hayfer, who lived with her
parents and brother Dakota, reportedly admitted to the brutal attacks.
(05:19):
Investigators were reportedly stunned by the sheer ferocity of the violence,
especially considering the lack of any prior history of domestic
disturbances involving the nineteen year old Hayfer now sits in
a jail on a hefty five hundred thousand dollars bail,
facing two counts of second degree attempted murder. Her arraignment
is set for May fifth. And finally, Texas beachgoers got
(05:43):
a whole lot more than seashells this Easter. Packages of
what is believed to be cocaine made a surprise appearance
on Galveston and Jamaica beaches. Cop say the suspected narcotics
likely came from a smuggling ship and were ditched during
a drug raid Oceans then delivered the goods to Beachcomber's
(06:03):
authorities are telling everyone to call if they find anything
unusual during their stroll on the sand. Turns out this
is not a first either. Cocaine has popped up on
coastlines before, like after Hurricane Debbie, when Florida found itself
with a bit of a white Christmas in August. Talk
about Hi. It is high for the latest crime and
(06:24):
justice news. Follow the Crime Alert hourly update on your
favorite podcast app with this crime Alert, I'm Jennifer Gould.
Speaker 1 (06:33):
How could a beautiful, young first grade teacher be stabbed
twenty times, including in the back, allegedly die of suicide? Yes,
that was the medical examiner's official ruling after a closed
door meeting. He first named it a homicide. Why what
Happened to Ellen Greenberg? A huge American miscarriage of justice.
(06:59):
For an n depth look at the facts, see what
Happened to Ellen on Amazon. All proceeds to the National
Center for Missing and exploited children,
Host
Nancy Grace
Popular Podcasts
40s and Free Agents: NFL Draft Season
Daniel Jeremiah of Move the Sticks and Gregg Rosenthal of NFL Daily join forces to break down every team's needs this offseason.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
The Bobby Bones Show
Listen to 'The Bobby Bones Show' by downloading the daily full replay.