Florida arrest in murder of woman and toddler previously connected to Gilgo serial killings

Decades after a woman and her 2-year-old daughter were discovered on Long Island, previously linked to the Gilgo Beach serial murders, the suspect in their deaths appeared in a Florida court Thursday facing homicide charges.

Andrew Dykes, 66, was apprehended Wednesday near Tampa under a Nassau County, New York, warrant in relation to the 1997 killing of Tanya Jackson, according to law enforcement sources. The Nassau County district attorneys office declined to provide a statement.

Jackson, 26 at the time of her death, was found dismembered in Lakeview in June 1997. Her young daughter, Tatiana, was located 14 years later near Gilgo Beach. For many years, Jackson was referred to as "Peaches" due to a recognizable tattoo, and her daughter as "Baby Doe."

In April, New York authorities confirmed the identities of Jackson and her daughter and announced a $25,000 reward for information regarding the decades-old case. Tatianas remains were discovered in 2011 near the site where other womens remains were found along Long Islands southern shore, fueling suspicions that the deaths might be connected to the Gilgo Beach serial killer.

Rex Heuermann, a Long Island architect and father, was arrested in 2023 for several Gilgo Beach murders and charged with killing seven women. Heuermann, who has pleaded not guilty, was never charged in connection with the deaths of Jackson or her daughter.

Analysis: Arrest in Decades-Old Long Island Case

The recent arrest of Andrew Dykes in Florida marks a significant development in the decades-old investigation into the deaths of Tanya Jackson and her daughter, Tatiana. Dykes, 66, was taken into custody under a Nassau County warrant and faces homicide charges related to Jackson's 1997 killing. The case had remained unresolved for years, with Jackson initially known only as "Peaches" and her daughter as "Baby Doe."

Authorities confirmed Jackson's and Tatiana's identities in April, highlighting the ongoing efforts to close long-standing cold cases. The discovery of Tatiana's remains near Gilgo Beach in 2011 had previously fueled speculation about connections to the Gilgo Beach serial killings, though no direct link has been established between Dykes and Rex Heuermann, the suspect in several other murders along Long Island.

This arrest demonstrates both the persistence of law enforcement in pursuing cold cases and the potential for resolution even decades later. While the investigation continues, the legal process for Dykes will clarify the circumstances surrounding Jackson's and her daughter's deaths, separate from the broader Gilgo Beach serial murder investigations.

Sources:

• Arrest in Florida in killing of woman, toddler once linked to Gilgo serial murders