By I Love Babylon · Week of July 26 – August 1, 2026

The week’s hardest news came out of a Lindenhurst courtroom, where a couple was indicted after their children were found severely neglected — one of them in heart failure. Masked intruders turned up at the Gilgo killer’s door, and Babylon Village renamed a stretch of Main Street for a surf legend. Here’s everything worth knowing from across the Town of Babylon — the big stories up top, quick hits below.

Jump to a story:
A Lindenhurst Neglect Case •
Intruders at the Gilgo Killer’s Door •
A Surf Legend Gets His Own Street •
Kayla Beaumont’s Comeback •
Carole King at the Argyle •
A New Luxury Shop in Babylon •
Quick Hits •
Coming Up •
Remembering Our Neighbors •
What to Watch Next

TOP STORY · PUBLIC SAFETY · JULY 31

Lindenhurst Couple Indicted After Children Found Severely Neglected

A Lindenhurst husband and wife were arraigned July 31 on a sweeping indictment after prosecutors said two of their four children were left critically ill by years of neglect. Their names are being withheld to protect the children’s identities.

According to the Suffolk County District Attorney, the youngest child — now 4 — had received no medical care since the age of two months and was found in critical heart failure from chronic iron-deficiency anemia, the result of a diet of cow’s milk and strawberry syrup; the child required a heart transplant at NYU Langone. A 9-year-old son was found malnourished, still in a diaper, never enrolled in school, and with heart damage from the same diet. Two older sons had attended school and received care.

The couple face charges including two counts of first-degree assault, reckless endangerment and eight counts of endangering the welfare of a child — up to 50 years if convicted. Each is held on $500,000 cash bail. “When parents abandon their duty to care for a child, and the child then suffers serious physical harm as a result, our office will aggressively pursue justice on their behalf,” District Attorney Ray Tierney said. The charges are accusations, and both are presumed innocent unless proven guilty.

Sources: News 12 → · Patch →

GILGO · THE AFTERMATH · JULY 28

Masked Intruders Turn Up at the Gilgo Killer’s Door

Two masked people banged on the porch of Rex Heuermann’s Massapequa Park home around 8 p.m. Tuesday, then fled when the family dog barked — the whole thing caught on security video. Heuermann’s ex-wife, Asa Ellerup, and their two children were inside at the time.

The family’s attorney, Robert Macedonio, called it part of relentless harassment: “This is the constant harassment that she faces on a daily basis, with people driving by, saying stuff as they walk by.” Nassau police filed a report but said the incident didn’t meet the criteria for an attempted break-in, since no one tried to enter. It comes just over a month after Heuermann was sentenced to three consecutive life terms without parole.

Sources: Newsday → · Fox News → · NY Post →

COMMUNITY · BABYLON VILLAGE · JULY 30

A Stretch of Main Street Is Now ‘Charlie Bunger Sr. Way’

Babylon Village renamed the stretch of Montauk Highway between Deer Park Avenue and Totten Place in honor of surf pioneer Charlie Bunger Sr. (1941–2018). Bunger started shaping surfboards in his basement in 1961 at age 20; the operation grew into Bunger Surf Shop at 50 Main Street — the oldest continuously operating, family-owned surf shop in North America, and a fixture for generations of Long Island surfers.

“He would be more than honored to see this, and to know that his legacy and all he has done for Babylon and the sport of surfing is being recognized,” said his son. As the family put it: “Charlie Bunger Sr. changed a lot of lives on this little stretch of Main Street.”

Source: Greater Long Island →

SPORTS · DEER PARK

Kayla Beaumont Caps a Remarkable Comeback

Less than two years after total reconstructive knee surgery, Deer Park’s Kayla Beaumont closed out one of the best track careers in school history. The graduating senior finished second in New York State in the triple jump, won the Section XI title with a school-record 40 feet 8.5 inches, earned All-American honors, and placed third at New Balance Nationals in Philadelphia. “Kayla will go down as one of the most successful athletes in Deer Park history,” coach James Petti said. “Her records will stay for a long time.” Records are nice; coming all the way back to set them is better.

Source: Patch →

CULTURE · BABYLON VILLAGE

‘Beautiful: The Carole King Musical’ Runs at the Argyle Through Aug. 30

The Argyle Theatre in Babylon Village is staging Beautiful: The Carole King Musical through August 30, tracing King’s rise from a teenage songwriter to her 1971 Carnegie Hall debut. Tess Jonas stars as King, with a cast that leans on the music over elaborate staging. Tickets and showtimes are at argyletheatre.com.

Source: Fire Island News →

BUSINESS · BABYLON · NOW OPEN

Karat and Crown, a Luxury Watch and Jewelry Shop, Opens on Deer Park Ave

Karat and Crown opened July 29 at 180 Deer Park Ave., Suite 5, buying, selling and trading luxury watches, jewelry, gold, silver and designer handbags. A grand-opening promotion offers 5% off eligible purchases (up to $500). Details at KaratAndCrown.com or 631-888-3530.

Source: Patch →

Quick Hits

  • A Wyandanch man was shot and wounded in a drive-by in Port Jefferson Station; a passenger in a Nissan opened fire on Wilson Street before the car sped off. Newsday →
  • A Wyandanch house fire left a woman injured and the home uninhabitable; firefighters rescued her Sunday morning. Newsday →
  • A man reported water-pellet shots fired at him late one night in West Babylon; he called 911 but declined medical attention. Patch →
  • Babylon Dental Care welcomed a new hygienist, Ashley Delloiacono, RDH, at its Patchogue practice. Press release →
  • Rock band ME. played Amityville Music Hall, with the venue continuing its steady run of touring acts. True Hollywood Talk →
  • The Gilgo case “was not an anomaly,” a New York Daily News op-ed argues, warning the Heuermann sentencing shouldn’t be treated as the end of the story. NY Daily News →
  • Newsday’s “Picture This” revisits the Heuermann case through the lens of the photographer who covered it in court. Newsday →

Coming Up in and Around Babylon

Our full events guide is refreshed all week — live music, markets, and family fun across the Town of Babylon.

Looking for something to do this weekend? Don’t miss our latest events roundup — your guide to festivals, live music, markets and family fun across the Town of Babylon.
See this weekend’s events →

Remembering Our Neighbors

We take a moment to remember neighbors whose obituaries were published or shared this week. Our thoughts are with their families and friends.

What Residents Should Watch Next

The Lindenhurst neglect case now moves toward trial; watch the bail status and how the surviving children’s custody and care are handled. The harassment at the Heuermann home is a pattern the family’s attorney says isn’t stopping — whether Nassau police treat future incidents differently is worth following. And on a brighter note, Babylon Village’s Main Street keeps adding to its story, from a surf-legend street dedication to new shops opening their doors.

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Got a story we missed? Reply to the newsletter or email ryan@babylonlocal.com — we’re always looking for news from every corner of the Town.

For more local updates, events, and community stories, visit ILoveBabylon.com.