Nearly three decades after the deaths of a woman and her 2-year-old daughter—cases long associated with the Gilgo Beach serial murder investigations—authorities have arrested the man now accused of killing them.
Cold Case Break Leads to Arrest
Andrew Dykes, 66, was taken into custody near Tampa, Florida, on Wednesday on a warrant issued by Nassau County, New York, according to law enforcement sources. He appeared before a Florida judge Thursday and is facing murder charges in the death of Tanya Jackson.
Jackson was 26 years old when her dismembered remains were discovered in Lakeview, Long Island, in June 1997. Her daughter, Tatiana, was found 14 years later in 2011 near Gilgo Beach—the same area used as a dumping ground by suspected serial killer Rex Heuermann.
Victims Known for Years Only as “Peaches” and “Baby Doe”
For decades, investigators did not know their names. Jackson was identified only as “Peaches,” a nickname based on a tattoo on her body. Her daughter was labeled “Baby Doe.” Their true identities were finally confirmed earlier this year, prompting authorities to offer a $25,000 reward for information in the case.
Connection to the Gilgo Beach Investigation
Tatiana’s remains were found near the stretch of Long Island’s southern shore where multiple other victims were recovered, fueling speculation that their deaths could be linked to the Gilgo Beach serial killer.
Rex Heuermann, a Long Island architect arrested in 2023, has been charged with killing seven women. He has pleaded not guilty. Heuermann was never charged in the deaths of Jackson or her daughter, and investigators have not publicly tied him to these murders.
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