Gilgo Beach serial killer suspect Rex Heuermann expected to plead guilty

Rex Heuermann, the suspected Gilgo Beach serial killer, is expected to plead guilty in court today to the death of an eighth woman, according to multiple sources.

Heuermann is anticipated to admit guilt in the murders of seven women already linked to the case, with the killing of Karen Vergata now set to be formally included, bringing the total number of victims to eight, News.Az reports, citing foreign media.

Vergata, a 34-year-old woman from Manhattan, disappeared in 1996 and was believed to have been working as an escort at the time.

For years, she was identified as “Fire Island Jane Doe” after her legs and feet were discovered on the bay side of Fire Island in April 1996. Investigators later found additional remains at Tobay Beach approximately 15 years afterward, helping to confirm her identity.

Heuermann's alleged killing spree spans from 1993 through 2010, and he has maintained his innocence since his arrest in July of 2023.

District Attorney Ray Tierney posted on social media on Tuesday, saying there would be a "Major Development in the Gilgo Beach Homicide investigation."

Heuermann, an architect who worked in New York City, was arrested in 2023. He had pleaded not guilty to killing the seven women, some of whom were sex workers.

The first victim was Sandra Costilla, killed in 1993. Mack was killed in 2000 and Jessica Taylor was killed in 2003. Partial remains of Taylor and Mack were found near Gilgo Beach and in Manorville on Long Island, while Costilla was found in North Sea on Long Island.

Maureen Brainard-Barnes was killed in 2007 and found near Gilgo Beach. Megan Waterman, Melissa Barthelemy and Amber Lynn Costello were killed between 2009 and 2010 and also recovered near Gilgo Beach.

Ahead of today's pivotal court appearance, Benjamin Torres, the son of victim Valerie Mack, also filed a wrongful death lawsuit in the case.

His lawsuit targets Heuermann, along with his ex-wife and daughter.

"Anybody who's ever lived in a home with a family, especially a tiny little home like that, is not going to tell me or anybody else that if those slaughters were taking place in the basement, that noises, smells, stains and the like, would not have been noticed," Torres' attorney John Ray said.

Heuermann's ex-wife, Asa Ellerup, and his daughter, Victoria Heuermann, say they had no idea anything was amiss. We spoke with their attorney yesterday:

"The Rex Heuermann (Ellerup) knows she did not believe was capable of these crimes," attorney Robert Macedonio said.

Macedonio also stated that Victoria was too young at the time of the murders to have known anything was amiss.

"The homicide happened someplace in the spring or summer of 2000. Victoria Heuermann was 3 years old, how anybody could stretch a lawsuit, the factual pattern to fit any kind of liability on a 3-year-old is beyond me, attorney Robert Macedonio said. "It's reckless. It's irresponsible and it borders on malpractice."

The family is expected to appear in court later this morning as Rex Heuermann faces a judge.

If he takes the plea deal, he could spend the rest of his life behind bars.

News.Az 

By Nijat Babayev