Gilgo Beach Murderer Killed Victims In Room At His Long Island Home, Ex-Wife Says In Documentary

LONG ISLAND, NY — After months of speculation, the former wife of Gilgo Beach killer Rex Heuermann revealed in an explosive documentary airing this week that he murdered women in a room at his Massapequa Park home.

Recently, Heuermann pleaded guilty to the murders of eight women in a Riverhead courtroom.

According to Peacock, NBCUniversal's streaming service, a fourth episode of "The Gilgo Beach Killer: House of Secrets", is set to air on Thursday morning, April 23.

A trailer for that episode was released Monday.

In the trailer, Heuermann's ex-wife Asa Ellerup said she had confronted her husband after his confession.

Calling him "Mr. Heuermann," Ellerup said when she faced him, he "looked very nervous — very, very nervous." And when she asked him how many women he'd killed, he responded, "Eight," according to the trailer for the documentary.

When asked, "Who was the eighth?" Ellerup responded, "I didn't ask."

In addition, she said, her former husband told her that she and the couple's children had not been home during the murders.

Finally, when asked if the murders had taken place in their home, she said: ""He said 'yes,' they were killed in his room downstairs."

All except one, the documentary continued.

Peacock gave a description of the new and final episode: "In the lead-up to the plea hearing, the episode picks up in August 2025 and details the real-time questioning of Asa to her serial killer ex-husband about the timeline and meticulous planning of the murder that occurred days before their wedding and mere months before the birth of their daughter, Victoria.

"Additionally, the unprecedented access includes interviews with the family’s psychotherapist, where she reveals her notes and intimate conversations with Rex and the family, as they confront the shocking revelations of the case. There’s also insight from renowned FBI profiler John Douglas, author of 'Mindhunter' and the pioneer behind the FBI’s behavioral science unit, whose department is actively studying Rex as part of the plea."

As part of his plea deal, Heuermann will be working with the FBI's behavioral science unit, his attorney Michael Brown said after the court proceedings.

At a previous court proceeding, Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney said that a copy of the book "Mindhunter: Inside the FBI's Elite Serial Crime Unit," had been found in the Heuermann home.

"The new true-crime series, executive produced by Curtis '50 Cent' Jackson, follows the aftermath of the Gilgo Beach murders, which were a series of killings that took place over nearly two decades in Long Island, New York," the Peacock description said.

In advance of the first three episodes, Peacock wrote: "After the arrest of the alleged Gilgo Beach killer Rex Heuermann, the series goes inside the suspect’s home for the first time, where exclusive commentary from his own family reveals a chilling portrait of a man accused of living a double life and hiding dark secrets under their own roof.

"The series features intimate, exclusive multi-part interviews with Heuremann's wife, children, and friends, in addition to providing an in-depth look at the lives of the victims. It also explores the long and twisted road that led investigators to the doorstep of Heuremann, an unassuming Manhattan architect."

In June, 2025, the first three episodes of the documentary debuted, featuring shots inside and outside of the home, as well as interviews with Heurmann's ex-wife Ellerup, children and his best friend.

"The question everyone keeps asking is: 'How could you not know?'" Those are the first words of the trailer. Also, at the end of that first trailer, Heuermann's voice was heard.

At that time, his voice had only been heard once before, in December, when he spoke for the first and only time in court to say: "Your honor, I am not guilty of any of these charges."

In a shocking reversal, two weeks ago, Heuermann again spoke in court, as he confessed to the eight murders.

Robert Macedonio, attorney for Heuermann's ex-wife Asa Ellerup, told Patch in a statement Monday: "This has been an extremely emotional and painful process for the family to endure and come to terms with the allegations that Rex Heuermann was the Gilgo Beach serial killer. Ms. Ellerup would like the focus to remain where it belongs — on the victims and their families, who have suffered immeasurable and lasting losses."

The series features executive producers: Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson, David Karabinas, Troy Searer, Colleen Hall, Jamie Lustberg, Melissa Moore, Jared P. Scott, and Brad Bernstein; the series is directed by Jared P. Scott and produced by Texas Crew Productions alongside 50 Cent’s G-Unit Film & Television and New York Post Entertainment, Variety said.

Speaking with Patch in 2025, Macedonio said Ellerup's divorce from Heuermann had been finalized. And, he added, with the house the couple shared "eventually going to be sold," Ellerup was in the process of disposing of some items and putting others in storage.

To that end, recently, a safe door that had once been mounted into concrete cinder blocks, "as part of the basement walls" — behind which was a room where guns were kept on neat gun racks — was removed, Macedonio said.

Pleading guilty

In a stunning turn of events after nearly three years of court proceedings, accused Gilgo Beach killer Heuermann pleaded guilty to killing seven women and took responsibility for the death of an eighth victim, Karen Vergata, in a Riverhead courtroom.

During the allocution, Heuermann answered a series of questions posed by Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney, who was prosecuting the case.

Tierney asked, in succession, whether Heuermann had intended to murder his eight victims, including Melissa Barthelemy, Megan Waterman, Amber Costello, Maureen Brainard-Barnes, Jessica Taylor, Valerie Mack, Sandra Costilla, and now, Vergata.

"Yes," he said simply, in a voice devoid of emotion or remorse. "Yes." "Yes." "Yes." "Yes." "Yes." "Yes." "Yes."

As a condition of the plea agreement, Heuermann waived his right to appeal — and the plea agreement stated that there will be no more prosecutions related to the death of the eight women.

Also, a condition of the plea is that Heuermann must work with the Federal Bureau of Investigation and their behavioral analysis unit.

Heuermann, 62, of Massapequa Park, pleaded guilty to three counts of first-degree murder and four counts of second-degree murder, after killing the seven victims previously referenced by the indictment, as well as admitting publicly, as part of his allocution, to killing the eighth victim, Karen Vergata, the DA said.

Heuermann is due back in court for sentencing on June 17, where he is expected to be sentenced to three consecutive sentences of life imprisonment without the possibility of parole for killing Melissa Barthelemy, Megan Waterman, and Amber Costello, the DA said.

Heuermann is also expected to be sentenced to a consecutive sentence of 100 years to life imprisonment for killing Maureen Brainard-Barnes, Jessica Taylor, Sandra Costilla, and Valerie Mack, Tierney said.

In exchange for Heuermann’s admission to the murder of Karen Vergata, the additional murder is covered by Heuermann’s plea to the murders of the seven charged victims, Tierney said.

His voice emotionless, Heuermann admitted to strangulating all the women and wrapping their bodies in burlap.

Heuermann also admitted to a "common scheme of plan," using burner phones, luring each victim with the promise of money, and wrapping the women's bodies "in the same manner — using burlap" to bind their midsections and legs.

He also admitted to dismembering the victims.

Heuermann pleaded guilty voluntarily.

In July 2023, Heuermann was indicted on three counts of first-degree murder and three counts of second-degree murder in the deaths of sex workers Melissa Barthelemy, Megan Waterman and Amber Costello, whose remains were found along Ocean Parkway in 2010.

Heuermann was also charged with the murder of a fourth woman, Maureen Brainard-Barnes, the DA said. New DNA evidence helped connect Heuermann to all four of the deaths, said Tierney.

Heuermann was next slapped with new second-degree murder charges in the deaths of two additional women, Jessica Taylor and Sandra Costilla, the DA said. Heuermann was also later charged with the death of a seventh victim, Valerie Mack, the DA said.

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Heuermann's attorney Brown spoke after the court appearance, noting that while he pleaded not guilty for years, a client has a right to change his plea.

"When Rex decided that he wanted to accept responsibility and didn't want to proceed to trial, from a defense standpoint we then pivoted and did our best to protect his interests," Brown said.

That included the fact that he's going to cooperate with the Federal Bureau of Investigations, in the behavioral analysis unit, Brown said.

He commended the DA's office for doing a "great job."

"This was an unprecedented case," Brown said.

He added that he hoped the day "brought some peace and some closure to the family members. This case is over, from our standpoint."

When asked about Heuermann's decision to plead guilty, Brown said: "There came a point in this defense where Rex said, 'I want to plead guilty.' It was at that point that we had an objective of protecting his interests."

He added if Heuermann was sorry, Brown responded, "I would hope so."

He said he expected that at sentencing, Heuermann "would have something to say."

Also, Brown agreed his client likely had a sense of relief. "I think by admitting it, it's cathartic to some extent," he said.

Heuermann, he went on, pleaded guilty because "he wanted to save the families of the victims the ordeal" of a trial — and spare his own family the same ordeal, Brown said.

At a press event after the court proceeding, Tierney spoke.

"This defendant walked among us, playacting as a normal suburban dad," he said, all the while plotting to lure them to Nassau County, murder them, and leave their bodies in Suffolk County.

"He thought that by killing them, he could silence them forever — but he was wrong," Tierney said.

The women's families continued over years and decades to advocate for them — and the evidence found on the women's bodies, themselves, told their stories, and "proved to be the defendant's undoing," Tierney said.

"While we mourn the loss of of these victims we're grateful to them, because without them the defendant would never have been brought to justice. He would still be walking among us, portraying himself as harmless father next door instead of what he was —a convicted killer," Tierney said.

Tierney thanked the family members of each of the victims and said, "I'm sorry."

He then thanked everyone involved in the investigation and lauded their hard work and dedication.

Heuermann's ex-wife speak publicly for first time at court

Macedonio, attorney for Asa Ellerup, Heuermann's ex-wife, and their daughter, Victoria Heuermann, also spoke about the "emotional" proceedings.

"Today is an extremely difficult day for everyone involved," he said, commending the DA and the Gilgo Beach task force for the "amazing job they did — in solving these crimes that have been traumatizing Long Island for well over three decades."

He added: "First and foremost, our hearts are with the victims and their families. They have suffered unimaginable loss and nothing said here today can lessen that pain."

Discussing his clients, Macedonio said: "Let me be absolutely clear: Rex Heuermann, and Rex Heuermann alone, is responsible for these horrific crimes. Any suggestion that Asa Ellerup or Victoria Heuermann were involved is irresponsible. They had no knowledge, no involvement, or any connection to these heinous acts."

Ellerup and Victoria "accept today's outcome without question," Macedonio said. "She and her family have cooperated, fully, since Day 1 with law enforcement. This situation is deeply personal and profoundly painful for Ms. Ellerup and her family. She never wanted to believe the man she was married to for 27 years, the father of Victoria, could be capable of committing such heinous acts. Like so many others, she is still trying to process what was revealed inside that courtroom and she has to remain strong for her family. On behalf of her family she's asking for privacy, compassion and understanding as she now navigates these circumstances, which nobody could have anticipated a little more than three years ago."

He added: "Today is not about Asa. It's not about Victoria. It's about the victim and their families who have suffered unimaginable loss."

Ellerup then addressed the crowd: "Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their families," she said. "Their loss is immeasurable. And the focus should be on them. I ask that you give some privacy to my family as they navigate through this very difficult time."

A reporter asked: "How did you not see what he had done? You were living with him."

Macedonio said the DA's office had "thoroughly investigated these crimes."

"You were living in the same house with him," the reporter said.

"She was away," Macedonio said, as Ellerup and her daughter walked from the scene.

DA Tierney has repeatedly stated that Ellerup and her children were away at the times the murders were committed and they were not involved.

The victims

The remains of Vergata, 34, were first found on Fire Island on April 20, 1996, officials have said: Human remains were located in Davis Park, Suffolk County police said. DNA later linked the remains to a second set of remains found April 11, 2011, at Tobay Beach in Nassau County.

Her skull was found the same day as law enforcement discovered the remains of "Jane Doe No. 3," also known as "Peaches." The skull of Vergata, who lived in New York City, was also found just weeks after the remains of Jessica Taylor were found March 29, 2011, near Ocean Parkway, Tierney has said.

.According to court documents and the defendant’s admissions during his guilty plea allocution, on or about and in between November 19, 1993 and November 20, 1993, Heuermann met with Sandra Costilla, the DA said.

After picking up Costilla, Heuermann subsequently strangled her, causing her death, the DA said.

Subsequently, he transported and left the remains of Costilla in the vicinity of Fish Cove Road, in North Sea, until she was ultimately discovered by hunters on November 20, 1993, the DA said.

At the time of her death, Costilla was just 28 years old and survived by her son, who was about five years old, Tierney said.

In April 1996, Heuermann met with Karen Vergata; after picking up Ms. Vergata, Heuermann subsequently strangled her, causing her death, the DA said. Prior to her identification in 2023 via genetic genealogy, Vergata had been referred to as “Fire Island Jane Doe," the DA said. At the time of her death, Vergata was just 34 years old and left behind two sons, Tierney said.

On or about and between September 1, 2000 and November 19, 2000, Heuermann met with Valerie Mack, the DA said.

After picking up Mack, Heuermann subsequently strangled her, causing her death, the DA said.

Following her death, Mack was dismembered by Heuermann, who then transported her remains to two locations, i.e., Manorville and Ocean Parkway, Gilgo Beach, the DA said.

On November 19, 2000, three hunters discovered a black plastic bag about one mile west of Halsey Manor Road and north of Mill Road in Manorville, the DA said.

Inside, they observed a decapitated set of human remains, which were later identified as those of Valerie Mack, the DA said.

More than 10 years later, on April 4, 2011, as part of the expanded search of the Gilgo Beach area, the skull, hands, and right foot of Valerie Mack were discovered along Ocean Parkway, just east of Gilgo Beach, Tierney said.

Prior to her identification in 2020 via genetic genealogy, Mack had been referred to as “Jane Doe #6," the DA said. At the time of her death, Mack was just 24 years old and survived by her adoptive parents and her son, whose name was tattooed near her right ankle, he added.

On or about and between July 21, 2003 and July 26, 2003, Heuermann met with Jessica Taylor, the DA said. After picking up Taylor, Heuermann subsequently strangled her, causing her death, the DA said.

Following her death, Taylor was dismembered by Heuermann, who then transported her remains to two locations, Manorville and Ocean Parkway, the DA said. On July 26, 2003, Taylor’s remains were discovered just west of Halsey Manor Road in Manorville, the DA said.

Notably, the victim’s arms, hands, and head had been severed from her body and were missing from the remains recovered at the scene, he said. Nearly eight years later, on March 29, 2011, as part of the expanded search of the Gilgo Beach area, the victim’s skull, hands, and forearm were discovered along Ocean Parkway, just east of Gilgo Beach, the DA said.

At the time of her death, Taylor was just 20 years old and survived by her mother, he said.

In July 2007, after seeing an online advertisement, Heuermann utilized a “burner phone” to arrange to meet with Maureen Brainard-Barnes, the DA said. On the night of July 9, 2007, Heuermann picked up Brainard-Barnes and subsequently strangled her, causing her death, he said.

Following her death, Heuermann secured the remains of Brainard-Barnes with three belts and transported the victim to Ocean Parkway, Gilgo Beach, the DA said. More than three years later, on December 13, 2010, Brainard Barnes’ remains were discovered on the north side of Ocean Parkway, near Gilgo Beach, the DA said.

At the time of her death, Brainard-Barnes was just 25 years old and survived by her two children, her sister and brother, as well as her mother, the DA said.

On July 10, 2009, after seeing an online advertisement for her services, Heuermann utilized a “burner phone” to arrange to meet with Melissa Barthelemy, Tierney said. That evening, Heuermann picked up Barthelemy and ultimately strangled her, causing her death, the DA said.

Following her death, Heuermann tied up the remains of Barthelemy with tape and burlap, the DA said.

Subsequently, he transported her remains to Ocean Parkway, Gilgo Beach, Tierney said. More than a year later, on December 11, 2010, Barthelemy’s remains were discovered on the north side of Ocean Parkway, near Gilgo Beach, Tierney said.

At the time of her death, Barthelemy was just 24 years old and survived by her sister, her mother, and stepfather, the DA said.

On June 6, 2010, Heuermann utilized a “burner phone” to arrange to meet with Megan Waterman, the DA said. That evening, Heuermann picked up Waterman from the Holiday Inn in Hauppauge and subsequently strangled her, causing her death, he said.

Following her death, Heuermann tied up the remains of Waterman with tape and burlap and then transported her remains to Ocean Parkway, Gilgo Beach, the DA said.

Just over six months later, on December 13, 2010, Waterman’s remains were discovered on the north side of Ocean Parkway, near Gilgo Beach, the DA said.

At the time of her death, Waterman was just 22 years old and survived by her daughter, mother, and grandmother, the DA said.

Finally, on September 2, 2010, after a “ruse” that occurred the night prior had disrupted Heuermann’s encounter with Costello, Heuermann utilized a “burner phone” to arrange to once again meet with Amber Costello, the DA said.

That evening, Heuermann picked up Costello from her residence in West Babylon and subsequently strangled her, causing her death, Tierney said.

Following her death, Heuermann tied up the remains of Costello with tape and burlap and then transported her remains to Ocean Parkway, he said.

On December 13, 2010, Costello’s remains were discovered on the north side of Ocean Parkway, near Gilgo Beach, Tierney said. At the time of her death, Costello was just 27 years old and survived by her sister, the DA said.

Following a long-term investigation, Heuermann was arrested on July 13, 2023.

A total of 11 sets of remains were found in the Gilgo Beach murders, which rocked Long Island. The remains included that of a toddler and an Asian male.