Rex Heuermann, the Long Island architect convicted in the Gilgo Beach serial killings, is now serving multiple life sentences without the possibility of parole after pleading guilty in April 2026. He admitted to murdering seven women — Megan Waterman, Melissa Barthelemy, Amber Costello, Maureen Brainard-Barnes, Jessica Taylor, Sandra Costilla and Valerie Mack — and also confessed to an eighth killing, that of Karen Vergata.
Heuermann was first arrested in July 2023 for the deaths of four women, whose remains were discovered in burlap sacks along Ocean Parkway in New York over a decade ago. Heuermann initially pleaded not guilty to all charges.
The Gilgo Beach murders, a case that haunted Long Island for decades, sparked one of New York’s most extensive homicide investigations. At the time of his arrest, Heuermann lived in Massapequa Park with his now-ex-wife, Asa Ellerup, and their children. As the case unfolded, his family largely stayed out of the public eye, even as intense media attention surrounded their home.
“To any media, representatives, law enforcement, or any other person, we ask that you respect our privacy and contact our attorneys only for any matter,” the note read. “Please do not trespass or loiter on this property.”
At his June 2026 sentencing, Judge Timothy Mazzei questioned whether Heuermann was truly remorseful, saying he assumed the convicted killer was sorry for what he had done to “his wife and children” before condemning him for the murders.
Find out more about his family below.
Is Heuermann Married?
Heuermann is no longer married to his now-ex-wife, Asa Ellerup. The former spouses wed in 1996, according to Newsweek.
Days after Heuermann’s arrest in July 2023, Ellerup filed for divorce from her husband. Despite the charges against him, she issued a statement saying she would “listen to all of the evidence and withhold judgment until the end of the trial.”
“I have given Rex the benefit of the doubt, as we all deserve,” Ellerup added.
Ellerup’s attorney, Robert Macedonio, maintained that she had no knowledge of her estranged husband’s alleged crimes. “After 27 years with Mr. Heuermann, Ms. Ellerup believes her estranged husband is not capable of committing these heinous acts,” Macedonio said, according to Newsweek.
As police investigated Heuermann in connection with the murder of Jessica Taylor, authorities determined that Ellerup was not living with him at the time of the alleged killing.
“Today’s indictment further confirms that Asa Ellerup has no involvement in any of the alleged crimes her estranged husband, Rex Heuermann, has been charged with,” Macedonio stated in a release obtained by the outlet.
The divorce filing was indicated as “uncontested,” according to ABC News. In March 2025, court records revealed that their divorce had been settled.
Does Heuermann Have Kids?
Heuermann and Ellerup have two adult children together: Victoria Heuermann and Christopher Sheridan.
Following their father’s high-profile arrest in 2023, Victoria, who was 26, and Christopher, who was 24 at the time, hired attorney Vess Mitev to represent them. Mitev told CNN in August of that year that the two were “absolutely innocent bystanders who were caught up in a hellscape.”
In June 2024, Mitev spoke to Newsweek, adding, “They’re two young adults caught in the crosshairs of this deeply unfortunate case that they have nothing to do with, other than being related to Mr. Heuermann. It’s a very, very dark time in their lives. They look forward to the legal process running its course, whatever that course is.”
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