Live Updates: Rex Heuermann pleads guilty to 7 murders in Gilgo Beach serial killings

Rex Heuermann lived a seemingly normal life in Nassau County. 

"My experience with serial sexual killers, which is what Rex is, they kill for sexual purposes. They're sexually aroused by their behavior, not to be too graphic. But there are some, like Rex, who live what is called a pro-social life. They have a job. They have a family. They appear to do everything the right way," former FBI profiler Mary Ellen O'Toole said. "Those individuals tend to go for a much longer time without being detected or identified." 

That's not the case for every serial killer. 

"You compare that with other serial sexual killers, who don't live a pro-social life. So they may be out committing other crimes, and they come to the attention of law enforcement much more quickly," O'Toole said. 

O'Toole talked about the psychopathic nature of serial sexual killers. 

"Psychopathic individuals, it's all about them. They don't think about their victims. They can come and they can cry in front of you, and seem like they're sad. They can even say that they're concerned about their family. They are not. They are concerned about one person, and that's them. If he decided to go ahead and plead, it was for his own personal reasons," O'Toole said. "But it should not be confused with him caring about the victims, or even caring about his family. It's all about Rex." 

"What an important day today was. Just some measure of accountability for these families who never gave up," former Suffolk County Police Commissioner Geraldine Hart said. "These families deserved answers, and they deserved some sort of closure, and my hope is they got it today. 

Hart said she got involved in the case after working at the FBI. 

"There is rarely a case that is worked successfully without all of the partners rowing in the same direction," Hart said. 

Hart said an investigator finding a witness description of a Green Avalanche that Heuermann was allegedly driving was a key moment in the case. 

"People talk about a large investigation, complex investigation like this, as finding a needle in a haystack. But what it really is is a puzzle, right? And you put together all these pieces over the years, and then it's just that one piece that you need to finish the picture. And that was really miraculous on their part," Hart said.  

So why change his plea now, after denying any involvement for years?

"We will never know for sure why he did it, any more than we'll know for sure why he did these crimes in the first place, which is impossible to understand," attorney Richard Schoenstein said. "It could've been because the case was insurmountable. The way the case played out, some of the developments in the legal proceedings. I don't think he had any shot at an acquittal at all." 

Schoenstein said Heuermann may have been trying to keep some of the details from being revealed to his family. 

He said the judge's decisions to try all seven murders at the same time and to allow the new DNA evidence in the trial made the case insurmountable.   

Schoenstein said while technology certainly helped crack the case, "a lot of it is good, old-fashioned footwork, by dedicated people doing their job, tracking down clues. So hopefully, the technology makes that easier, but you still need the people committed to finding  the evidence." 

"It's a very rewarding moment for the rank and file in the Suffolk County Police Department, the investigators that really were able to bring this case home," former Suffolk County Police Commissioner Rodney Harrison said. "This is a big day, not just for the families, but for the rank and file in Suffolk County." 

Despite this being a big day, the work isn't done. 

"The truth of the matter is that the investigation is not done. You've just got to take a look at the timeframe, between 1993 to 2010, eight bodies connected to him. Are those the only bodies that are out there? Are there other bodies in Long Island or maybe even the state of New York that may be connected to him? So, he's a calculating killer. The way he was able to dismember bodies and put them in different locations, be it Fire Island, be it Ocean Parkway, be it out in the North Sea." 

Harrison said the task force needs to continue, and perhaps even expand. 

CBS News New York's Carolyn Gusoff and Jennifer McLogan have been covering the Gilgo Beach case for years. 

Gusoff asked McLogan if she ever thought Heuermann would ever plead guilty, and what might've changed his mind. 

"He's so full of himself, as we discussed before, I can't imagine he's doing this to spare the victims' families, although that is what he is purporting as his reason," McLogan said. "Perhaps he's sick of being in solitary confinement and wants to get into a real prison." 

Gusoff pointed out he's kept in solitary confinement in Suffolk County jail. 

"Also, his daughter, and his ex-wife. Maybe he wanted to spare them. But now the sad part is that the victims' families won't be able to hear him publicly acknowledge and confess," McLogan added. 

Gusoff recalled the "diabolical details" Heuermann wrote in his so-called "blueprint." 

"Maybe he really didn't want some of these details revealed," Gusoff said. 

Tierney said he "felt great" about the guilty pleas, because it would make life easier on the families of the victims. 

"This is a tough forum for victims. The protections extend to the defendant. It's a process that's tough on victims. So to go through an extensive trial would've been difficult for the families, so we're glad that we're able to spare the families of that, and that's what we're most happy with," Tierney said. 

"To every family out there still searching, still waiting, still holding on - please do not give up hope. Even when it feels impossible, even when the years pass and the silence grows heavy, keep going. Your loved ones matter. They are not forgotten, and one day, answers can come," Maureen Brainard-Barnes' sister Melissa Kahn said.

She grew emotional as she shared her message to her late sister. 

"Finally, to Maureen. The promise I made to you so long ago was simple - I would never stop searching for justice to you. Through every year, every setback, every unanswered question, I carried you with me. And I kept that promise. And today, it has been done. Justice has finally found its way to you. Your voice was never silenced, you story never forgotten, and your life will always mean more than the tragedy that took you.

"This moment is not the end, but a reminder that love endures, truth prevails, and hope never fades. Because even in the darkest moments, justice will find its way." 

"Finally, a sense of relief. The guilty plea brings solace, and I'd like to thank everyone who had a part in that fight for justice," Maureen Brainard-Barnes' sister Melissa Kahn said. "Today is not about the person responsible. Today is about the women's lives who were stolen. It's about their voices, their futures, and their families, the love that still surrounds them. They are the reason that we are here." 

Attorney Gloria Allred represents a number of family members of the victims. 

"Some of these murder victims were young mothers, just trying to earn a little extra money to support their children. Because many did not have funds to go to college or get a decent a job that would help them to provide adequate support for their children, they turned to sex work in order to support their families. It wasn't what they wanted to do, but it was what they felt forced to do, because they had no meaningful alternatives," Allred said. 

"The calm, serene, almost grandfatherly image that Rex Heuermann portrayed since his arrest was a lie and, quite frankly, an insult to law enforcement and, more importantly, the families that had to endure that during every court appearance during the last two and a half years. Today he was exposed for exactly what he is, a sadistic, soulless, murderous monster. And thankfully everybody today got to see that," Suffolk County Police Commissioner Kevin Catalina said. 

"You know, this case closes, and another one opens. There are still bodies on that beach. There are still bodies in Suffolk County. We are going to continue to work with our partners and to try to obtain closure for as many families as we can," Tierney said. 

Tierney explained that Heuermann pleaded guilty to three first-degree murder charges for the killings of Barthelemy, Waterman and Costello and four second-degree murder charges for the other victims. 

So why the difference in the charges? The timing of Barthelemy, Waterman and Costello's killings. 

"All of those three individuals were killed within 18 months between July of '09 and September of '10, that enabled us, the proximity of those murders, to charge those three murder one counts," Tierney said. 

Suffolk County DA Ray Tierney spent time during his news conference speaking to the families of each of the families. He discussed how investigators have gotten to know them and were grateful for their continued pressure on the case. 

"We're sorry," he repeated. "They inspired us. They're the reason why we do what we do. Today was a very special day for us in law enforcement, because it gave us the opportunity to turn to these victims and their families and say 'Listen, we told you we were going to work really hard. We told you we were going to do everything we can to bring closure to you. And that's why we work in law enforcement, and we were able to do that to a small measure today. So, we're happy for that, and so thankful for them." 

"We were going to be quiet. We were going to pretend as though it was business as usual in Suffolk County and the reason why we were going to do that is because we knew what we were doing. We were playing to an audience of one, and that one person, of course, was the murderer. We wanted to lure that individual into a false sense of security. We wanted him to think he got away with this. And that is exactly what we did," Suffolk County DA Ray Tierney said.  

Tierney said the reason why they did that was to be able to recover more evidence once they moved in to make an arrest. 

"And that's exactly what we got," he added. 

"While we in law enforcement, as well as our Suffolk County citizens, mourn the loss of these victims, we are also grateful to them and their families, because without them, this defendant would have never been brought to justice and would still be walking amongst us. And he would still be portraying himself as that same harmless father next door, instead of what he is, a convicted murder," Suffolk County DA Ray Tierney said. 

Suffolk County DA Ray Tierney gathered with families of the Gilgo Beach victims in Brentwood at the Suffolk County Police Academy to discuss Rex Heuermann's guilty pleas. 

Heuermann "walked among us, playacting as a normal suburban dad, when in reality, all along, he was obsessively targeting innocent women for death. He identified these women, lured them into Nassau County, murdered them and left their bodies in Suffolk County. He thought by killing them, he could silence them forever and get away with murder. But he was wrong, because it was these victims, these women, who refused to stay silent," Tierney said. 

Sentencing in the case is set for June 17. 

There will be extensive background done with respect to the case, and a pre-sentence report will be prepared for the judge, New York Law professor Anna Cominsky explained. 

Then both sides will get an opportunity to make arguments to the judge about the sentence. 

The Suffolk County District Attorney's Office said Heuermann is expected to be sentenced to life in prison.

Specifically, three consecutive sentences of life imprisonment without the possibility of parole for the deaths of Barthelemy, Waterman and Costello. 

A consecutive sentence of 100 years to life imprisonment is also expected for the murders of Brianard-Barnes, Taylor, Costilla and Mack.

The additional killing of Vergata is covered by Heuermann's plea agreement, the district attorney said. 

Legal expert Richard Schoenstein said Heuermann will have multiple life sentences without opportunity for parole and additional sentences that will run consecutively. 

"He's going to spend the rest of his life in jail. There's no question about that," he said. 

At the sentencing, there may be an opportunity to hear from the victims' families.

Schoenstein said Heuermann can't technically plead guilty to the murder of Karen Vergata, because that charge wasn't filed. But he admitted to killing her in court under questioning Wednesday. 

Prior to entering his guilty pleas, the judge allowed cameras in court. We heard Heuermann answering the judge's preliminary questions in a loud, confident voice, before cameras were required to switch off. 

Former Suffolk Police Commissioner Rodney Harrison is credited with revitalizing the murder investigation by forming a dedicated task force, leading to a break in the case.

His name is forever linked to what many believe is the biggest case in the county's history. The task force he created was composed of the Suffolk Police Department, FBI and New York State Police. 

Harrison said the plea deal Wednesday was a bittersweet moment.

"Being able to bring some type of comfort, knowing that this case is behind him, knowing that he will never see the day of light again, he'll be behind bars for the rest of his life, there's a level of gratification," he told CBS News New York.

Harrison said the break in the case came when a state officer found the roommate of Amber Costello. From there, the officer was able to find that one of Costello's clients drove a green Chevrolet Avalanche. The car became critical evidence to identify and arrest Heuermann. 

"When Rex decided that he wanted to accept responsibility and he didn't want to proceed to trial, from a defense standpoint, we then pivoted and did our best to protect his interest. That included the fact that he's going to cooperate with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Behavioral Analysis Unit," Heuermann's attorney Michael Brown said. 

Brown praised the prosecutors and investigators in the case. 

"They deserve all the accolades," he said. "They did a great job. They really did a great job of gathering the evidence. They went down hundreds of rabbit holes. And when you look at the amount of evidence, and you connect the dots, they really did a great job." 

"This was an unprecedented case," Brown added. 

Brown said he thinks Heuermann will have "something to say" at his sentencing. 

"I think by admitting it, I think it's cathartic to some extent, sure," Brown said. 

"My thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their families. Their loss is immeasurable and the focus should be on them in this time, and moment. I ask that you give some privacy to my family as they navigate through this very difficult time," Asa Ellerup said after the guilty pleas. 

She didn't answer any questions. 

Click here to watch her statement. 

Heuermann pleaded guilty to three counts of murder in the first degree and four counts of murder in the second degree, the Suffolk County DA's office said. He also publicly admitted killing an eighth victim, Karen Vergata. 

Heuermann's murders started with Sandra Costilla in November, 1993, the DA's office said. He strangled her to death and left her remains in North Sea in the Town of Southampton. Hunters discovered her remains about a week later. She was 28, and had a 5-year-old son at the time of her death. 

Heuermann admitted killing Karen Vergata in April, 1996. He strangled her to death, and then dismembered her body and distributed her remains at various locations, the Suffolk County DA's office said. Her legs were found in Brookhaven later that month. Nearly 15 years later, her skull was found near Tobay Beach. She was 34 at the time of her death, and had two sons. 

In 2000, somewhere between September and November, he killed Valerie Mack, the DA's office said. He strangled her to death, and again dismembered her. Some of her remains were found in November, 2000. More were found over 10 years later. She was 24 at the time of her death, and had a son. 

Heuermann pleaded guilty to killing Jessica Taylor in July, 2003. Her dismembered remains were found in 2003 and 2011. She was 20 at the time of her death. 

In July, 2007, Heuermann killed Maureen Brainard-Barnes, he admitted. Her remains were found in 2010. She was 25 at the time of her death and had two children. 

Heuermann pled guilty to killing Melissa Barthelemy in July, 2009. Her remains were found more than a year later. She was 24 at the time of her death. 

Heuermann strangled Megan Waterman in June, 2010. Her remains were found six months later. She was 22 at the time of her death, and had a daughter. 

In September, 2010, Heuermann said he killed Amber Costello, strangling her to death. Her remains were found in December of that year. She was 27. 

CBS News New York's Jennifer McLogan and Carolyn Gusoff have spent decades covering the Gilgo Beach murders. They reflected on Wednesday's developments. 

"Really, an incredible day for me and for Jennifer McLogan. We have been covering this case literally for decades," Gusoff said. 

"And our shock the first day, when he was arrested, up 'til the shock again, when we find out he's pleading guilty," McLogan said. 

"Never expected," Gusoff said. "The questions will linger as to why he did it." 

"It's been a very dramatic day here. It's a huge case. It has haunted Long Island for so long, since the bodies of the first so-called Gilgo Four were discovered in Ocean Parkway 2010, buried in those shallow graves. And of course, on the fourth floor of this courthouse behind us, Rex Heuermann finally giving some resolution, admitting to seven, and then eight, of these victims," McLogan said. 

"I was struck by how matter of fact, he just rattled off the guilties in court. One after the other, seven guilties, as the judge asked him how do you plead, as he changed his plea. It sounded like he could've just been in an architecture meeting. It was really - no emotion, confident, loud and ready to be done with this," Gusoff said. 

"First and foremost, our hearts are with the victims and their families," Asa Ellerup's attorney Robert Macedonio said after Heuermann pleaded guilty. 

He went on to say Ellerup and daughter Victoria had "no knowledge, no involvement, or any connection to these heinous acts." 

Heuermann's sentencing was set for June 17. 

Heuermann went on to admit killing Maureen Brainard-Barnes, Jessica Taylor, Valerie Mack, Sandra Costilla and Karen Vergata. He said he strangled each of them. 

He then pleaded guilty to the seven murders he's been charged with. 

Heuermann then told the court he caused the death of Melissa Barthelemy in 2009. 

He was asked how he caused her death. 

"Strangulation," he said.

He admitted killing Megan Waterman. 

"Strangulation," he said. 

He said he caused the death of Amber Costello, also by strangulation. 

The judge turned to Heuermann and began asking him a series of questions.

The judge asked Heuermann if he felt it was in his interest to plead guilty.

"Yes, your honor," Heuermann said. 

Heuermann spoke in a loud, confident voice. 

He told the judge he would cooperate with the FBI. 

Then Heuermann was sworn in. 

Heuermann will admit guilt in the killing of Karen Vergata, the judge said. 

The DA has recommended three consecutive sentences of life without parole, followed by four consecutive 25-life sentences. 

In exchange for the guilty pleas, there will be no further prosecution for the eight victims, the judge said. 

There has been a change in the case, the judge announced. Heuermann will plead guilty to seven counts in the indictment, the judge said. 

Rex Heuermann was brought into the court wearing a dark suit.   

A Long Island woman from Seaford said she's been following this case since the beginning.

She was outside Heuermann's Massapequa Park house Wednesday morning. 

"It's amazing this person lived here for so many years, and for so many years it fell by the wayside," she said.   

The woman said she thinks Heuermann is changing his plea because he doesn't want the public to see "his crazy" if the case went to trial.

"I think if he went to trial, everyone would've thought he was guilty," she said. 

Rich Smith, who lives about a mile away, echoed the sentiment. He said Heuermann probably didn't want to prolong the case by going to trial.

"I feel sorry for the family because they weren't even around when he was doing this," Smith said. 

Court proceedings began promptly at 11 a.m., CBS News New York's Carolyn Gusoff reported. 

Some two dozen family members of the victims have taken seats in the courtroom, which is now standing room only, CBS News New York's Carolyn Gusoff reported. 

Robert Macedonio, the attorney for Asa Ellerup, spoke just before court proceedings got started. 

"She has said consistently since day one, she wants to hear this and see this play out in the courtroom, and that's what's going to happen today. She wants the hear the words out of her husband's mouth, or ex-husband's mouth. If he's guilty, she wants to hear it come out of his mouth, not have it reported in the media or podcasts or print. So that's who we're here for today," Macedonio said.  She has never claimed he's not guilty. She just consistently stated, doesn't believe he was capable of this, the man she knows."

Macedonio said Ellerup and her daughter Victoria are "prepared" for whatever happens in court. 

"We've spent the past 33 months preparing for whatever outcome could be," Macedonio said. 

Macedonio again took aim against a wrongful death lawsuit filed by the son of victim Valerie Mack against Heuermann that names Ellerup and Victoria, as well. He pointed out Victoria was 3 years old at the time Mack was murdered. 

"How could any attorney and or plaintiff assume any liability on the part of a 3-year-old?" Macedonio said. "It's just so reckless." 

In 2022, Rodney Harrison, the newly-appointed Suffolk County Police Commissioner and former NYPD chief, promised the families of victims that he would "bring those accountable to justice." 

"Lot of great work was done. I like to bring a fresh set of eyes from my experience being an investigator with the NYPD to make sure all the investigative leads are being done appropriately," Harrison said at the time. "There's a commitment a relentless pursuit to identify the individuals and bring them to justice." 

What followed was a series of steps in the case: the reward was doubled, and previously unseen video was released. Then authorities released Shannan Gilbert's 911 calls. 

The ultimate break in the case when a car registered to Heuermann matched the description a witness gave of the one that picked up victim Amber Costello before she disappeared. Once police made that connection, they started checking cell phone records. Cell phone tower pings connected Heuermann to the victims, prosecutors said. 

"For example, on July 10, 2009, the last day Melissa Barthelemy was seen alive, both the burner phone and Defendant Heuermann's phone were in the area of Massapequa and traveled together toward New York City. Thereafter, both Ms. Barthelemy's phone and Heuermann's phone traveled eastbound toward Massapequa," prosecutors wrote in court documents. 

Finally, investigators collected pizza crust Heuermann allegedly tossed in a Manhattan trash can, resulting in what they said was a DNA match. 

The courtroom was packed once it opened up with members of the media and law enforcement. 

About a dozen members of the public were sent to an overflow courtroom to observe the proceedings. 

Heuermann's ex-wife Asa Ellerup and their daughter Victoria were present at court. 

They were expected to release a statement after the proceedings. 

"First and foremost, it can be an acceptance of responsibility. But also it can be things like not wanting to go through the trial. There can be things that he may not want to put his own family through. It's hard to know exactly why, but there's many reasons why defendants decide to plead guilty," New York Law School professor Anna Cominsky told CBS News New York's Mary Calvi. 

Watch her full interview here. 

Reporters and press personnel started lining up to enter the court as early as 5 a.m., CBS News New York's Carolyn Gusoff reported. 

Court opens at 9 a.m. and the courtroom proceedings weren't expected to begin until 11 a.m. The court process is expected to take about an hour, if not more, once it gets started. 

Then this afternoon we're expecting to hear from Heuermann's defense attorney, as well as from Suffolk County DA Ray Tierney and family members of the victims. 

Prosecutors alleged in court documents that Heuermann used burner phones to contact dozens of sex workers hundreds of times in the months leading up to his arrest. 

Heuermann also allegedly conducted thousands of internet searches for "hardcore violent pornography," prosecutors said. 

They added his search history also includes more than 100 searches about serial killers, and about the Gilgo Beach investigation. 

Former prosecutor Vinoo Varghese previously said all of that would be evidence that shows "an absence of mistake, that he was using and making these calls, and learning about how to torture people in order to perform these acts upon his victims."

Heuermann is charged in the murders of seven women, dating to 1993. The remains of 11 people were discovered around Gilgo Beach in 2010 and 2011, and investigators believe he may be linked to more killings. 

Rex Heuermann was arrested in July 2023. Prosecutors said hairs connected to Heuermann, his former wife and daughter were found on belts, tape and burlap found on his alleged victims. 

So how did they connect those hairs they found on the bodies to Heuermann?

Shortly after he was arrested, prosecutors revealed they used DNA recovered from a discarded pizza crust investigators recovered from a Manhattan garbage can to make the connection to the hair found on the victims. 

Investigators had been looking into Heuermann after a witness recalled seeing a vehicle that matched the description of one he owned when victim Shannan Gilbert was last seen alive. 

In court documents, prosecutors released an image of what they called a "blueprint" Heuermann allegedly used "to plan out his kills with excruciating detail."

The document has four columns. They are labeled "Problems," "Supplies," "DS" and "TRG." 

Among the problems listed: DNA, tire marks, blood stains, finger prints and more. The supplies include rope/cord, saw/cutting tools, police scanner, hair nets, medical gloves and more. 

Additional things listed in the planning document, according to prosecutors, are three sections devoted to "pre-prep," "prep," and "post event." Among the pre-prep things listed are vehicle inspection, weather report, and "recon vid. cams." The "prep" list includes "set-up stage." The "post-event" list includes "change tires," "burn gloves" and "have story set."

The document goes on to list "things to remember," such as "sound travels." 

Rex Heuermann, 62, grew up on Long Island. He attended Berner High School and lived in Massapequa Park.

Neighbors there were stunned when police swooped in to make their arrest at the house where, neighbors said, Heuermann grew up with his parents and brother. 

Heuermann was married at the time of his arrest and has a daughter. 

A neighbor described Heuermann as "very quiet, dark, kept to himself and extremely intelligent, very smart."  

Heuermann worked in Midtown Manhattan as an architect and ran a company called RH Consultants and Associates. His office was located at 36th Street and Fifth Avenue. 

Police said a pizza box he left in the garbage near there was a key piece of evidence in the case.   

At the time of his arrest, he owed more than $425,000 in taxes, Nassau County records revealed. He also had filed several lawsuits accusing drivers of hurting him in car accidents. Three of those cases were either settled or discontinued. 

Since his arrest, he has been in near solitary confinement for 23 hours per day, in protective custody. 

The Gilgo Beach case began on May 1, 2010 as a search for Shannan Gilbert, a 23-year-old woman who was working as an escort. She made a frantic call to 911, saying she believed someone was after her. She vanished. 

An exhaustive search followed, but her body was not immediately recovered. 

In December, 2010, police found the bodies of four women near Gilgo Beach. They became know as the Gilgo Four. Three of them were wrapped in burlap. They were identified as Maureen Brainard-Barnes, Amber Costello, Megan Waterman and Melissa Barthelemy. All four worked as online escorts, police said. 

Brainard-Barnes went missing in 2007. Barthelemy went missing in 2009. Waterman disappeared in June of 2010, and Costello disappeared in September of 2010. 

In May, 2011, six more sets of remains were found. 

Click here for a complete timeline of the investigation. 

Doors to the courthouse in Riverhead, N.Y. will open at 9 a.m. 

Doors to the courtroom open at approximately at 9:15 a.m. 

Rex Heuermann is expected to plead guilty when he appears in court at 11 a.m. 

We expect to see footage of Heuermann arriving at court, but the actual proceedings, once they get started, will not be live streamed.