Gilgo Beach serial killer Rex Heuermann pleads guilty to murdering 7 women
Rex Heuermann pleaded guilty Wednesday to murdering seven women tied to the years-long Gilgo Beach serial killer investigation on Long Island.
He also admitted to killing Karen Vergata, but he hasn't been charged with her death.
The plea is a reversal for Heuermann, who previously pleaded not guilty to all charges and stated he wanted to go to trial.
Heuermann pleaded guilty to the murders of Melissa Barthelemy, Megan Waterman, Amber Costello, Maureen Brainard-Barnes, Sandra Costilla, Jessica Taylor, and Valerie Mack.
The pleas were brief and without much elaboration. Victims' families packed the courtroom, weeping as Heuermann matter-of-factly answered each of the prosecutor's questions.
Heuermann said he used a burner phone and lured each woman with the promise of money. He strangled them before binding them with burlap and dumping their bodies along Ocean Parkway, he said in court.
Heuermann faces life in prison
He pleaded guilty to three counts of first-degree murder and four counts of second-degree murder.
Heuermann is due back in court on June 17 for sentencing. The Suffolk County District Attorney's Office said he is expected to be sentenced to 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.
"This defendant walked among us play-acting as a normal suburban dad when, in reality, all along, he was obsessively targeting innocent women for death," District Attorney Ray Tierney said.
"Today he was exposed for exactly what he is – a sadistic, soulless, murderous monster," Suffolk Police Commissioner Kevin Catalina said.
Heuermann's attorney speaks out
Michael Brown, Heuermann's lawyer, spoke after the court hearing Wednesday morning.
"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," he said.
Brown added, "He certainly wanted to save the families of the victims the ordeal of going to trial and coupled with saving his family that ordeal."
He also lauded 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."
Heuermann called it an unprecedented case.
Ex-wife, daughter had no knowledge of murders, lawyer says
Heuermann's ex-wife Asa Ellerup spoke after the guilty plea.
"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," she said.
Ellerup's attorney, Robert Macedonio, said she and her daughter, Victoria, had "no knowledge, no involvement, or any connection to these heinous acts."
Before the hearing, Macedonio slammed the wrongful death lawsuit filed by the son of victim Valerie Mack against Heuermann that names Ellerup and Victoria, as well.
Evidence in Gilgo Beach killings
Most of the victims' remains were found buried along Ocean Parkway in Babylon between December 2010 and May 2011. Costilla's body was found in a wooded area in North Sea.
Police said the murders took place between 1993 and 2010. Most of the victims had been working as escorts in the Tri-State Area before going missing.
Prosecutors had submitted a slew of evidence against Heuermann, including DNA evidence they said tied Heuermann to the victims, a so-called "blueprint" he allegedly used to "plan out his kills," along with records from burner phones and electronic devices.
Investigators believe Heuermann may be linked to additional killings.
