Topline: The 62-year-old defendant admitted to strangling and dismembering several victims as part of a plea agreement.
Published: April 10, 2026 6:00 am ET
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Rex Heuermann (via Getty)
RIVERHEAD, NY — Rex Heuermann, an architect who lived most of his life on Long Island, pleaded guilty to murdering seven women and admitted to killing an eighth, ending years of investigation into a series of deaths near Gilgo Beach.
Heuermann, 62, entered his pleas to three counts of first-degree murder and four counts of second-degree murder on April 8 in Suffolk County Criminal Court. As per NBC News, the admissions involve victims whose remains were discovered bound in burlap or dismembered across various parts of Long Island.
Under the terms of a plea agreement, Heuermann also admitted to intentionally causing the death of Karen Vergata. Her remains were found in 1996 and 2011, though prosecutors had not previously charged him in connection with her death.
Heuermann appeared in court wearing a dark suit and a white shirt. According to NewsNation, he remained calm while answering questions from the judge and stated he was entering the plea of his own free will.
The defendant kept his gaze forward and did not look at the victims’ relatives who filled the courtroom gallery. Some family members wept as Heuermann admitted to strangling the women.
Heuermann had previously denied involvement in the killings following his July 2023 arrest in Manhattan. As part of the Wednesday proceedings, he agreed to waive his right to appeal.
Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney scheduled a news conference that afternoon to discuss the plea alongside members of the task force and the victims’ families.
The case remained unsolved for more than 10 years after remains were discovered near Gilgo Beach in 2010. Investigators found the bodies of Amber Lynn Costello, Megan Waterman, Melissa Barthelemy, and Maureen Brainard-Barnes during a search for another missing person.
The four women, known as the Gilgo Four, were in their 20s and worked as escorts. Prosecutors said Heuermann used a cellphone belonging to Barthelemy to call and taunt her relatives after her disappearance.
Heuermann also admitted to the murders of Valerie Mack, Jessica Taylor, and Sandra Costilla. Mack and Taylor had been mutilated, according to investigators. Costilla was discovered in 1993 in a wooded area in the Town of Southampton.
Investigators identified Heuermann as a suspect in March 2022. A witness reported that Costello had been picked up by a man driving a green Chevrolet Avalanche, a vehicle that matched Heuermann’s truck.
The Gilgo Beach Homicide Task Force used cell tower data and advanced DNA testing to build the case. Authorities said they secured Heuermann’s DNA from a pizza crust he discarded in a trash can in Manhattan.
Mapping technology showed that burner phones used to contact the victims originated from areas near Heuermann’s home in Massapequa Park and his office in Manhattan. All the victims were engaged in sex work, according to law enforcement officials.
Prosecutors said Heuermann committed the murders while his wife and children were traveling. His former wife, Asa Ellerup, filed for divorce after his arrest and has not been charged.
Heuermann had been scheduled to stand trial in September. The Suffolk County Criminal Court has scheduled his sentencing for June 17.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
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Architect Rex Heuermann Pleads Guilty in Gilgo Beach Serial Killings
The 62-year-old defendant admitted to strangling and dismembering several victims as part of a plea agreement.
By Kate Byrd
Published: April 10, 2026 6:00 am ET
Rex Heuermann (via Getty)
RIVERHEAD, NY — Rex Heuermann, an architect who lived most of his life on Long Island, pleaded guilty to murdering seven women and admitted to killing an eighth, ending years of investigation into a series of deaths near Gilgo Beach.
Heuermann, 62, entered his pleas to three counts of first-degree murder and four counts of second-degree murder on April 8 in Suffolk County Criminal Court. As per NBC News, the admissions involve victims whose remains were discovered bound in burlap or dismembered across various parts of Long Island.
Under the terms of a plea agreement, Heuermann also admitted to intentionally causing the death of Karen Vergata. Her remains were found in 1996 and 2011, though prosecutors had not previously charged him in connection with her death.
Heuermann appeared in court wearing a dark suit and a white shirt. According to NewsNation, he remained calm while answering questions from the judge and stated he was entering the plea of his own free will.
The defendant kept his gaze forward and did not look at the victims’ relatives who filled the courtroom gallery. Some family members wept as Heuermann admitted to strangling the women.
Heuermann had previously denied involvement in the killings following his July 2023 arrest in Manhattan. As part of the Wednesday proceedings, he agreed to waive his right to appeal.
Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney scheduled a news conference that afternoon to discuss the plea alongside members of the task force and the victims’ families.
The case remained unsolved for more than 10 years after remains were discovered near Gilgo Beach in 2010. Investigators found the bodies of Amber Lynn Costello, Megan Waterman, Melissa Barthelemy, and Maureen Brainard-Barnes during a search for another missing person.
The four women, known as the Gilgo Four, were in their 20s and worked as escorts. Prosecutors said Heuermann used a cellphone belonging to Barthelemy to call and taunt her relatives after her disappearance.
Heuermann also admitted to the murders of Valerie Mack, Jessica Taylor, and Sandra Costilla. Mack and Taylor had been mutilated, according to investigators. Costilla was discovered in 1993 in a wooded area in the Town of Southampton.
Investigators identified Heuermann as a suspect in March 2022. A witness reported that Costello had been picked up by a man driving a green Chevrolet Avalanche, a vehicle that matched Heuermann’s truck.
The Gilgo Beach Homicide Task Force used cell tower data and advanced DNA testing to build the case. Authorities said they secured Heuermann’s DNA from a pizza crust he discarded in a trash can in Manhattan.
Mapping technology showed that burner phones used to contact the victims originated from areas near Heuermann’s home in Massapequa Park and his office in Manhattan. All the victims were engaged in sex work, according to law enforcement officials.
Prosecutors said Heuermann committed the murders while his wife and children were traveling. His former wife, Asa Ellerup, filed for divorce after his arrest and has not been charged.
Heuermann had been scheduled to stand trial in September. The Suffolk County Criminal Court has scheduled his sentencing for June 17.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
Editor's Note: ThePo makes every effort to accurately transcribe the contents of affidavits of probable cause contained in criminal complaints. Often, the complaints themselves are copies of copies of faxed copies, and are difficult to read. To confirm the accuracy of our transcription, contact the Magisterial District Court listed above and request a copy of the criminal complaint. It's a public record to which you are entitled.
Must Read
Editor Picks
Latest Articles
Architect Rex Heuermann Pleads Guilty in Gilgo Beach Serial Killings
The 62-year-old defendant admitted to strangling and dismembering several victims as part of a plea agreement.
By Kate Byrd
Published: April 10, 2026 6:00 am ET
Rex Heuermann (via Getty)
RIVERHEAD, NY — Rex Heuermann, an architect who lived most of his life on Long Island, pleaded guilty to murdering seven women and admitted to killing an eighth, ending years of investigation into a series of deaths near Gilgo Beach.
Heuermann, 62, entered his pleas to three counts of first-degree murder and four counts of second-degree murder on April 8 in Suffolk County Criminal Court. As per NBC News, the admissions involve victims whose remains were discovered bound in burlap or dismembered across various parts of Long Island.
Under the terms of a plea agreement, Heuermann also admitted to intentionally causing the death of Karen Vergata. Her remains were found in 1996 and 2011, though prosecutors had not previously charged him in connection with her death.
Heuermann appeared in court wearing a dark suit and a white shirt. According to NewsNation, he remained calm while answering questions from the judge and stated he was entering the plea of his own free will.
The defendant kept his gaze forward and did not look at the victims’ relatives who filled the courtroom gallery. Some family members wept as Heuermann admitted to strangling the women.
Heuermann had previously denied involvement in the killings following his July 2023 arrest in Manhattan. As part of the Wednesday proceedings, he agreed to waive his right to appeal.
Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney scheduled a news conference that afternoon to discuss the plea alongside members of the task force and the victims’ families.
The case remained unsolved for more than 10 years after remains were discovered near Gilgo Beach in 2010. Investigators found the bodies of Amber Lynn Costello, Megan Waterman, Melissa Barthelemy, and Maureen Brainard-Barnes during a search for another missing person.
The four women, known as the Gilgo Four, were in their 20s and worked as escorts. Prosecutors said Heuermann used a cellphone belonging to Barthelemy to call and taunt her relatives after her disappearance.
Heuermann also admitted to the murders of Valerie Mack, Jessica Taylor, and Sandra Costilla. Mack and Taylor had been mutilated, according to investigators. Costilla was discovered in 1993 in a wooded area in the Town of Southampton.
Investigators identified Heuermann as a suspect in March 2022. A witness reported that Costello had been picked up by a man driving a green Chevrolet Avalanche, a vehicle that matched Heuermann’s truck.
The Gilgo Beach Homicide Task Force used cell tower data and advanced DNA testing to build the case. Authorities said they secured Heuermann’s DNA from a pizza crust he discarded in a trash can in Manhattan.
Mapping technology showed that burner phones used to contact the victims originated from areas near Heuermann’s home in Massapequa Park and his office in Manhattan. All the victims were engaged in sex work, according to law enforcement officials.
Prosecutors said Heuermann committed the murders while his wife and children were traveling. His former wife, Asa Ellerup, filed for divorce after his arrest and has not been charged.
Heuermann had been scheduled to stand trial in September. The Suffolk County Criminal Court has scheduled his sentencing for June 17.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
Editor's Note: ThePo makes every effort to accurately transcribe the contents of affidavits of probable cause contained in criminal complaints. Often, the complaints themselves are copies of copies of faxed copies, and are difficult to read. To confirm the accuracy of our transcription, contact the Magisterial District Court listed above and request a copy of the criminal complaint. It's a public record to which you are entitled.
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