‘Cold as ice’: Serial killer admits to eight murders in case that haunted Long Island for years
‘Cold as ice’: Serial killer admits to eight murders in case that haunted Long Island for years
After a prolonged investigation, the long-standing mystery was finally resolved in a Suffolk County courtroom on Wednesday. Rex Heuermann, a 62-year-old architect and father of two, stood before Judge Timothy Mazzei and confessed to the brutal slayings of eight women. The man, who towers at six-foot-four and wore a black suit and blue tie, described the method of his crimes with terse precision, confirming he strangled each victim and secured their bodies before depositing the remains along the remote beaches of Long Island.
Heuermann’s admission came after years of speculation and a breakthrough in 2023 when Suffolk County police linked him to the murders through DNA found on a pizza box. The 62-year-old, who lived in Massapequa Park, a tranquil suburb, was arrested in a dilapidated house where he spent his early years. The arrest followed a campaign of forensic work that connected him to the victims, who had been missing for over a decade.
The bodies of the women were discovered in 2010 on Gilgo Beach, where investigators uncovered four sets of remains within a short distance of each other. Heuermann, initially denying guilt, eventually pleaded guilty to eight murders, including one from 1996. His victims—Melissa Barthelemy, Megan Waterman, Amber Costello, Maureen Brainard-Barnes, Jessica Taylor, Valerie Mack, Sandra Costilla, and Karen Vergata—were all believed to have been sex workers at the time of their deaths. Some were contacted through Craigslist advertisements.
“A lot of people would talk about it – it was not taboo,” said Sandra Symon, a high school classmate of Heuermann. “Everybody had a theory.”
During the hearing, Heuermann provided minimal details about his crimes, simply confirming he lured victims with promises of money, then killed and dismembered them. He spoke only briefly, responding to questions with “strangulation” and “guilty.” John Ray, an attorney for the victims’ families, noted the lack of remorse in Heuermann’s demeanor. “There wasn’t a jot of remorse in that man’s face,” he said. “He was as cold as ice.”
The killer’s sentencing, which includes multiple life terms, will be announced on 17 June. His ex-wife, Asa Ellerup, and their daughter watched the proceedings from the back of the courtroom, both clad in black. The daughter clutched tissues, while Ellerup remained expressionless. Outside, the family stayed in the house he once called home, even grilling on the front porch despite the crowd of onlookers.
Massapequa Park, a village of 18,000 residents, is known for its well-kept homes and American flags adorning the streets. Yet, one house has long been a focal point: the red-shuttered home with green-lined windows. Joe, a neighbor who moved into the area with his wife in 1995, described it as an eyesore but said the community largely ignored its presence. “You don’t think anything of it,” he remarked, declining to reveal his full name.
Now, as the town moves forward, the media and true crime enthusiasts have turned their attention to the house. Reporters swarmed the property the evening before Heuermann’s plea hearing, capturing the moment his ex-wife and children addressed the public. Despite the renewed interest, residents say they no longer dwell on the case. “It’s not headlines anymore,” Joe added. “American society has a short memory for things.”