In a chilling confession captured for a Peacock documentary, Gilgo Beach serial killer Rex Heuermann admitted to his ex-wife, Asa Ellerup, that he murdered eight women – and that all but one of the killings took place in their Massapequa Park home. The admission came as Heuermann pleaded guilty on April 8 to seven murders, but the confession reveals an eighth victim who had not been publicly linked to him.
The exchange was previewed in a teaser clip from the final episode of “The Gilgo Beach Killer: House of Secrets,” titled “The Confession,” which airs Thursday on Peacock. In the clip, Ellerup – who finalized her divorce from Heuermann last year – is seen confronting him.
“So Mr. Heuermann, I understand that you are confessing to me on these murders – can you please tell me how many of these women did you kill?” Ellerup asked.
Heuermann replied that he killed eight women.
“Eight?” her lawyer, Bob Macedonio, responded. “Who was the eighth? Because he’s charged with seven.”
“I didn’t ask,” Ellerup said.
Ellerup then told Macedonio that Heuermann said she wasn’t home at the time of the killings. When asked whether any victims were murdered in their home, she replied: “He said yes. They were killed in his room downstairs. All except one.”
The Killer’s Confession: A Decade-Long Reign of Terror
Rex Heuermann, 61, a former Manhattan architect, pleaded guilty on April 8 to the murders of seven women in a case that had haunted Long Island for more than a decade. He admitted to killing:
- Amber Lynn Costello, 27
- Megan Waterman, 22
- Melissa Barthelemy, 24
- Maureen Brainard-Barnes, 25 – collectively known as the “Gilgo Four”
- Valerie Mack, 24
- Jessica Taylor, 20
- Sandra Costilla, 28
He also confessed to the murder of Karen Vergata, whose case had not been previously linked to him. Heuermann also admitted to dismembering some of his victims and wrapping their bodies in burlap.
The killing spree dates back to 1993, when Heuermann picked up Costilla, strangled her, and dumped her body near Fish Cove Road in Southampton. Her body was found by hunters days later. He strangled and dismembered Vergata in April 1996 after arranging to meet her. Her name was not released until 2023 – 12 years after her skull was found on Ocean Parkway.
Heuermann dismembered Valerie Mack, who vanished between September and December 2000, and dumped her remains in woods in Manorville. In July 2003, he strangled and dismembered Taylor. He then turned to Brainard-Barnes, whose body was found in December 2010 – more than three years after he arranged a rendezvous with her. Before that discovery, he killed Barthelemy, Waterman, and Costello.
The Investigation: How He Was Caught
The Gilgo Beach murders remained unsolved for over a decade. The first bodies were discovered in 2010 along Ocean Parkway, near Gilgo Beach. For years, the case went cold, with investigators chasing dead ends.
The breakthrough came in 2022, when a task force using advanced DNA analysis and cell phone tracking zeroed in on Heuermann. Investigators traced a burner phone used to contact victims to his Massapequa Park home. They also linked his DNA – recovered from a pizza crust he discarded – to evidence found on the burlap wrappings.
Heuermann was arrested in July 2023. He initially pleaded not guilty and maintained his innocence, but on April 8, 2026, he shocked the courtroom by changing his plea to guilty on all counts.
“This defendant walked among us playacting as a normal suburban dad when all along he was targeting these women for death,” said Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney. “He thought that by killing them, he could silence them forever and get away with murder. But he was wrong.”
The Peacock Documentary: ‘House of Secrets’
The four-part Peacock documentary, “The Gilgo Beach Killer: House of Secrets,” chronicles the case from the discovery of the bodies to Heuermann’s guilty plea. The final episode, “The Confession,” focuses on Ellerup and Heuermann’s adult daughter, Victoria, as they grapple with his admission.
The documentary includes exclusive footage of Ellerup confronting Heuermann – a conversation that took place after she had already filed for divorce. The clip shows her visibly shaken as she repeats his words to her lawyer.
Ellerup has not spoken publicly about the confession beyond the documentary. She and Heuermann were married for more than 25 years and have two children together.
The Victims: Remembering the Women He Killed
The eight women Heuermann admitted to killing were:
| Victim | Age | Year Killed |
|---|---|---|
| Sandra Costilla | 28 | 1993 |
| Karen Vergata | 34 | 1996 |
| Valerie Mack | 24 | 2000 |
| Jessica Taylor | 20 | 2003 |
| Maureen Brainard-Barnes | 25 | 2007 |
| Melissa Barthelemy | 24 | 2009 |
| Megan Waterman | 22 | 2010 |
| Amber Lynn Costello | 27 | 2010 |
Most were sex workers whom Heuermann picked up in New York City and brought to his Massapequa Park home, where he strangled them. He then dumped their bodies along Ocean Parkway, often wrapping them in burlap.
Their families have endured decades of anguish. Many attended Heuermann’s plea hearing, where they were given the opportunity to address him directly.
What Happens Next
- Sentencing: Heuermann will be sentenced on June 17, 2026. He faces life in prison without the possibility of parole.
- Peacock documentary: The final episode of “The Gilgo Beach Killer: House of Secrets” airs Thursday, April 23.
- Continued investigation: Law enforcement is reviewing whether Heuermann may be linked to other unsolved homicides.
FAQ: Gilgo Beach Serial Killer Confession
Q: How many women did Rex Heuermann admit to killing?
A: He confessed to murdering eight women – seven he was charged with, plus an eighth victim, Karen Vergata.
Q: Where did the murders take place?
A: Heuermann told his ex-wife that all but one of the killings occurred in his Massapequa Park home, in his downstairs room.
Q: Did Heuermann plead guilty?
A: Yes. On April 8, 2026, he changed his plea to guilty on all counts.
Q: What is the Peacock documentary?
A: “The Gilgo Beach Killer: House of Secrets” is a four-part series. The final episode, “The Confession,” airs April 23.
Q: When will he be sentenced?
A: June 17, 2026. He faces life in prison.
Q: Where can I watch the documentary?
A: On Peacock. The final episode airs Thursday, April 23.
