Latest
Gilgo Beach killer Rex Heuermann’s ex-wife says she now lives in basement where he murdered seven victims
RIVERHEAD, N.Y. — Confessed serial killer Rex Heuermann’s ex-wife revealed she has moved into the “kill room” he set up in their basement, and where he admitted to killing seven of his eight known victims, according to her own words in a docuseries.
Asa Ellerup reveals it in the latest episode of “The Gilgo Beach Killer: House of Secrets” on Peacock, which first streamed Thursday morning.
“The brutal truth is that Rex Heuermann said he dismembered the bodies in this room,” she says in the episode. “That is the brutal truth. OK. Now. There’s me. I’m in this room. And I’m here because I do feel spiritual. I am trying to say spiritually, in my own way, that I am really sorry for what these victims went through.”
GILGO BEACH SERIAL KILELR REX HEUERMANN PLEADS GUILTY
She moved down there roughly a month before her ex-husband pleaded guilty, and said she’d visited him 12 times after he confessed privately to her.
“Every night that I go to bed and go to sleep, I am haunted by dreams,” she says. “It will never go away. It will follow me for the rest of my life. It will never be any justice for anyone, and there will never be any way to forget about this.”
Still, she says, she wanted to understand her ex-husband, at least psychologically.
FOLLOW THE FOX TRUE CRIME TEAM ON X
“I want to know why Rex killed these women, what his triggers were,” Ellerup says. “I’m processing the information in a very different way. Because now I see the evil in him.”
Her lawyer, Bob Macedonio, told Fox News Digital he believed she was still struggling with the fact that her husband of many years was living a double life as one of the most prolific serial killers in decades.
REX HEUERMANN’S FAMILY KEPT GRUESOME PIECE OF EVIDENCE, SOURCE SAYS
“Not so much in the sense that she wants to know Rex the serial killer, she wants to know that side of Rex and also get to know herself and how she missed all this in 30 years,” he said. “She wants to know herself, not so much who Rex is.”
Ellerup also described the moment her husband confessed his crimes to her, ahead of his change of plea hearing earlier this month. He admitted to killing eight victims, and at the time he had only been charged with seven.
SIGN UP TO GET TRUE CRIME NEWSLETTER
On April 8, Heuermann, a 62-year-old former New York City architect, pleaded guilty to the murders of Melissa Barthelemy, Megan Waterman, Amber Costello, Maureen Brainard-Barnes, Jessica Taylor, Sandra Costilla, and Valerie Mack. He confessed to an eighth, uncharged murder, of Karen Vergata. All of the slayings took place between 1993 and 2010.
“This has been an extremely emotional and painful process for the family to endure and come to terms with the allegations that Rex Heuermann was the Gilgo Beach serial killer,” Ellerup’s attorney, Bob Macedonio, said in a statement. “Ms. Ellerup would like the focus to remain where it belongs — on the victims and their families, who have suffered immeasurable and lasting losses.”
Each of the victims had been strangled. Some were tortured. Three were dismembered. Most were found to the east of Gilgo Beach, on Ocean Parkway about 45 miles outside New York City. Some were scattered across multiple locations. Costilla, the first victim, was found in the Hamptons less than 48 hours after her disappearance in late November 1993.
She’s the only one Heuermann didn’t kill in his Massapequa Park home.
LISTEN TO THE NEW ‘CRIME & JUSTICE WITH DONNA ROTUNNO’ PODCAST
He killed her in a vehicle that police recovered decades later in Pennsylvania, according to a source close to the family.
Heuermann was arrested outside his midtown Manhattan office in July 2023 and had maintained his innocence for nearly three years. A trial had been set for September.
LIKE WHAT YOU’RE READING? FIND MORE ON THE TRUE CRIME HUB
His killing spree went unknown for decades, until a 23-year-old woman named Shannan Gilbert vanished under alarming circumstances in 2010. She had placed numerous 911 calls, sounding heavily inebriated and begging for help after leaving a home in Oak Beach, which is down the road from Gilgo.
The search for her turned up the remains of 10 other people — seven of whom Heuermann has admitted to killing.
Suffolk County police have publicly described Gilbert’s death as an accidental drowning. The deaths of another victim, 26-year-old Tanya Jackson, and her 2-year-old daughter, Tatiana Dykes, have been blamed on a Florida man who was arrested last year.
Andrew Dykes has pleaded not guilty in that case and is due back in court in Nassau County Friday.
Latest
US embassy in London warns to ‘exercise increased caution’ near Jewish sites in UK, Europe after attacks
The U.S. embassy in London on Friday warned Americans to “exercise increased caution” while visiting Jewish and American areas in the U.K. and in Europe because of a recent rise in threats.
“The U.S. Embassy in London notes recent attacks and threats targeting Jewish and American institutions in the United Kingdom and Europe,” the alert said. “U.S. citizens, particularly those visiting institutions serving Jewish or American interests, should remain alert and exercise increased caution.”
The embassy further advised Americans to remain alert while visiting tourist and expat areas and houses of worship, review personal security plans and to check local media for updates.
Concerned citizens can also enroll in the State Department’s Safe Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive travel and security updates.
NRA FORGES HISTORIC PARTNERSHIP WITH JEWISH GROUP AMID RISING ANTISEMITISM
The advisory followed a series of recent antisemitic attacks in the U.K. and in Europe, including an arson attack on four ambulances linked to Jewish charity in London on March 23, an April 18 attack on the Kenton United Synagogue in London, and a March explosion at a Jewish school in Amsterdam that authorities called a “targeted attack against the Jewish community.”
No one was injured, but the school was damaged.
ANTISEMITIC ATTACKER FACED 30-YEAR SENTENCE, GETS LESS THAN 1½ YEARS IN PLEA DEAL
U.K. authorities are investigating whether “thugs for hire” backed by Iran are instigating the attacks in London, GB News reported.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer told the Jewish Chronicle: “In relation to malign state actors more generally, proscription, we do need legislation in order to take necessary measures, and that is legislation that we’re bringing forward as soon as we can.”
Latest
US military kills two suspected narco-terrorists in strike on drug-trafficking vessel in the Pacific
The U.S. military carried out a lethal strike on a suspected drug-trafficking vessel in the Eastern Pacific on Friday, killing two suspected narco-terrorists, according to U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM).
“On April 24, at the direction of #SOUTHCOM commander Gen. Francis L. Donovan, Joint Task Force Southern Spear conducted a lethal kinetic strike on a vessel operated by Designated Terrorist Organizations,” SOUTHCOM said in a post on X.
“Intelligence confirmed the vessel was transiting along known narco-trafficking routes in the Eastern Pacific and was engaged in narco-trafficking operations,” the post continued. “Two male narco-terrorists were killed during this action.”No U.S. military forces were harmed.”
ALLEGED NARCO-TERRORISTS KILLED AS US FORCES STRIKE SUSPECTED DRUG-TRAFFICKING VESSEL IN CARIBBEAN
SOUTHCOM did not immediately provide additional details about the identities of those killed or the specific groups involved.
The U.S. military has carried out numerous strikes in recent months on suspected drug-smuggling vessels as part of a broader campaign to dismantle cartel-linked trafficking operations.
The strike comes less than a week after SOUTHCOM said it conducted a similar operation in the Caribbean, killing three suspected narco-terrorists.
US, ECUADOR LAUNCH JOINT OPERATIONS TARGETING NARCO-TERROR GROUPS: SOUTHCOM
Earlier this month, the military struck a suspected drug-trafficking vessel in the Eastern Pacific, killing four alleged narco-terrorists, SOUTHCOM said.
SOUTHCOM is responsible for military operations in Central and South America and the Caribbean, including counter-narcotics missions aimed at disrupting drug trafficking networks that threaten U.S. interests.
The Eastern Pacific remains a key corridor for narcotics trafficking, with cartels often using small, fast-moving vessels to transport drugs toward the U.S. and Central America.
Fox News Digital’s Alex Nitzberg and Greg Wehner contributed to this report.
Latest
Matthew Stafford’s wife sends message to husband’s possible heir apparent, Rams draft pick Ty Simpson
Even at 38, Matthew Stafford remains one of the NFL’s top quarterbacks. In fact, he added another trophy to his collection in February, winning his first league MVP award.
Stafford edged New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye after throwing a career-best 46 touchdowns. The 2026 season will be his 18th, and with nearly two decades in the league, the Rams appear to be looking toward the future following Thursday night’s first round.
The Rams selected former Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson with the No. 13 overall pick, potentially positioning him as Stafford’s successor. The decision sparked strong reactions and drew a response from Kelly Stafford, the veteran quarterback’s wife.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM
Simpson said Kelly Stafford welcomed him to the team with a message on social media.
“Kelly has actually texted me on Instagram and welcomed me and told me to hit her up if we need anything,” Simpson said during his introductory press conference. “But I can’t wait to talk to Matthew. I’m super ecstatic because I just want to pick his brain.”
FALCONS’ MICHAEL PENIX JR SHARES CRUCIAL ADVICE KIRK COUSINS GAVE HIM AFTER TAKING OVER AS STARTER
Simpson was the full-time starter at Alabama, throwing for 3,567 yards and 28 touchdowns in 2025.
Rams coach Sean McVay shut down any speculation that Simpson was joining the team to compete with Stafford for the starting job.
“There were a lot of players that we liked, but when you do look at it, I think the thing you liked about the body of work is … let’s make one thing clear, this is Matthew’s team,” McVay said Thursday. “You get a chance to be able to address the backup quarterback.”
Simpson’s parents visited with Rams general manager Les Snead during Alabama’s trip to the Los Angeles area for the Rose Bowl in January, the NFL Network reported. Simpson’s father, Jason Simpson, is the head football coach at UT Martin.
Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.
-
Latest2 weeks agoVance Leaves Meeting, Looks Straight Into Camera, Announces Stunning Arrest
-
News1 week agoAdam Schiff Facing 30 Years In Prison After Bank Records Leak
-
News2 weeks agoAll Hell Breaks Loose On Fox When Jesse Watters Asks Fetterman One Question
-
Latest1 week agoSupreme Curt Sides With Trump — He Can Remove The All
-
News2 weeks agoNBC Stops LIVE Broadcast — Breaks Big Trump News
-
News1 week agoSwalwell Facing Jail Time After Sickening New Video Leaks
-
Latest1 week agoUT Judge Drops Bombshell In Charlie Kirk Killer Case
-
Latest2 weeks agoMelania Gets Huge Surprise 24 Hours After Making Epstein Announcement
