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Gilgo Beach victim’s son claims suspected serial killer’s family turned horror into profits ahead of plea

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The son of a victim of the accused Gilgo Beach serial killer has filed a lawsuit against Rex Heuermann and members of his family over the alleged torture and dismemberment of his mother – just days before he is expected to plead guilty to the brutal killings of seven women.  

On Monday, attorney John Ray filed a wrongful death lawsuit on behalf of Benjamin Torres, the only child of Valerie Mack, according to court documents obtained by Fox News.

The civil filing alleges that Mack’s death deprived Torres of his “mother’s care, guidance, protection, nurture, society and economic support.” 

ACCUSED GILGO BEACH SERIAL KILLER REX HEUERMANN EXPECTED TO PLEAD GUILTY IN MURDER CASE: REPORTS

Mack, a 24-year-old from Philadelphia, vanished when her son was just 6 years old in 2000. Her partial remains were discovered in Manorville, New York, after a group of hikers stumbled upon a suspicious black bag that November.

According to the lawsuit, Mack was “tortured ferociously” before allegedly being killed and dismembered by Heuermann.  

REX HEUERMANN’S FAMILY KEPT GRUESOME PIECE OF EVIDENCE, SOURCE SAYS

As a result, Torres is seeking unspecified “recovery for the wrongful torture and murder of Valerie Mack, for the terror, restraint, pain, mutilation, and dismemberment inflicted upon her before and after death, for the concealment and mutilation of her remains, and for the profound and prolonged harm thereby inflicted,” the lawsuit said.

EX-WIFE OF ALLEGED GILGO BEACH KILLER STILL DEFENDS HIM, BUT DAUGHTER SAYS HE ‘MOST LIKELY’ DID IT

The suit also aims to seek compensation from Heuermann’s ex-wife, Asa Ellerup, and daughter Victoria Heuermann stemming from profits made from the Peacock documentary, “Gilgo Beach Killer: House of Secrets.” 

The family received over $1 million from the documentary, according to Newsday.

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“Asa Ellerup and Victoria Heuermann at some point in time knew of, concealed, deliberately ignored, or consciously avoided learning of material facts concerning the assault, murder, dismemberment, concealment, and disposal of Valerie Mack,” the lawsuit added. 

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The lawsuit also addresses New York’s two-year deadline for wrongful death lawsuits to be filed, arguing the limit should be waived for Torres due to his age at the time of his mother’s murder and authorities’ delay in identifying her remains.

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Heuermann was charged with Mack’s death in late 2024, marking the seventh and final victim prosecutors say he killed between 1993 and 2010. 

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He is expected to plead guilty to all seven counts of murder as part of a plea deal offered by Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney. He is due back in court on Wednesday.

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Heuermann is accused of killing Mack, Megan Waterman, Melissa Barthelemy, Maureen Brainard-Barnes, Jessica Taylor, Sandra Costilla and Amber Lynn Costello. 

Tierney, and the attorneys for Heuermann, Ellerup and Torres did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment. Ellerup’s attorney is expected to address the lawsuit at a 4 p.m. news conference.

Fox News’ Jennifer Johnson and Michael Ruiz contributed to this report.

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Trump’s threat to end Iranian ‘civilization’ sparks uproar on Capitol Hill

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President Donald Trump’s escalating threats against Iran sparked fierce bipartisan backlash on Capitol Hill, with some lawmakers calling for his removal from office.

Trump warned Tuesday that a “whole civilization will die tonight” unless Iran reopens the Strait of Hormuz, a critical waterway responsible for one-fifth of the world’s oil supply. 

“I don’t want that to happen, but it probably will,” Trump wrote in a Truth Social post. “However, now that we have Complete and Total Regime Change, where different, smarter, and less radicalized minds prevail, maybe something revolutionarily wonderful can happen, WHO KNOWS?”

Some Democratic lawmakers in both chambers immediately called for the president’s impeachment, though it is likely to be a futile effort in the Republican-controlled House of Representatives.

WHY TRUMP’S WAR SPEECH FAILED: DECLARING VICTORY BUT STILL BOMBING IRAN BACK TO THE ‘STONE AGES’

“Trump’s unhinged threats of violence and genocide are inexcusable,” Rep. Delia Ramirez, D-Ill., wrote on social media. “My Republican colleagues can’t keep turning a blind eye. He must be stopped and impeached.”

“Sickeningly evil. Donald Trump must be impeached,” Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., said in response to Trump’s message.

Rep. Rashida Tlaib, D-Mich., also called on the Cabinet to invoke the 25th Amendment, characterizing Trump as a “maniac” who must be removed from office.

Under the U.S. Constitution, the vice president and a majority of the cabinet can use the mechanism to remove a president, though the cohort must submit a written letter to Congress stating their rationale. Lawmakers in both chambers would then need to approve the president’s removal with a two-thirds majority — a much higher bar than impeachment and conviction.

Republicans similarly demanded that former President Joe Biden be removed toward the end of his administration.

The White House slammed Democrats’ renewed impeachment push in a statement to Fox News Digital.

“This is pathetic. Democrats have been talking about impeaching President Trump since before he was even sworn into office,” White House spokesman Davis Ingle said. “The Democrats in Congress are deranged, weak, and ineffective, which is why their approval ratings are at historic lows.”

Other Democratic lawmakers stopped short of calling for Trump’s ouster but have advocated for an immediate end to the war and canceling recess to hold a vote to check the president’s war powers in Iran.

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“Each Republican who refuses to join us in voting against this wanton war of choice owns every consequence of whatever the hell this is,” Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said Tuesday. 

Democrats in both chambers are expected to force votes requiring Trump to seek congressional authorization before launching military force against Iran in the coming weeks. However, the House and Senate are not expected to resume session until the week of April 13.

Trump’s latest fiery statement comes after his Easter edict, in which the president reaffirmed his Tuesday deadline in an expletive-filled post and threatened that Iran will be “living in Hell.”

Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wis., a close ally of Trump’s in the Senate, said he hoped the president was bluffing.

“I am hoping and praying that President Trump is — this really is bluster,” Johnson told John Solomon Reports. “I do not want to see us start blowing up civilian infrastructure. I do not want to see that we are not at war with the Iranian people. We are trying to liberate them.”

Republicans have so far given little pushback to Trump’s war in Iran, with many declining to use the term. And in the Senate, they have blocked several attempts from Democrats to rein in Trump’s war authorities in the region and call back America’s military forces from the conflict.

Some Republicans aren’t completely sold on providing more funding for the conflict, including Sen. John Curtis, R-Utah, until there has been a formal declaration of war approved by Congress.

That moment has not yet come, however, but it may be fast approaching, given that the conflict has now stretched over 39 days. At 60 days, Congress would be able to weigh in.

Not all Republicans shared the same sentiment as Johnson. Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, when asked about the post, said “He’s not wrong.” 

“Let’s put it like that,” Ernst said. “I know the president is really frustrated, and we do want to see the strait opened. It’s not just good for the United States, but it’s good for Europe and so many other countries.”

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Astronaut tells CNN ‘entire’ Trump administration deserves credit for Artemis mission success

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Former astronaut Clayton Anderson credited President Donald Trump’s entire administration when asked by a CNN host whether the president “deserves any credit.”

The Artemis II astronauts completed their lunar mission late Monday, traveling deeper into space than any humans in history and revealing views of the far side of the Moon never seen before. Trump congratulated the crew as they continued their spaceflight, telling them, “Your mission paves the way for America’s return to the lunar surface very soon.”

Anderson, who spent 167 days living and working in space on the International Space Station, spoke to Abby Phillip about how he felt about this latest accomplishment.

“I think it’s great for them,” he said. “I’m very envious. I would love to be with them in that tiny little capsule, being so close to the moon,” he said. “But it’s very important, and I agree with what Miles [O’Brien] said, that we got to be the best. We’ve got to be the leaders in space exploration. And so I love the fact that we finally have committed after 54 years to begin this journey again.”

NASA’S ARTEMIS II CREW COMMITS TO MOON TRAJECTORY AFTER CRITICAL BURN SENDS ORION INTO DEEP SPACE

Phillip then pressed him for his thoughts on a recent statement from the president, asking the astronaut, “In your view, Clayton, does President Trump deserve credit for — he said today that he was given a choice to shut NASA down or keep it going. Do you think he deserves any credit for keeping it going?”

Anderson suggested the entire administration deserved credit, arguing that politicizing this accomplishment is missing the point.

“Well, I think the entire administration deserves credit, all the people that are involved picking [NASA Administrator] Mr. Isaacman,” he said. “The politics of it to me is — is kind of fluff. I think that the key thing is, is that we’re doing it and that takes the efforts of a lot of different people.”

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He continued, noting, “It takes appropriate budget money, as we all know. We hope that the budget money will continue to be there because it will be required for us to get to Artemis III and then Artemis IV. So, you know, everybody’s taking credit.”

“I’m taking credit by being on your show and saying, ‘Hey, I was an astronaut for a while. You know, I lived on the space station. Give me some credit!’” Anderson said. “So, you know — so it’s, it’s kind of a — it’s a humanitarian success.” 

The exchange was first noted by NewsBusters. 

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Phillip agreed, saying that after having spent 167 days in space, Anderson indeed deserved to “get all the credit,” and thanked him for his service.

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Chiefs heiress Gracie Hunt announces engagement to son of team’s former quarterback: ‘It was always you’

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Gracie Hunt, the daughter of Kansas City Chiefs owner Clark Hunt, announced her engagement earlier this week.

Hunt posted a photo collage of her engagement to Derek Green, the son of former Chiefs quarterback Trent Green.

“It was always you,” the couple wrote in a collaboration Instagram post with emojis of a ring, red heart, and infinity sign. “‘And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.’ Romans 8:28.”

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The couple posted 14 photos, including one with Green on a knee in front of a crying Hunt, a close-up of the ring, a photo of Green and Clark Hunt shaking hands, and both mothers taking photos of the occasion.

Hunt also posted a video that her mother took of her just before she got engaged, captioning it “POV: walking towards your forever.”

Hunt took a golf cart to a boardwalk that she walked down to meet Green, who was decked out in a white suit himself.

The couple also posted on Easter Sunday.

“Thank You, Jesus — for salvation, for love, and for this beautiful chapter You’ve written for us. You painted the purest picture of love the world has ever seen, and today we celebrate that gift,” they wrote. “As we step into this new season of life together, our prayer is simple — to love each other the way You loved the church. Selflessly. Faithfully. Completely. Happy Easter from our hearts to yours.”

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While Green did not find the same success as his father, he still played four seasons at SMU and one more at Long Island University.

Hunt was previously in a relationship with Cody Keith, an ex-quarterback for East Carolina University who got a shot in multiple NFL training camps before seeing some interest in the Canadian Football League who had once befriended Patrick Mahomes.

Rumors of their breakup swirled earlier last year, and then Hunt confirmed she was in another relationship this time last year.

Hunt is a staple at Chiefs games every season, usually being spotted on the sidelines before games and commenting on what went down on the gridiron after the final whistle via social media.

Fox News’ Scott Thompson contributed to this report.

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