Update: Where is Rex Heuermann Now? Netflix’s Long Island Serial Killer Suspect

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Revisiting a Haunting Case: The Long Island Serial Killer – A chilling case from recent history that’s still unfolding. The first murder was committed in the ’90s, but it wasn’t until 2023 that police apprehended their prime suspect, Rex Heuermann. Proceed with caution as some may find this content disturbing.

The gripping new true crime documentary was released on Netflix on March 31, 2025, focusing on a series of murders that came to light following the 2010 disappearance of Shannan Gilbert. Her mother, Mari Gilbert, who tragically passed away, had been persistent in urging authorities to treat her daughter’s case with due diligence, alleging that the local police department had initially ignored it because Shannan worked as an escort.

10 women’s bodies, all in their 20s who were believed to be involved in sex work, were found along Long Island’s Ocean Parkway, sparking similar accusations. It wasn’t until the arrest of Thomas Spota, a former corrupt District Attorney, and James Burke, the County Police Chief, that significant advancements were made in the case, as depicted in Gone Girls: The Long Island Serial Killer.

In the last installment of the Netflix documentary series, the long-neglected significant tip eventually leads to an arrest – Rex Heuermann, a local architect – but this development is merely the beginning of the investigation.

Where is Rex Heuermann now?

At this moment, Heuermann is detained at the Riverhead Correctional Facility located in Suffolk County, New York, in anticipation of his trial. He stands accused of committing the murders of seven women, among them being the Gilgo Beach Four whose bodies were discovered along a shared half-mile stretch of beach in December 2010.

The trial date hasn’t been scheduled just yet because the proceedings are currently being held in court. Supreme Court Justice Timothy Mazzei has arranged for a hearing on April 2, 2025, to establish the authenticity of the DNA evidence discovered at the crime sites.

One piece of evidence that contributed to his arrest was the matching of Heuermann’s Chevrolet Avalanche with eyewitness descriptions of a vehicle linked to the murders. Additionally, it was significant that he resided in Massapequa Park but had an office in Midtown Manhattan, which aligned with the profile of the suspected perpetrator.

A significant development in the investigation involved the authorities finding cellphone billing records linked to Heuermann which mirrored the whereabouts of the serial killer’s burner phone. Moreover, DNA recovered from an abandoned pizza crumb had a match with a strand of hair discovered on one of the victims.

Furthermore, it’s revealed in the conclusion of Gone Girl that hair samples from either Asa Ellerup, Hermann’s wife, or Victoria Heuermann, his daughter, were discovered on three of the victims at Gilgo Beach, along with Mack.

The police think that the hairs found at the crime scene might have been accidentally transferred to Rex Heuermann before the murders, but they don’t suspect him of actively participating in the killings.

Rex Heuermann has been detained without bond since his July 2023 arrest, which occurred after he was initially accused of killing three women: Melissa Barthelemy (age 24), Megan Waterman (age 22), and Amber Costello (age 27).

Later on, he faced accusations for the killings of Maureen Brainard-Barnes (age 25), Jessica Taylor (age 20), Sandra Costilla (age 28), and Valerie Mack (age 24). Heuermann has denied guilt in these murders, and the investigation continues.

As a gamer, I’d put it like this: “While I was wrapping up my work on Gone Girls, the director Liz Garbus shared with Tudum, the challenge of creating a documentary about an ongoing case. She mentioned that just as we submitted our cuts to Netflix, another victim was added to Heuermann’s docket.

Is there a chance we’ll have more updates before our broadcast or court date? Possibly. And if they decide to take it to trial, I would say the likelihood is high.

Update on Rex Heuermann’s wife and children

It’s said that Heuermann led a secretive lifestyle, portraying himself as a devoted family man to the public. In 1996, he tied the knot with Asa Ellerup, a woman hailing from Iceland who already had a son named Christopher Sheridan from a prior relationship.

Heuermann and Ellerup ended up having a child, Victoria Heuermann, together. After his arrest, Ellerup initiated a divorce proceeding; their divorce was finalized on March 27, 2025, as reported by People.

Nevertheless, she persists in standing by her estranged spouse. According to attorney Bob Macedonio, she has chosen to postpone any verdict on Rex’s guilt or innocence until the trial concludes. She still believes that the man she was married to for 29 years is incapable of perpetrating such heinous acts.

Additionally, Ellerup and Victoria attended a DNA hearing in Riverhead, Long Island on March 28th. Macedonio stated to the Daily Mail, “It’s crucial for them to understand how they arrived at their findings that it is Asa’s DNA and Victoria’s DNA.

As of November 2024, Ellerup and her children remain living at their Massapequa Park home.

Gone Girls: The Long Island Serial Killer highlights unsolved murders

Regardless of whether Heuermann is convicted and punished, the Netflix documentary underscores the persisting problem of unresolved murders on Long Island, suggesting a broader societal and law enforcement approach that may not be giving these cases the attention they deserve.

Jaclyn Gallucci, a reporter from the Long Island Press, believes that the current case is merely the start of a larger narrative. She notes that there are numerous women whose homicides remain unsolved, some of whom were involved in the sex work industry.

Many old cases remain unsolved due to people moving away or simply losing faith and hope. They believe that the authorities won’t take action, leaving them uncertain about any other course of action.

Among the unsolved murders on Long Island are:

  • Genise Wilder, 22 – Found in June 1989
  • Carmen Vargas, 29 – Found in September 1989
  • Christina Warner, 23 – Found in December 1989
  • Cherries Jane Doe – Found in March 2007
  • Ivonne Rivera, 23 – Found in July 1992
  • Susan Kareck Myer, 49 – Found in December 1996
  • Tina Escobedo, 21 – Found in July 1991
  • Carolyn Gifford, 22 – Found in February 1991
  • Dix Hills Jane Doe – Found in April 1998
  • Muttontown Jane Doe – Found in November 2001
  • Riverhead Jane Doe – Found in March 1990
  • Tayna Rush, 39 – Found in June 2008
  • Suzanne Goldfarb, 48 – Found in November 2015

Currently Streaming on Netflix: “Gone Girls: The Long Island Serial Killer” – Here’s a captivating true crime tale for you! Additionally, delve into the latest developments regarding Dionne Hornigold, uncover the sensational revelations in “A Body in the Snow: The Trial of Karen Read,” and learn about the reasons behind the controversy surrounding Canton PD. Enjoy your reading!

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2025-04-01 18:49