An almost 20-year mystery has finally received closure.
Rex Heuermann—an architect from Long Island who was arrested in 2023 in connection to murders known as the Gilgo Beach killings—pleaded guilty to seven murder charges during a Suffolk County court appearance on April 8, the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office confirmed in a press release.
He also admitted to the 1996 killing of Karen Vergata, but as part of his plea deal, the release noted, will not be charged in connection with her death. According to NBC News, the plea also included his agreement to cooperate with the FB.
Heuermann had previously pleaded not guilty to three counts of first-degree murder and four counts of intentional murder over a 17-year span. The bodies associated with the charges were first discovered in 2010.
Per the release, Heuermann admitted to strangling all eight victims—many of whom were sex workers—dismembering some of their bodies, that he wrapped their bodies in burlap before dumping them and that he used a burner phone to contact them.
During the court appearance, per the Associated Press, Heuermann appeared unemotional and matter of fact as he answered questions from District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney about the victims’ deaths.
He reportedly did not look at the courtroom gallery, where many of the victims’ family members were sitting.
With his now-entered guilty plea, per the release, Heuermann is expected to receive a sentence of life in prison without parole, three consecutive life sentences, followed by four sentences of 25 years to life.
As for the court room's audience, Heuermann’s ex-wife Asa Ellerup—who filed for divorce shortly after his arrest in 2023—and their daughter Victoria were also seated in the gallery, the AP reported.
At the conclusion of the court appearance, Ellerup said, “My thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their families,” per the outlet. “Their loss is immeasurable and the focus should be on them at this time and moment. I ask that you give some privacy to my family as they navigate through this very difficult time.”
As for the change in Heuermann’s plea, his defense attorney Michael Brown told reporters, according to the publication, Heuermann had been concerned with sparing the families of the victims as well as his own family from having to go through a trial.
“There came a point in this defense,” Brown said, “where Rex said, ‘I want to plead guilty.’”
The attorney added, per NBC News, he thinks the switched plea created “a huge sense of relief for Heuermann. "When you have that type of—in your head, and on your body,” he continued, “I think by admitting it, it's cathartic to some extent."
As for whether he thinks his client was sorry, a question posited by one reporter, Brown noted, “I would hope so,” adding, “I would expect at sentencing he would have something to say.”
His sentencing hearing is currently scheduled for June 17.