Ex-Wife of Gilgo Beach Serial Killer Says He “Got What He Deserved” After Maximum Life Sentence for Eight Murders

Riverhead, New York — Asa Ellerup, the former wife of convicted serial killer Rex Heuermann, has spoken publicly following his sentencing, stating through her attorney that the 62-year-old architect “got what he deserved” after a New York judge imposed the maximum possible punishment for a series of brutal murders spanning nearly two decades.

Heuermann was sentenced this week in Suffolk County Court to multiple consecutive life terms without the possibility of parole, along with additional lengthy sentences that ensure he will never be released from prison.

According to Ellerup’s attorney, Bob Macedonio, the ex-wife fully accepts the outcome of the case and views the court’s decision as appropriate given the severity of the crimes.

“She believes the sentence fits what he did, and clearly he received what he deserved,” Macedonio said. “You cannot take the lives of eight people. She would never condone anything like that.”

Macedonio also confirmed that Heuermann has not had any communication with Ellerup or their children since he was transferred out of Suffolk County Jail shortly after sentencing. At present, Heuermann is undergoing processing at Green Haven Correctional Facility in Stormville, New York, although officials have not yet confirmed his final long-term placement within the state prison system.

The sentencing marked a significant moment in a case that has gripped Long Island and the wider public for years.

Heuermann was convicted in connection with the murders of eight women whose deaths occurred between 1993 and 2010, a series of crimes that became known as the Gilgo Beach killings after several victims’ remains were discovered near the coastal area of Long Island.

During sentencing, Judge Timothy Mazzei delivered a strongly worded condemnation of the defendant, characterizing him as cowardly and morally corrupt in response to the nature of the crimes.

“You are a despicable and cowardly man,” the judge said, addressing Heuermann directly in court. “You are not worthy of the title of man.”

The judge’s remarks reflected the emotional weight of the proceedings, which included testimony from victims’ families and detailed descriptions of the impact of the crimes.

Mazzei ultimately imposed three consecutive life sentences without parole, followed by additional terms of 25 years to life for multiple counts. He also dismissed several lesser charges before instructing court officers to remove Heuermann from the courtroom.

Following the ruling, Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney stated that authorities expected Heuermann to be fully transferred into the state prison system within days, marking the end of his presence in local custody.

While legal proceedings have concluded, attention has also turned toward Heuermann’s family, particularly his ex-wife, who has faced public scrutiny since his arrest in July 2023.

Ellerup filed for divorce shortly after Heuermann was taken into custody outside his Manhattan office, an arrest that shocked both neighbors and the broader community. Shortly afterward, law enforcement officers searched the family home in Massapequa Park, a suburban neighborhood located approximately 35 miles from New York City.

The residence, described by neighbors as unusually neglected compared to surrounding properties, became a focal point of the investigation.

In recent interviews and documentary appearances, Ellerup has spoken about the emotional complexity of living in a home connected to such serious allegations.

In a recent episode of the docuseries The Gilgo Beach Killer: House of Secrets, she revealed that she now sleeps in a room where investigators believe some of the crimes may have occurred.

She described the emotional difficulty of remaining in the house while also acknowledging what prosecutors have alleged about its past.

“The difficult truth is what has been said about this place,” Ellerup stated in the program. “This room is where those claims were made. I live here now, and I am trying, in my own way, to process everything and express sorrow for what the victims endured.”

Her remarks have drawn significant public attention, highlighting the emotional toll on families connected to individuals accused of violent crimes, even when they are not implicated themselves.

Inside the courtroom, Judge Mazzei also directly questioned Heuermann during sentencing, confronting him with the gravity of his actions.

He referenced the eight women who lost their lives and asked whether the defendant expressed genuine remorse for their deaths, noting that the victims were all young women of small stature who were allegedly targeted and strangled.

When asked if he was sorry, Heuermann responded affirmatively.

“Yes, I am,” he said quietly in court.

However, the judge remained unconvinced, responding with a forceful rebuke.

“You have been described as a large man, but in truth you are a small and disgusting coward,” Mazzei said. “If you can even be called a man at all.”

The courtroom fell silent as the judge ordered Heuermann removed immediately after delivering the sentence.

The victims in the case include Sandra Costilla, Karen Vergata, Valerie Mack, Jessica Taylor, and four women collectively referred to as the “Gilgo Four”: Maureen Brainard-Barnes, Melissa Barthelemy, Megan Waterman, and Amber Lynn Costello.

Their remains were discovered in multiple locations across Long Island between 2010 and 2011, including remote areas near Gilgo Beach, Ocean Parkway, and surrounding marshlands.

Investigators believe the killings spanned from the early 1990s through 2010, making it one of the longest-running serial murder cases in modern New York history.

The case remained unsolved for more than a decade until Heuermann’s arrest in 2023 outside his Manhattan workplace, an event that immediately drew national attention.

For years, law enforcement struggled to identify a suspect despite extensive forensic analysis, interagency cooperation, and renewed investigative efforts. The breakthrough arrest came as a shock to both the public and those who knew Heuermann personally.

Since then, he has been charged with multiple counts of murder, and during a plea hearing in April, he admitted responsibility for an additional victim not previously included in earlier indictments.

Despite the conclusion of sentencing, prosecutors have indicated that the investigation is still ongoing. District Attorney Tierney has stated that authorities are prepared to present additional evidence to a grand jury if new findings emerge.

He also emphasized that speculation about the total number of potential victims remains premature and should not influence active investigative work.

For Ellerup, however, the legal outcome represents closure of a different kind.

While she has publicly condemned the crimes and expressed acceptance of the sentence, she continues to navigate the emotional aftermath of her former husband’s actions and the impact on her family.

Her attorney reiterated that she has cooperated with investigators and has sought to distance herself entirely from the crimes.

As the case transitions from courtroom proceedings to long-term incarceration, the broader public continues to reflect on one of the most disturbing serial murder investigations in recent memory.

Although Rex Heuermann’s legal fate is now sealed, the emotional and social consequences of the case remain deeply felt by families, survivors, and the community at large.