Gilgo Beach Serial Killer's Chilling Confession to Ex-Wife Revealed in New Documentary
In a shocking revelation from a new documentary series, convicted Gilgo Beach serial killer Rex Heuermann confessed to his ex-wife that he murdered multiple women in the basement of their family home while she was away. The confession adds a deeply personal and horrifying layer to the case that has gripped the nation for years.
Ex-Wife's Jail Cell Confrontation with Killer Husband
Asa Ellerup, who finalized her divorce from Heuermann in March 2025 after 27 years of marriage, described in a teaser clip for Peacock's The Gilgo Beach Killer: House of Secrets how her ex-husband admitted to killing eight women without hesitation. This admission came despite Heuermann being formally charged with and pleading guilty to only seven murders.
"So Mr Heuermann, I understand that you are confessing to me on these murders," Ellerup recalled saying during their jail cell meeting, pointedly refusing to address him by his first name. "Can you please tell me how many of these women did you kill?"
When Ellerup relayed the confession to her lawyer, stating "He said he killed eight women," her attorney responded with surprise: "Eight? Who was the eighth? Because he's charged with seven." Ellerup admitted she didn't ask for further details about the uncharged victim.
The Horrifying Details of the Home Murders
Ellerup said Heuermann specifically told her the killings occurred in their Massapequa home while she was away, confirming investigators' long-held suspicions. "He said yes – they were killed in his room downstairs," Ellerup revealed in the documentary clip. "All except one."
This confession aligns with disturbing evidence found during searches of their suburban residence, where investigators discovered:
- A soundproof vault-like room
- Hundreds of firearms
- Detailed plans for the killings
The bodies of the missing women, killed between 1993 and 2010, were mostly discovered in marshes along Long Island's beachfront, creating one of the most notorious serial killer cases in recent New York history.
Courtroom Confession and Legal Proceedings
Heuermann's confession to his ex-wife came shortly before his April 8, 2026 court appearance in Riverhead, New York, where he pleaded guilty to seven murders during a 17-year killing spree. During that hearing, he also acknowledged murdering one additional woman for whom he hadn't been charged.
Suffolk County prosecutor Ray Tierney emphasized the killer's deceptive nature, stating: "He walked among us playacting as a normal suburban dad when all along he was targeting these women for death. He thought that by killing them, he could silence them forever and get away with murder. But he was wrong."
In his brief court statement, Heuermann revealed he used strangulation to kill each victim, dismembering some and wrapping them in burlap sacking. Forensic evidence, including hairs found on the burlap, helped link the crimes to Heuermann.
The Victims and Their Stories
During his guilty plea, Heuermann confessed to killing what became known as the "Gilgo Four":
- Amber Lynn Costello, 27
- Megan Waterman, 22
- Melissa Barthelemy, 24
- Maureen Brainard-Barnes, 25
He also admitted to the murders of Valerie Mack (24), Jessica Taylor (20), and Sandra Costilla (28), plus the uncharged murder of Karen Vergata (34), who disappeared in 1996.
Family Impact and Documentary Release
Following her ex-husband's plea hearing, Ellerup expressed that her thoughts and prayers were with the victims' families and requested privacy for her own family during what she called a "very difficult time."
Heuermann's attorney, Michael Brown, explained that his client chose to plead guilty to spare both the victims' relatives and his own family from the ordeal of a trial. The convicted killer is scheduled to receive multiple life imprisonment sentences on June 17.
Bob Macedonio, attorney for Ellerup and her daughter Victoria, stated: "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. Ms Ellerup would like the focus to remain where it belongs – on the victims and their families, who have suffered immeasurable and lasting losses."
The full confession and Ellerup's account will be featured in the final episode of The Gilgo Beach Killer: House of Secrets, a four-part documentary series whose finale begins airing on Peacock this Thursday, providing unprecedented insight into one of America's most disturbing serial killer cases.
