Rex Heuermann pleads guilty in Gilgo Beach killings
His admission to eight murders brings an end to the long-running Long Island case.
By Daniel Garcia
Additional reporting by David Frith and Asher Zive
RIVERHEAD, N.Y. — Rex Heuermann has pleaded guilty to seven murders tied to the Gilgo Beach killings and admitted to an eighth, abruptly ending a case that has remained unresolved for more than a decade, and was set to go to trial this September.
The 62-year-old entered the plea during a court appearance that was originally expected to address pretrial matters, but a source shared with Newsday that the families had been informed of a potential plea deal for his upcoming hearing. In a packed Suffolk County courtroom, Heuermann told Judge Timothy P. Mazzei that he was pleading guilty voluntarily and understood he was waiving his right to appeal and testify.
As Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney read the names of the victims, he asked Heuermann how he caused their deaths. Each time, Heuermann responded the same way.
“Strangulation.”
The victims included Melissa Barthelemy, Megan Waterman, Amber Lynn Costello, and Maureen Brainard-Barnes, known as the “Gilgo Four,” along with Valerie Mack, Jessica Taylor, Sandra Costilla, and Karen Vergata. Several of the women had worked as escorts and were last seen meeting clients.
The proceeding lasted about 20 minutes, with Heuermann maintaining a calm demeanor as he admitted to the killings.
After the hearing, family members spoke about the years they spent waiting for answers. Melissa Cann, the sister of Brianard-Barnes, said she had lived “between heartbreak and hope” for nearly two decades.
Attorney Gloria Allred, who represents several victims’ families, said many of the women had turned to sex work to support themselves and their families, adding they had few meaningful alternatives.
Heuermann’s attorney, Michael Brown, said the decision to plead guilty came from his client, who wanted to spare families from a lengthy trial. When asked whether Heuermann was remorseful, Brown said, “I hope so.”
Tierney said the plea brings accountability but not closure to the broader investigation. “This case closes, and another opens,” he said, noting authorities will continue investigating whether additional victims are connected to the Gilgo Beach area.
LISTEN: Tierney spoke to the FTC Record Online’s Daniel Garcia after his press conference.
The killings first came to light in 2010, when four bodies were discovered along Ocean Parkway. The case remained unsolved for years before investigators identified Heuermann, an architectural consultant from Massapequa Park, and arrested him in 2023 using cellphone data, vehicle records, and DNA evidence.
Heuerman’s sentencing has been scheduled for June 17th, where he is expected to receive multiple life sentences, without the possibility of parole.
