Rex Heuermann: The Clinical Confession Of A Suburban Serial Killer

In late March, we reported that Rex Heuermann, the architect accused of the Gilgo Beach murders, flipped and went for a guilty plea. Well, this week, he appeared in court and basically admitted he’s a monster. Read on for more details.

An Unemotional Confession

Many true crime followers previously mentioned that Rex Heuermann looked so normal, he seemed all the more scary. Well, he claimed for years he was innocent, and it seemed interesting that he decided to plead guilty.

When Law&Crime Network covered the update, Heuermann pleaded guilty to seven counts of murder. In her Crime Fix segment, Angenette Levy described how, during the hearing, he seemed “very clinical” and “emotionless.” In fact, he answered questions in an almost bored fashion, as if he were “ordering food at a restaurant.”

One-Word Answers

Playing back the court proceedings, true crime followers saw that the District Attorney asked how he killed each woman. Initially, Rex Heuermann gave a one-word answer: “strangulation.” But then, he elaborated and admitted that he dismembered some of his victims and dumped their bodies.

Actually, folks wondered why he went for a plea deal, but it turned out that he also admitted to a further crime that wasn’t in the original charges: that of an eighth murder. In 1996, he also murdered Karen Vata, even though he wasn’t formally charged for it.

Contesting The Evidence Seemed Time-Wasting

If the case had gone to trial, there’s a very good chance that Rex would have been found guilty, anyway. Prosecutors revealed they crushed the defense with “120 terabytes” and “7,500 pages of evidence.”

The evidence linking Rex included DNA from a pizza crust and hairs found on the victims that linked back to Heuermann and his family. In fact, the evidence seemed so good that per reporter Kristen Thorne, “you know that you’re up against an uphill battle when a defense attorney is acknowledging how good of a job the prosecution did.”

The To-Do List

Much like his ordering from a restaurant tone, investigators also found a “to-do list” on his computer. Only, it wasn’t for groceries. Instead, the notes contained a checklist for murder. For instance, entries read:

• “PROBLEMS”, “SUPPLIES”, “DS” (Dump Sites), and “TRG” (Targets).
• “PROBLEMS,” – “DNA,” “tire marks,” “blood stains,” “fingerprints,” and “witnesses.”

Additionally, evidence included the fact that Rex Heuermann also used burner phones to lure sex workers with promises of money. Then, he’d kill them and wrap them inside burlap “along their head, the middle of their torso, and as well as their legs.”

Life & Cooperation With Experts

As a result of all the evidence, the serial murderer probably gets to spend the rest of his life in prison without any chance of parole. In a way, it saves a lot of time and trauma for the courts and for the families involved.

As part of his deal, the killer must “completely truthfully and fairly cooperate” with the “FBI’s Behavioral Analysis Unit.” Apparently, if nothing else, Rex seems useful to help experts understand how a “normal suburban dad” could lead such a double life. Hopefully, that helps catch similar serial killers going forward.

For many true crime followers, the idea that his own wife and family lived with such a dark person seems horrifying. However, he clearly hid his evil side very well. After the hearing, his wife, Asa Ellerup, spoke briefly.

For her, the whole thing seemed extremely tragic, and she feels deeply for the victims and their families. She said her “thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their families” and noted that “their loss is immeasurable.”

Meanwhile, true crime followers will see her husband formally sentenced on June 17. At the time, he’ll no doubt make a final statement.

Viewers React

Ever since the news arrived that Heuermann brokered a plea deal, plenty of folks had something to say about him. In the comments section, one viewer opined, “Serial killers rarely look like the monsters they are. Rex however scares the cr*p out of me. Those poor, poor women.”

Here are a few more responses from the discussion:

• Oh, he wanted to spare the families from going to trial? I don’t think so. He’s a sadist. He dismembered victims, and taunted the young sister of one of the victims.
• In my opinion, he wanted to save himself the embarrassment of the evidence that would be discussed during the trial.
• He didn’t want HIS family to hear all the nasty details. He doesn’t give a damn about the victim’s family. PUH LEEZ.
• He didn’t confess because he felt guilty. He confessed because he was cornered and had nowhere else to go. If this had gone to court, a lot would have come out, and he would have lost control of his trophies.

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