Serial Killer with South Carolina Ties Pleads Guilty to Murdering 7 Women

Rex Heuermann admitted to strangling the victims and hiding their remains on Long Island.

Apr. 8, 2026 at 7:53pm

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An extreme close-up photograph of a pair of handcuffs against a stark, black background, capturing the gritty, investigative nature of this crime story.The arrest of a serial killer with ties to multiple states exposes the complex challenges of investigating such crimes across jurisdictions.Augusta Today

A 62-year-old serial killer with ties to South Carolina pled guilty on April 8 to murdering seven women and hiding their bodies at Gilgo Beach in New York. Rex Heuermann also admitted to killing an eighth victim, with the first murder happening in 1993 and the last in 2011. He was arrested in July 2023 after evading authorities for over a decade.

Why it matters

This case highlights the ongoing challenges law enforcement faces in apprehending serial killers who can operate across state lines and remain undetected for years. It also raises questions about how Heuermann was able to maintain property and connections in South Carolina while allegedly committing these crimes in New York.

The details

Heuermann, an architect by trade, reportedly strangled the women and then dismembered some of the victims and bound others by their head and legs before hiding their remains on Long Island. Authorities seized a truck belonging to Heuermann's brother, who owned property in Chester County, South Carolina that Heuermann had planned to move to after retiring.

  • The first murder happened in 1993.
  • The last murder occurred in 2011.
  • Heuermann was arrested in July 2023.

The players

Rex Heuermann

A 62-year-old serial killer who pled guilty to murdering seven women and hiding their bodies at Gilgo Beach in New York. He also admitted to killing an eighth victim.

Heuermann's Brother

Owned property in Chester County, South Carolina that Heuermann had planned to move to after retiring. Authorities seized a truck belonging to Heuermann's brother as part of the investigation.

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What’s next

Heuermann is scheduled to be sentenced on June 17.

The takeaway

This case highlights the ongoing challenges law enforcement faces in apprehending serial killers who can operate across state lines and remain undetected for years. It also raises questions about how Heuermann was able to maintain property and connections in South Carolina while allegedly committing these crimes in New York.