Alleged Gilgo Beach Serial Killer Expected to Plead Guilty

Rex Heuermann faces life in prison without parole in plea deal for 2023 murders of seven women

Apr. 8, 2026 at 1:09pm

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Rex Heuermann, the former New York architect accused of killing seven women and discarding their remains in Long Island's Gilgo Beach, is expected to plead guilty on April 8 after years of maintaining his innocence. Heuermann, 62, is expected to change his plea to guilty in Suffolk County Court, facing life in prison without parole in a plea deal.

Why it matters

The Gilgo Beach murders have been one of the most high-profile unsolved serial killer cases in recent history, sparking multiple true crime documentaries. Heuermann's expected guilty plea would bring a conclusion to the years-long investigation and provide some closure for the victims' families.

The details

Heuermann was arrested in 2023 and initially charged in the deaths of Melissa Barthelemy, Megan Waterman, and Amber Costello, whose bodies were found on Gilgo Beach in 2010. He was later charged in the killings of four additional women, including the "Gilgo Four." Investigators say they caught Heuermann using witness descriptions, phone data, hair samples, and DNA evidence from a pizza crust he discarded.

  • Heuermann is expected to change his plea to guilty on April 8, 2026.
  • Heuermann was arrested in 2023 and was set to stand trial in September.
  • The bodies of the "Gilgo Four" were found on Gilgo Beach in 2010.

The players

Rex Heuermann

A 62-year-old former New York architect accused of killing seven women and discarding their remains in Long Island's Gilgo Beach over nearly 17 years.

Ray Tierney

The Suffolk County District Attorney, who says the victims' families are eager to see the case concluded but are concerned about the proper result occurring.

Asa Ellerup

Heuermann's ex-wife, who filed for divorce after he was charged with three murders in 2023 and says she does not believe the man she was married to is capable of these crimes.

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What they’re saying

“I think that the victims' families are eager to see this case come to a conclusion, but obviously they're really concerned that what they deem to be the proper result occur.”

— Ray Tierney, Suffolk County District Attorney

“I would need to hear it from Rex, face to face, that he killed these girls for me to believe it.”

— Asa Ellerup

What’s next

A judge must approve the plea deal or the case will proceed to trial.

The takeaway

The expected guilty plea from Heuermann would bring a long-awaited conclusion to the high-profile Gilgo Beach serial killer case, providing some closure for the victims' families but also raising questions about how such a prolific killer evaded capture for nearly two decades.