Gilgo Beach Serial Killer Suspect Likely to Plead Guilty

Rex Heuermann, accused of murdering seven women over nearly two decades, may change his plea after years of denying guilt.

Apr. 8, 2026 at 11:04am

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After years of frustrating investigators, the high-profile Gilgo Beach serial killer case could come to an abrupt end as the accused, Rex Heuermann, is reportedly set to change his plea to guilty in a court appearance on Wednesday. Heuermann was arrested in 2023 and initially charged with the murders of three women, later being accused of killing a total of seven victims between 1993 and 2011 in the Long Island area.

Why it matters

The Gilgo Beach serial killer case has captivated the public for over a decade, with the gruesome murders featured on true crime shows and in a best-selling book. Heuermann's potential guilty plea could bring some closure to the victims' families and the broader community that has grappled with the unsolved killings for years.

The details

Heuermann was arrested in 2023 and initially charged with the murders of Melissa Barthelemy, Megan Waterman, and Amber Costello. He was later also charged with killing Maureen Brainard-Barnes, Sandra Costilla, Jessica Taylor, and Valerie Mack. Prosecutors have alleged that Heuermann used burner phones to contact dozens of sex workers over 500 times in the two years before his arrest, and that cutting-edge DNA evidence tied him to the crimes. In September 2025, a judge ruled that all seven murder cases would be tried together, a blow to the defense which had wanted to split the cases.

  • Heuermann was arrested on July 14, 2023.
  • In September 2025, the judge ruled that all seven murder cases would be tried together.
  • The trial was expected to begin in September 2026.

The players

Rex Heuermann

The accused Gilgo Beach serial killer who is now likely to change his plea to guilty after years of denying his involvement in the murders of seven women between 1993 and 2011.

Ray Tierney

The Suffolk County District Attorney prosecuting the case against Heuermann.

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What they’re saying

“It's a dizzying amount of information -- seven murders that span from 1993 to 2010.”

— Ray Tierney, Suffolk County District Attorney

What’s next

The judge in the case is expected to hear Heuermann's change of plea on Wednesday morning.

The takeaway

The potential guilty plea from Heuermann could bring some long-awaited closure to the Gilgo Beach serial killer case, which has haunted Long Island for over two decades. The case highlights the challenges of solving complex, decades-old murder investigations, as well as the importance of advanced forensic techniques like DNA evidence in cracking such cases.