Gilgo Beach Killer Pleads Guilty, Linked to Victim by Paper Towel

Rex Heuermann admitted to murdering 8 women and will serve multiple life sentences.

Apr. 9, 2026 at 9:23pm

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An extreme close-up of a crumpled paper towel with a distinct pattern, dramatically lit to create a stark, gritty investigative aesthetic.A key piece of forensic evidence that linked the Gilgo Beach serial killer to one of his victims.NYC Today

Rex Heuermann, the admitted Gilgo Beach serial killer, changed his plea to guilty on Wednesday and confessed to the murders of 8 women between 1993 and 2010. Prosecutors say a distinct pattern on a Bounty paper towel recovered from one victim's mouth linked Heuermann to the crime, as investigators found a matching paper towel in his desk drawer.

Why it matters

The Gilgo Beach murders have been one of the most high-profile unsolved serial killer cases in recent history. Heuermann's confession and the forensic evidence tying him to the crimes provides long-awaited closure for the victims' families and the local community.

The details

Heuermann, a 62-year-old New York City architect, targeted sex workers, strangling them and dumping their bodies near Long Island's Gilgo Beach. Prosecutors say a Bounty paper towel found in the mouth of victim Megan Waterman had a distinct pattern that was only in circulation in 2010, the year Waterman went missing. Investigators found a matching paper towel square in Heuermann's desk, which prosecutors say he kept as a 'memento' of the crime.

  • Waterman went missing in June 2010.
  • Waterman's remains were found in December 2010.
  • Heuermann was arrested in 2023.
  • Heuermann changed his plea to guilty on April 9, 2026.
  • Heuermann's sentencing is set for June 17, 2026.

The players

Rex Heuermann

A 62-year-old New York City architect who admitted to murdering 8 women as the Gilgo Beach serial killer.

Megan Waterman

A 22-year-old victim whose remains were found in Gilgo Beach in 2010.

Ray Tierney

The Suffolk County District Attorney who prosecuted the case against Heuermann.

Liliana Waterman

The daughter of victim Megan Waterman.

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What they’re saying

“This was his obsession. With his internet searches and his thought process, this was what was driving him.”

— Ray Tierney, Suffolk County District Attorney

“I think he was done. He wanted this to come to a conclusion — that's just my impression.”

— Ray Tierney, Suffolk County District Attorney

“I accept the plea and I'm very, very thankful.”

— Liliana Waterman

What’s next

Part of the plea agreement requires Heuermann to cooperate with the FBI's Behavioral Analysis Unit, which prosecutors hope will provide insight into his motivations and help inform future cases.

The takeaway

The Gilgo Beach murders have haunted Long Island for over a decade, and Heuermann's confession and the forensic evidence linking him to the crimes provides long-awaited closure for the victims' families and the local community. The case also highlights the importance of advanced forensic techniques in solving complex serial killer investigations.