Asa Ellerup, the former wife of serial killer Rex Heuermann, continues to reside in the Long Island home where seven women were murdered. In a startling revelation, Ellerup disclosed that she has been sleeping in the renovated basement—the same space Heuermann used as a “kill room”—as a spiritual way to acknowledge the suffering of the victims.
The Transformation of a Crime Scene
The basement of the Massapequa Park residence has been completely gutted and redone, featuring new walls, floors, moldings, and doors. Despite these physical changes, Ellerup says she is haunted by nightly dreams and believes the trauma will follow her for the rest of her life.
Ellerup moved into the basement roughly a month before Heuermann entered his guilty plea. She described the “brutal truth” of the space, noting that Heuermann admitted to dismembering the bodies of his victims within those walls.
Private Confessions and Psychological Barriers
As a condition of his guilty plea, Heuermann was permitted to meet one-on-one with Ellerup and their daughter, Victoria Heuermann, to confess before appearing in court. During these encounters, the killer failed to explicitly explain his motives, claiming only that his “demons” had gotten to him.
Victoria Heuermann recounted asking her father if he viewed his victims as someone’s daughter or a beloved family member. Heuermann reportedly responded that he did not witness the women as human and did not view them as people in his mind.
According to Victoria Heuermann, the killer maintained a strict barrier between his family life and his crimes, keeping the two in “separate worlds” that never crossed. This duality allowed him to function as a loving father even as committing murders in the family home.
Details of the Killings
Heuermann has admitted to the murder of eight women: Melissa Barthelemy (24), Megan Waterman (22), Amber Lynn Costello (27), Maureen Brainard-Barnes (25), Jessica Taylor (20), Sandra Costilla (28), Valerie Mack (24), and Karen Vergata (34).
Of these eight slayings, Heuermann stated that only one was spontaneous, occurring in his car. The remaining seven were planned executions carried out inside the family home, primarily in the basement, while the rest of the family was away.
Legal Proceedings and Sentencing
Rex Heuermann pleaded guilty to the murders on April 8, 2026, at the Suffolk County Court in Riverhead, New York. He is currently awaiting his final sentencing.
A possible next step in the legal process is the sentencing hearing scheduled for June 17, where he is expected to be sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many victims did Rex Heuermann admit to killing?
Rex Heuermann admitted to killing eight women.
Where did the murders capture place?
Heuermann admitted that seven of the victims were murdered and dismembered in the basement of his Massapequa Park home, while one victim was killed in his car.
When is Rex Heuermann scheduled to be sentenced?
He is set to be sentenced on June 17, with a likely sentence of life without the possibility of parole.
How does the revelation of a “separate world” between a killer’s family and victim change the public’s understanding of serial offenders?
