SUFFOLK COUNTY, N.Y. — Rex A. Heuermann, 62, of Massapequa Park, pleaded guilty Wednesday to seven murders tied to the Gilgo Beach killings and admitted to an eighth homicide, Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney announced.
Heuermann pleaded guilty to three counts of first-degree murder and four counts of second-degree murder in connection with the deaths of seven women. As part of his allocution, he also admitted to killing Karen Vergata, an additional victim not previously charged in the indictment.
Charges and Plea Details
Prosecutors said Heuermann is expected to be sentenced to three consecutive life sentences without the possibility of parole for the murders of Melissa Barthelemy, Megan Waterman and Amber Costello.
He also faces an additional consecutive sentence of 100 years to life for the killings of Maureen Brainard-Barnes, Jessica Taylor, Sandra Costilla and Valerie Mack.
Vergata’s killing is covered under the plea agreement tied to the seven charged murders.
Timeline of Killings
According to court documents and Heuermann’s admissions:
- 1993 – Sandra Costilla: Heuermann strangled Costilla after meeting her and left her remains in North Sea. She was 28 and had a young son.
- 1996 – Karen Vergata: Heuermann strangled and dismembered Vergata. Her remains were discovered in parts over years in Brookhaven and near Gilgo Beach. She was later identified in 2023 through genetic genealogy.
- 2000 – Valerie Mack: Mack was strangled and dismembered, with remains found in Manorville and Gilgo Beach. She was 24.
- 2003 – Jessica Taylor: Taylor was killed and dismembered, with remains found years apart in Manorville and along Ocean Parkway. She was 20.
- 2007 – Maureen Brainard-Barnes: After arranging a meeting using a burner phone, Heuermann strangled her and left her remains near Gilgo Beach. She was 25.
- 2009 – Melissa Barthelemy: Heuermann used a burner phone to arrange a meeting before killing her. Her remains were discovered in 2010. She was 24.
- 2010 – Megan Waterman: Waterman was picked up from a Hauppauge hotel, killed, and left near Gilgo Beach. She was 22.
- 2010 – Amber Costello: Heuermann arranged a meeting after a prior failed encounter and killed her. She was 27.
Many of the victims were discovered along Ocean Parkway near Gilgo Beach in late 2010, years after several of the killings occurred.
Investigation and Arrest
Heuermann was arrested on July 13, 2023, following a long-term investigation led by the Gilgo Homicide Task Force. The task force included the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office, Suffolk County Police Department, New York State Police, the FBI, and other agencies.
Authorities also credited advances in forensic technology, including genetic genealogy, with helping identify previously unknown victims.
Legal Stakes
If sentenced as expected, Heuermann will spend the rest of his life in prison without the possibility of parole.
The case represents one of the most significant serial murder prosecutions in Long Island history, involving victims whose remains were discovered over nearly two decades.
What’s Next
Heuermann is scheduled to return to court for sentencing on June 17, 2026.
