Rex Heuermann, a 62-year-old architect from Massapequa Park on Long Island, pleaded guilty on April 8, 2026, to seven counts of murder at Suffolk County Court in Riverhead, New York, while also admitting to an eighth killing. The plea marks a significant development in one of America's most notorious serial killer cases.

Judge Timothy Mazzei presided over the hearing, where Heuermann faced three counts of first-degree murder and four counts of intentional or second-degree murder. The guilty plea resolves charges related to killings committed over a 17-year period, from 1993 to 2010.

All eight victims were women. Many worked as sex workers and were strangled by Heuermann. Several bodies were dismembered and disposed of along New York's coastline, including sites near Gilgo Beach, Ocean Parkway, the Hamptons, Fire Island, and Tobay Beach.

The eight victims Heuermann admitted to killing are: Sandra Costilla, 28, killed in 1993 and found in North Amityville woods; Karen Vergata, 34, a Manhattan mother of two last seen on Valentine's Day 1996 (admitted but not formally charged); Valerie Mack, killed in 2000; Jessica Taylor, 20, killed in 2003; Maureen Brainard-Barnes, killed in 2007; Melissa Barthelemy, 24, killed in 2009; Megan Waterman, 22, killed in 2010; and Amber Lynn Costello, 27, also killed in 2010. The remains of Barthelemy, Waterman, and Costello were discovered along Ocean Parkway and became part of what investigators called the "Gilgo Four" discovery.

Heuermann was arrested on July 13, 2023, and initially charged with the murders of Barthelemy, Waterman, and Costello. Additional charges for Taylor and Costilla were added on June 6, 2024.

According to court records, Heuermann worked as a consultant for Manhattan architectural firms. His arrest came after nearly 13 years of investigation into the killings, during which multiple remains were discovered starting in 2010 along a stretch of Ocean Parkway near Gilgo Beach.

As part of the plea agreement, Heuermann will not face further prosecution for these eight victims. He has also agreed to cooperate with the Federal Bureau of Investigation's behavioral unit to assist in apprehending other serial killers.

Sentencing is scheduled for June 17, 2026. Heuermann is expected to receive life without the possibility of parole, consisting of three consecutive life sentences plus four additional sentences of 25 years to life.

Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney oversaw the prosecution of the case. Victim relatives attended the court hearing, with many visibly overcome as Heuermann admitted to the murders.

Following the hearing, Heuermann's ex-wife Ellerup and daughter Victoria released a statement requesting privacy for the family.

The Gilgo Beach serial killer case drew international attention due to the nature of the crimes, the protracted investigation, and questions about how the killings went undetected for so long. The case also renewed discussions about the vulnerability of sex workers to predatory violence and gaps in law enforcement response to missing persons from marginalized communities.

**Sources:** https://www.police1.com/serial-killer/gilgo-beach-murders-rex-heuermann-admits-to-8th-killing-in-guilty-plea https://6abc.com/post/gilgo-beach-suspected-serial-killer-rex-heuermann-expected-plead-guilty-death-8th-woman-court/18855571/ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gilgo_Beach_serial_killings