REX Heuermann’s children are continuing to stand by their accused father after he was indicted in the murders of two more women on Long Island, their lawyer says.
Heuermann, 60, appeared in court on Thursday morning and was charged with the 1993 murder of Sandra Costilla, 28, and the 2003 killing of Jessica Taylor, 20.
The former architect was tied to both crime scenes through DNA from a male hair found on the women’s remains, court documents state.
The latest charges come days after investigators searched Heuermann’s home in Massapequa Park for a second time in 12 months.
Prosecutors revealed Thursday they’d discovered a series of horrifying “planning documents” on a hard drive in Heuermann’s basement that he allegedly used to map out his kills and plot how he’d dispose of remains.
Investigators believe some of the murders took place inside the home while his family was out of town, the documents show.
Vess Mitev, a lawyer for Heuermann’s adult children Victoria Heuermann and Christoper Sheridan, said his clients are currently weathering an incomprehensible storm in the face of the latest allegations – but they will not rush to judgment.
“They remain courageous in the face of unimaginable adversity and they are along for the dark ride, one might say,” shared Mitev.
“Nonetheless, they’re two young adults that have done nothing wrong and they’re trying to keep their lives from completely crumbling in the midst of all this.”
Mitev declined to comment on whether Victoria and Christopher have read the full extent of the evidence against their father in the deaths of Costilla and Taylor.
He added that “nothing has changed” in his clients’ desire to attend their father’s forthcoming trial and hear the evidence for themselves.
“There’s a quantum leap between allegations and a conviction, as any criminal defense attorney will tell you, so whether it’s one or 100 charges, they’re still allegations.
“They’re not going to get carried away or swept along in the court of public opinion, they’re going to wait until this case is determined by a jury and a judge inside the four walls of the courtroom.”
DAMNING EVIDENCE
Sandra Costilla’s mutilated remains were uncovered in the woods of Southampton, New York, on November 20, 1993.
The Trinidad and Tobago native was strangled to death and left partially clothed. She suffered numerous sharp force injuries to her face, torso, breasts, and genitals.
Taylor, meanwhile, was a sex worker in Midtown Manhattan who vanished on July 19, 2003. Her severed torso was discovered a week later in Manorville, New York, and her skull, hands, and forearm were recovered eight years later on Gilgo Beach in March 2011.
Taylor’s remains were found on the same road where the bodies of the Gilgo Four– Melissa Barthelemy, 24, Megan Waterman, 22, Amber Lynn Costello, 27, and Maureen Brainard-Barnes, 25 – were discovered bound and wrapped in burlap in late 2010.
Heuermann was charged with first-degree murder in connection with the deaths of the Gilgo Four last year and now faces six counts of murder in total.
In the months after his arrest in July 2023, investigators extracted data from over 350 electronic devices found at Heuermann’s home, according to court documents.
From that search, investigators unearthed a “collection of violent, bondage, and torture pornography that dated back to 1994.”
Heuermann is accused of accessing sickening pornographic images including “breast mutilation, vaginal torture, sex substitution, sexualization of decapitated women, bondage and whipping.”
Investigators said many of the images on Heuermann’s hard drives align with how the remains of Costilla and Taylor were discovered.
Also unearthed from an old hard drive was a Microsoft Word document titled “HK2002-04”.
Prosecutors believe Heuermann used the file as a “planning document” in which he’d plan out his alleged kills and brainstorm issues he may encounter while trying to cover his tracks.
The document was divided into four sections: “problems,” “supplies,” “TGR,” which prosecutors believed to be potential targets, and “DS,” believed to mean “dump sites.”
Investigators believe the information guided Heuermann on issues like evading apprehension, what supplies are needed to carry out serial murders, and how to avoid leaving DNA evidence behind.
The chilling document also notes that “small is good” for potential victims, and includes a three-part section detailing steps for “pre-prep,” “prep,” and “post-event.”
Unfortunately, their home is in a crime scene. We’re going into the second year now of this investigation and the sand has been shifting under the feet for more than a year.
Vess Mitev
One section notes to “remove head and hands,” which the DA’s office said is consistent with the remains of Taylor and another woman found dead along Gilgo Beach, Valerie Mack, who has not been officially tied to Heuermann.
An additional section notes to “remove ID marks” or tattoos, which is again consistent with how Taylor’s remains were found.
In court documents, it’s stated that Heuermann allegedly sought to mutilate a tattoo of Taylor’s, adding that the act, in addition to the decapitation of her head, and dismemberment of her arms, were efforts to “inhibit” the identification of the victim.
A “things to remember section” detailed reminders to “hit harder” for “next time” and to use heavier rope because a lighter rope broke under the “stress of being tightened.”
“Consider a hit to the face or neck next time for take down,” read one entry.
Another entry stressed the importance of sleep to avoid “problems” and increase what he refers to as “play time,” per the documents.
‘HOUSE OF HORRORS’
As part of its ongoing investigation, Suffolk County’s Gilgo Beach Homicide Task Force say it has established that Heuermann’s wife, Asa Ellerp, and children were out of town when Taylor was killed.
Phone records and witness testimony state they were vacationing in Vermont with friends while Heuermann stayed home. (At the time of Costilla’s murder, Heuermann was living with a different woman, identified in documents only as “WITNESS 3”.)
Their absence would’ve given Heuermann “unfettered time and exclusive access to [their home], allowing Defendant Heuermann ample opportunity to execute, and clean up after these crimes,” prosecutors said.
Entries on Heuermann’s computer detailing post-crime cleanup, strategies for hanging dropcloths from the ceiling, and concerns about how sound travels also led investigators to believe some of the killings “likely” took place inside the Heuermann home.
A particular emphasis has been placed on a soundproof basement in Heuermann’s home where he kept an arsenal of guns.
Ellerup and her children have continued to live at the alleged house of horrors since Heuermann’s arrest last summer.
Ellerup filed for divorce within days of Heuermann being charged and he later signed sole ownership of their dilapidated home over to her for a sum of $0, records first obtained by The U.S. Sun showed.
Mitev declined to discuss his clients’ feelings about still living in the home where their father is accused of allegedly torturing and murdering women.
But the attorney added they have no intentions of moving out.
“This is the only home that they have, for good, bad, or indifferent,” said Mitev.
“Unfortunately, their home is in a crime scene. We’re going into the second year now of this investigation and the sand has been shifting under the feet for more than a year.
“There’s no indication it’s going to be wrapped up any time soon, so that is the reality of their existence for now, unfortunately.”
FAMILY BREAKS SILENCE
Victoria and Christopher remain undecided on whether to visit their dad behind bars, Mitev shared.
Asa has been present throughout the majority of Heuermann’s court hearings but appeared absent on Thursday.
Attorney Gloria Allred, who represents Jessica Taylor’s family, and family members of Brainard-Barnes, Waterman, and Barthelemy, called the allegations against Heuermann extremely hard to process.
“It’s very difficult for them, emotionally. They’ve been waiting 21 years for answers, and they’re hoping that justice is on its way,” Allred said on behalf of the families in televised remarks.
Reading a statement on behalf of Taylor’s mom, Elizabeth Baczkiel, Allred continued, “Jessica was my daughter, she was loving and compassionate and so funny.
“Jessica loved to make people laugh, she tried very hard in school. Jessica had two brothers and they would always play together.
“Jessica, my darling daughter, you will never be forgotten. You will always be missed. You will forever be in our hearts.”
At least 11 sets of human remains have been found on and near Gilgo Beach since 2010.
The investigation into the so-called Long Island Serial Killer began in December 2010, during a search for sex worker Shannan Gilbert, who vanished from a meeting with a John in May 2010.
The search for Gilbert led investigators to the remains of the Gilgo Four, who were all petite sex workers in their 20s.
Heuermann was tied to the crimes through DNA after investigators surveilled him and his family for weeks, recovering a discarded pizza crust of his from the trash and an energy drink his daughter threw away on a train.
Cellphone records also led investigators to Heuermann’s door, with a burner phone belonging to the hulking alleged killer alleged to have been used to taunt at least one of the victim’s families.
Prosecutors have not ruled out the possibility of filing more murder charges against Heuermann, as an expansive investigation into the suspect continues.
“We are going to continue to investigate,” Suffolk County DA Ray Tierney said on Thursday.
“We’ll talk about whatever other investigation we’re undergoing when and if we bring those charges.”
