Gilgo Beach Serial Killer Rex Heuermann Sentenced to Life After Admitting to Eight Murders
RIVERHEAD, New York — June 17, 2026

Rex Heuermann, the Long Island man at the center of the decades-long Gilgo Beach murder investigation, has been sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole after admitting responsibility for the killings of eight women.

Heuermann, 62, was sentenced Wednesday in Suffolk County Court after pleading guilty in April to the murders of seven women and admitting that he also killed an eighth victim, Karen Vergata.

Decades-Long Investigation Reaches Courtroom
The case began attracting national attention after the discovery of human remains along Ocean Parkway near Gilgo Beach in 2010 and 2011.

Heuermann was arrested in July 2023 and initially faced charges in the deaths of several women whose remains had been discovered on Long Island. Investigators later connected him to additional victims, including Sandra Costilla, whose death dated back to 1993.

In April 2026, Heuermann changed his plea to guilty. He admitted killing seven women who were included in the indictment and, during his court allocution, acknowledged killing Vergata, whose remains had been discovered in separate locations years apart.

Eight Victims Identified
The women Heuermann admitted killing were Melissa Barthelemy, Megan Waterman, Amber Costello, Maureen Brainard-Barnes, Jessica Taylor, Valerie Mack, Sandra Costilla and Karen Vergata.

According to prosecutors, the killings occurred between 1993 and 2010. Several of the victims’ remains were found near Gilgo Beach, while others were discovered elsewhere on Long Island.

Heuermann admitted in court to strangling the victims and disposing of their remains at different locations. His guilty plea ended the need for a trial that had been scheduled for later in 2026.

Investigators Built the Case With Forensic Evidence
The investigation involved multiple forms of evidence, including DNA, cellphone records, vehicle information and other records.

One significant development came when investigators linked DNA recovered from a discarded pizza crust to DNA associated with evidence from one of the victims. Authorities also examined cellphone activity and other information as they reconstructed the movements connected to the killings.

The Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office said the investigation involved a task force made up of local, state and federal agencies.

Life Without Parole
Judge Timothy Mazzei sentenced Heuermann to three consecutive life sentences without parole, followed by four consecutive sentences of 25 years to life for the remaining murders.

During the sentencing hearing, relatives of the victims addressed the court and spoke about the impact of the killings on their families.

Heuermann also addressed the court briefly, acknowledging responsibility for what had been said during the hearing.

The sentence formally brings the prosecution of Heuermann over the eight admitted killings to its sentencing stage, although authorities have continued examining the broader Gilgo Beach investigation.

Sources
Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office — Official sentencing announcement
Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office — Guilty plea announcement
ABC News — Gilgo Beach investigation timeline
ABC News — How investigators linked evidence to Heuermann
Newsday/Long Island Business News — Sentencing details