Catching the Long Island Serial Killer

Rex Heuermann married Asa Ellerup in April 1996. According to the Suffolk County DA, he also strangled and dismembered Karen Vergata that same month. He admitted to it in open court during his guilty plea — an eighth killing he was never formally charged with. The confession was part of the deal: admit to Karen's murder, never face prosecution for it. Seven indictments. One admission. Eight women dead.The final episode of “The Seven.” Karen Vergata was 34, living in Hell's Kitchen, working as an escort, battling addiction. Her sons had been taken by child welfare services four years earlier. She called her father on Valentine's Day 1996 — his birthday — from behind bars. That was the last time anyone in her family heard from her. Weeks after the alleged killing, her legs were found in a garbage bag on Fire Island by two brothers searching for driftwood. She became Fire Island Jane Doe. Her skull was found near Gilgo Beach in 2011. She was Jane Doe Number Seven until genetic genealogy identified her in 2022.Her father Dominic searched for decades. Hired a PI. Was turned away by the NYPD when he tried to report her missing. Filed to have her declared dead. Was told in October 2022 that his daughter had been identified. Died two months later at 87. Never saw accountability.Karen's case fills the gap between Sandra Costilla (1993) and Valerie Mack (2000), and adds Fire Island as a new dump site — expanding the geography of Heuermann's admitted crimes beyond Manorville, Ocean Parkway, and Southampton. As part of the plea, Heuermann agreed to cooperate with the FBI's Behavioral Analysis Unit. His attorney said the plea brought his client a “sense of relief.” Karen's full story, the evidence trail, and what it means to be the uncharged name in an eight-victim confession — all covered here.Join Our SubStack For AD-FREE ADVANCE EPISODES & EXTRAS!: https://hiddenkillers.substack.com/Want to comment and watch this podcast as a video? Check out our YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8-vxmbhTxxG10sO1izODJg?sub_confirmation=1Instagram https://www.instagram.com/hiddenkillerspod/Facebook https://www.facebook.com/hiddenkillerspod/Tik-Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@hiddenkillerspodX Twitter https://x.com/TrueCrimePodThis publication contains commentary and opinion based on publicly available information. All individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Nothing published here should be taken as a statement of fact, health or legal advice.#KarenVergata #RexHeuermann #GilgoBeach #LISK #FireIsland #JaneDoe #GilgoBeachKiller #LongIslandSerialKiller #TheSeven #TrueCrime

Benjamin Torres was six years old when his mother disappeared. Valerie Mack vanished in 2000. Her dismembered remains were found in Manorville that same year — unidentified for twenty years. Rex Heuermann has now pleaded guilty to her murder. For Torres, the guilty plea wasn't the ending. It was permission to start.His wrongful death lawsuit names Heuermann, ex-wife Asa Ellerup, and their daughter Victoria. The complaint alleges the two women knew about or concealed the crimes, had access to a secured vault-like room in the basement of the Massapequa Park home, and collected over a million dollars from a Peacock documentary. Attorney John Ray has argued publicly that unawareness is implausible in a house of roughly 1,300 square feet. Hair evidence linked to both women was recovered from victims' remains. The defense has called the suit reckless. Victoria was approximately three when Mack was killed. Prosecutors maintain Heuermann acted alone and timed the killings for when the family was away. Neither woman has been charged.Asa called Heuermann her savior and maintained she would have known if something was wrong. Victoria sat in the courtroom during the plea and has publicly said she believes her father most likely committed the killings. One roof. Two women. Opposite conclusions about the man they both lived with. Psychotherapist Shavaun Scott examines how denial functions when identity is anchored to a single person — how the mind builds walls to protect the framework, and what a guilty plea does when those walls can no longer hold.Criminal defense attorney Bob Motta breaks down what Heuermann actually gained from pleading. Every pre-trial motion had been denied. Whole genome sequencing was admitted in a New York courtroom for the first time. A deleted planning document was pulled from his hard drive. The sentence was reportedly the same either way — life without parole. Karen Vergata's uncharged killing was folded into the deal without a separate prosecution or public evidence hearing. The FBI cooperation agreement reportedly carries no enforcement mechanism. Heuermann's attorney insists there are no additional victims. The DA's office is reviewing hundreds of Suffolk County cold cases. The criminal chapter is closed. The civil case — and the question of whether proximity to a serial killer can become its own form of liability — is just getting started.Join Our SubStack For AD-FREE ADVANCE EPISODES & EXTRAS!: https://hiddenkillers.substack.com/Want to comment and watch this podcast as a video? Check out our YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8-vxmbhTxxG10sO1izODJg?sub_confirmation=1Instagram https://www.instagram.com/hiddenkillerspod/Facebook https://www.facebook.com/hiddenkillerspod/Tik-Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@hiddenkillerspodX Twitter https://x.com/TrueCrimePodThis publication contains commentary and opinion based on publicly available information. All individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Nothing published here should be taken as a statement of fact, health or legal advice.#RexHeuermann #GilgoBeach #ValerieMack #AsaEllerup #VictoriaHeuermann #LISK #WrongfulDeath #ShavaunScott #BobMotta #HiddenKillers

One thousand days of maintaining his innocence. Tears on day one. Calm, controlled execution on day one thousand. Rex Heuermann didn't just plead guilty — he managed the terms. Every pre-trial ruling had gone against his defense. Whole genome sequencing was ruled admissible. All charges were consolidated. Trial was months away with no viable path to acquittal. So the man who spent decades planning how to avoid detection planned his exit from the courtroom the same way.During a confidential proffer session, Heuermann raised Karen Vergata himself — a woman he had never been charged with killing. Her death was absorbed into the deal. No separate prosecution. No public evidence hearing. The agreement bars further charges related to all eight victims and includes FBI Behavioral Analysis cooperation that reportedly has no enforcement teeth. His attorney insists there are no additional victims. The DA's office says it's reviewing hundreds of Suffolk County cold cases. Sentencing is set for June.The families packed that courtroom. They wept as Heuermann described strangling each woman. And for Benjamin Torres — Valerie Mack's son, six years old when she disappeared — the plea was a beginning. Torres filed a wrongful death lawsuit naming Heuermann, his ex-wife Asa Ellerup, and their daughter Victoria. The complaint alleges knowledge, concealment, and profit — over a million dollars from a Peacock documentary. Ellerup publicly called Heuermann her hero. Victoria later acknowledged she believes her father most likely committed the killings, but the complaint alleges she characterized the crimes in a way that declined to condemn them.The defense response is pointed. Victoria was approximately three when Mack was killed. Prosecutors have publicly stated the family was out of town during the murders. Neither woman has been charged. But hair linked to both was found on victims' remains. Prosecutors call it household transference. The plaintiff's attorney calls it something else entirely. This lawsuit asks whether a family can be held civilly liable for what they should have known, whether documentary money can be clawed back as unjust enrichment, and whether wrongful death claims survive decades past the statute of limitations. The criminal chapter may be closed. The civil one just opened.Join Our SubStack For AD-FREE ADVANCE EPISODES & EXTRAS!: https://hiddenkillers.substack.com/Want to comment and watch this podcast as a video? Check out our YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8-vxmbhTxxG10sO1izODJg?sub_confirmation=1Instagram https://www.instagram.com/hiddenkillerspod/Facebook https://www.facebook.com/hiddenkillerspod/Tik-Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@hiddenkillerspodX Twitter https://x.com/TrueCrimePodThis publication contains commentary and opinion based on publicly available information. All individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Nothing published here should be taken as a statement of fact, health or legal advice.#RexHeuermann #GilgoBeach #ValerieMack #AsaEllerup #VictoriaHeuermann #GuiltyPlea #WrongfulDeath #KarenVergata #TrueCrime #HiddenKillers

For five weeks after Melissa Barthelemy disappeared, someone used her phone to call her 15-year-old sister Amanda. The calls came from crowded Manhattan sidewalks. They lasted under three minutes. They described what had been done to Melissa. And they were aimed exclusively at the teenager — never the mother. A burner phone Melissa had connected with the day she vanished traveled from Massapequa Park to Midtown Manhattan, matching the route between Rex Heuermann's home and office. Hours later, Melissa's own phone traced that path in reverse.Melissa was 24. She'd earned her cosmetology license in Buffalo and moved to New York to build something. The salon work was slow. She ended up in a Bronx basement apartment working escort ads on Craigslist. On July 12, 2009, she told a friend she was going to meet a man. Nobody heard from her again. Prosecutors allege Heuermann searched online for images of the victims' families after the killings — their sisters, their children.The family Heuermann went home to is now caught in the wreckage. Asa Ellerup sat in the back of the courtroom as her ex-husband admitted to eight killings. The woman who once called him her hero walked out into a wrongful death lawsuit filed by the son of victim Valerie Mack, naming both Asa and their daughter Victoria as defendants. The suit alleges the family profited from a documentary and showed disregard for victims. Victoria has publicly stated she believes her father most likely committed the killings. Asa's attorney has called the claims reckless. One family, two completely different reckonings with the same unbearable truth.Robin Dreeke and Eric Faddis break down what the phone calls reveal about the psychology of control, the legal exposure the family now faces, and how people closest to a serial offender attempt to rebuild after a confession.Join Our SubStack For AD-FREE ADVANCE EPISODES & EXTRAS!: https://hiddenkillers.substack.com/Want to comment and watch this podcast as a video? Check out our YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8-vxmbhTxxG10sO1izODJg?sub_confirmation=1Instagram https://www.instagram.com/hiddenkillerspod/Facebook https://www.facebook.com/hiddenkillerspod/Tik-Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@hiddenkillerspodX Twitter https://x.com/TrueCrimePodThis publication contains commentary and opinion based on publicly available information. All individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Nothing published here should be taken as a statement of fact, health or legal advice.#RexHeuermann #GilgoBeach #MelissaBarthelemy #AsaEllerup #VictoriaHeuermann #LISK #TauntingCalls #TrueCrime #HiddenKillers #WrongfulDeath

He ate pizza on a Manhattan sidewalk and threw the crust in a public trash can. Investigators were watching. That discarded crust — legally recovered as an abandonment sample — carried DNA that matched a male hair found in the burlap wrapping around Megan Waterman's body on Ocean Parkway. Months of surveillance, one piece of garbage, and the entire Gilgo Beach case broke open.Megan was 22. A mother from Scarborough, Maine, who called her three-year-old daughter every single day. When those daily calls stopped in June 2010, her family reported her missing within two days. Surveillance footage from the Holiday Inn Express in Hauppauge captured her walking out the door at 1:15 a.m. to meet a client. She was found six months later alongside Melissa Barthelemy, Maureen Brainard-Barnes, and Amber Lynn Costello — the Gilgo Four.Rex Heuermann stood in a Suffolk County courtroom and pleaded guilty to murdering all seven women he was charged with killing — Barthelemy, Brainard-Barnes, Costello, Sandra Costilla, Valerie Mack, Jessica Taylor, and Waterman. He also admitted to intentionally causing the death of Karen Vergata, an eighth victim. He confirmed all eight were killed by strangulation. Prosecutors allege his electronic devices held checklists, methodology notes, and instructions for destroying evidence — a digital blueprint stored in a home he shared with his family. Every killing allegedly took place when his wife and children were away.His attorney described the plea as "relief." The deal requires Heuermann to cooperate with the FBI's Behavioral Analysis Unit. This week's coverage walks through Megan's life before she became a case file, the DNA chain that made the prosecution's case, the mechanics of the plea deal, and expert analysis from Robin Dreeke and Eric Faddis on what the behavioral evidence tells us about who Heuermann actually is.Join Our SubStack For AD-FREE ADVANCE EPISODES & EXTRAS!: https://hiddenkillers.substack.com/Want to comment and watch this podcast as a video? Check out our YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8-vxmbhTxxG10sO1izODJg?sub_confirmation=1Instagram https://www.instagram.com/hiddenkillerspod/Facebook https://www.facebook.com/hiddenkillerspod/Tik-Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@hiddenkillerspodX Twitter https://x.com/TrueCrimePodThis publication contains commentary and opinion based on publicly available information. All individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Nothing published here should be taken as a statement of fact, health or legal advice.#RexHeuermann #GilgoBeach #MeganWaterman #GuiltyPlea #GilgoFour #LISK #DNAEvidence #BehavioralAnalysis #HiddenKillers #SerialKiller

Rex Heuermann said it himself. In a packed courtroom, he admitted to strangling eight women over seventeen years. He confirmed the murders. He confirmed the dismemberment. He showed no emotion. And Asa Ellerup was sitting in the back of the room while he did it.For years, she said she did not believe it. She called him her savior. She dismissed the planning document. She described the hair evidence — her own hair, found on multiple victims — as circumstantial. She said she would need to hear it from him directly.She heard it. Now a wrongful death lawsuit is asking whether she should have heard it decades earlier.The son of Valerie Mack — who was six years old when his mother disappeared and was allegedly murdered by Heuermann in 2000 — has filed suit against Heuermann, Ellerup, and their daughter Victoria. The complaint alleges they either knew, concealed the truth, or deliberately looked away. It also goes after the money: a reported million-dollar payment from a Peacock documentary about the case.Ellerup's attorney says she had no knowledge and no involvement. Prosecutors have confirmed she was away each time a murder occurred. But the civil question is different from the criminal one. A jury will not need proof beyond reasonable doubt. They will weigh whether a woman who shared roughly 1,300 square feet with a man who killed eight people — a home with a secured basement room behind a metal door — could have lived there for nearly three decades and genuinely missed everything. Defense attorney and former prosecutor Eric Faddis examines which side has the stronger argument and what tips the balance.Join Our SubStack For AD-FREE ADVANCE EPISODES & EXTRAS!: https://hiddenkillers.substack.com/Want to comment and watch this podcast as a video? Check out our YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8-vxmbhTxxG10sO1izODJg?sub_confirmation=1Instagram https://www.instagram.com/hiddenkillerspod/Facebook https://www.facebook.com/hiddenkillerspod/Tik-Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@hiddenkillerspodX Twitter https://x.com/TrueCrimePodThis publication contains commentary and opinion based on publicly available information. All individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Nothing published here should be taken as a statement of fact, health or legal advice.#AsaEllerup #RexHeuermann #GilgoBeach #CivilLawsuit #ValerieMack #HiddenKillers #TrueCrime #GuiltyPlea #SerialKillerSpouse #EricFaddis

Rex Heuermann admitted to killing Valerie Mack in open court. He pleaded guilty to murdering seven women along the Gilgo Beach corridor and confessed to killing an eighth. For the families of the victims, the guilty plea brought a measure of closure that decades of investigation could not. But for Benjamin Torres — Valerie Mack's son, who was six years old when she disappeared — the guilty plea became the foundation for a new legal fight.Torres has filed a civil lawsuit in Suffolk County Supreme Court naming Heuermann, his ex-wife Asa Ellerup, and their daughter Victoria Heuermann. The complaint alleges the two women knew of or deliberately avoided learning about the murders, had access to a secured vault-like room in the basement of the Massapequa Park home, and collected over a million dollars through documentary and media agreements with Peacock. It accuses them of unjust enrichment, civil conspiracy, and concealment — among other causes of action.The defense position is straightforward and aggressive. Ellerup's attorney has called the filing reckless and unsupported by any evidence. He's pointed to the fact that prosecutors themselves have said the family was away during the killings, that Victoria was approximately three years old when Mack was killed, and that law enforcement never charged either woman after an exhaustive investigation. The statute of limitations for wrongful death in New York is generally two years — and Mack was killed over two decades before this suit was filed.I go deep into the specific allegations, the legal defenses available, how the hair evidence is being interpreted by both sides, and where this case is likely headed. Whether this lawsuit survives its first legal challenge could determine whether other victims' families follow with filings of their own.Join Our SubStack For AD-FREE ADVANCE EPISODES & EXTRAS!: https://hiddenkillers.substack.com/Want to comment and watch this podcast as a video? Check out our YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8-vxmbhTxxG10sO1izODJg?sub_confirmation=1Instagram https://www.instagram.com/hiddenkillerspod/Facebook https://www.facebook.com/hiddenkillerspod/Tik-Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@hiddenkillerspodX Twitter https://x.com/TrueCrimePodThis publication contains commentary and opinion based on publicly available information. All individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Nothing published here should be taken as a statement of fact, health or legal advice.#LISK #RexHeuermann #AsaEllerup #ValerieMack #GilgoBeach #VictoriaHeuermann #GilgoBeachKiller #LongIslandSerialKiller #TrueCrime #HiddenKillers

They packed the courtroom — the mothers, the sisters, the partners, the friends who spent years wondering and waiting and hoping that someone would be held accountable for the women they lost. Some had been waiting since the 2000s. Some since 2010, when the first four sets of remains were found wrapped in burlap along an isolated stretch of Ocean Parkway. And on April 8, in a hearing that lasted roughly thirty minutes, Rex Heuermann gave them the one thing he'd refused to give for nearly three years — the truth.Sandra Costilla. Valerie Mack. Jessica Taylor. Maureen Brainard-Barnes. Melissa Barthelemy. Megan Waterman. Amber Costello. Karen Vergata. Eight women. Eight lives ended by the same man over seventeen years. He described how he met them. How he strangled them. How he disposed of their remains across Long Island.Elizabeth Baczkiel, the mother of Jessica Taylor, said the plea took a weight off her family. Missy Cann, whose sister Maureen Brainard-Barnes was killed, said it brought solace after nineteen years of living between heartbreak and hope. The families were given a choice — accept the plea or push for trial. They chose the admission. They chose finality over the uncertainty of a courtroom proceeding.But finality comes with trade-offs. There will be no trial where every piece of evidence is laid out. No public cross-examination. No moment where a jury decides whether the prosecution's case held. The plea sealed the record on what happened in that proffer session. It protected Heuermann from further prosecution on any named victim. And it left the families of women who haven't been identified yet with the same unanswered questions they've carried for years. Heuermann's attorney says there are no other victims. The investigation hasn't stopped. And the question of whether eight is the real number belongs to the families who are still waiting.Join Our SubStack For AD-FREE ADVANCE EPISODES & EXTRAS!: https://hiddenkillers.substack.com/Want to comment and watch this podcast as a video? Check out our YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8-vxmbhTxxG10sO1izODJg?sub_confirmation=1Instagram https://www.instagram.com/hiddenkillerspod/Facebook https://www.facebook.com/hiddenkillerspod/Tik-Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@hiddenkillerspodX Twitter https://x.com/TrueCrimePodThis publication contains commentary and opinion based on publicly available information. All individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Nothing published here should be taken as a statement of fact, health or legal advice.#RexHeuermann #GilgoBeach #GilgoBeachKiller #GuiltyPlea #Justice #Victims #KarenVergata #SuffolkCounty #TrueCrime #HiddenKillers

Benjamin Torres never got to grow up with his mother. Valerie Mack disappeared when he was six years old. Her partial remains — dismembered, decapitated, hands severed — were found in Manorville that same year. Nobody knew who she was. For twenty years, she was listed as an unidentified woman. Torres spent his entire childhood, his adolescence, and most of his adult life without knowing what happened to her, without anyone being held accountable, and without a single person in the system telling him his mother's name had been attached to the remains found in those woods.Rex Heuermann has now pleaded guilty to killing her. That admission gives Torres something he never had — confirmation. But it doesn't give him everything. And that's why he filed a lawsuit that goes beyond the man who strangled his mother.The complaint names Asa Ellerup and Victoria Heuermann. It accuses them of knowing about the murders, of concealing what was happening inside the home, and of collecting over a million dollars from a documentary about the killings while showing what the lawsuit calls callous disregard for the families left behind. The defense calls it baseless. They say the family cooperated with law enforcement from the beginning. They say Victoria was approximately three years old when Mack was killed. They say prosecutors have never pointed the finger at either woman.Those are facts worth weighing. But so is the fact that a six-year-old boy lost his mother to a man who dismembered her body and hid the pieces across Long Island — and the people closest to that man collected a documentary payday while the victims' families were still burying what was left. Torres wants accountability beyond the guilty plea. Whether the court gives him that is a question the legal system will answer. But the question of who profited and who suffered is one the public is already asking.Join Our SubStack For AD-FREE ADVANCE EPISODES & EXTRAS!: https://hiddenkillers.substack.com/Want to comment and watch this podcast as a video? Check out our YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8-vxmbhTxxG10sO1izODJg?sub_confirmation=1Instagram https://www.instagram.com/hiddenkillerspod/Facebook https://www.facebook.com/hiddenkillerspod/Tik-Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@hiddenkillerspodX Twitter https://x.com/TrueCrimePodThis publication contains commentary and opinion based on publicly available information. All individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Nothing published here should be taken as a statement of fact, health or legal advice.#GilgoBeach #RexHeuermann #ValerieMack #BenjaminTorres #AsaEllerup #VictoriaHeuermann #GilgoBeachKiller #WrongfulDeath #Justice #HiddenKillers

Sandra Costilla was 28 years old when her body was found in the woods of Southampton, Long Island, in 1993. For three decades, nobody connected her death to the Gilgo Beach case. Investigators looked at the wrong suspect for years. Meanwhile, according to prosecutors, the man whose DNA was allegedly on her body was living undisturbed — building a career, raising a family, and allegedly killing other women for nearly two more decades after Sandra was gone.Rex Heuermann pled guilty to her murder. He pled guilty to murdering six other women. He admitted to killing an eighth victim — Karen Vergata. Life without parole. No trial. After nearly three years of fighting every piece of evidence, challenging the DNA, filing motion after motion, and losing each one — he stood in Suffolk County Court and admitted to all of it.Sandra's case changed everything about the timeline. Before prosecutors linked her to Heuermann, the Gilgo Beach killings were understood to have begun in 2007. Sandra pushes it back by 14 years. The DNA evidence that connected Heuermann to her was matched through technology that didn't exist during her lifetime. The defense tried to get it thrown out. The judge ruled it admissible. That ruling may have been the moment the defense knew there was nowhere left to go.Retired FBI Special Agent Jennifer Coffindaffer examines what the plea means for the families — what it provides, what it takes away, and what remains unresolved along the Gilgo Beach corridor where additional remains were found beyond the victims Heuermann was charged with killing. Heuermann has agreed to cooperate with the FBI going forward. But cooperation doesn't answer every question. It doesn't replace the trial these families were preparing to sit through. And it doesn't give Sandra Costilla back the three decades she spent as an unconnected case file while the man who allegedly killed her lived freely on the same island where her body was found.This is Episode 1 of "The Seven." One victim per episode. Their story first. The evidence second. Sandra waited the longest. Her name goes first.Join Our SubStack For AD-FREE ADVANCE EPISODES & EXTRAS!: https://hiddenkillers.substack.com/Want to comment and watch this podcast as a video? Check out our YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8-vxmbhTxxG10sO1izODJg?sub_confirmation=1Instagram https://www.instagram.com/hiddenkillerspod/Facebook https://www.facebook.com/hiddenkillerspod/Tik-Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@hiddenkillerspodX Twitter https://x.com/TrueCrimePodThis publication contains commentary and opinion based on publicly available information. All individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Nothing published here should be taken as a statement of fact, health or legal advice.#SandraCostilla #RexHeuermann #GilgoBeachKiller #LISK #GuiltyPlea #TheSeven #GilgoBeachVictims #LongIslandSerialKiller #TrueCrime #HiddenKillers

She called him her savior. He stood in a Suffolk County courtroom and admitted to murdering seven women. He admitted to killing an eighth. Rex Heuermann pled guilty. Life without parole. No trial. No testimony. Just an admission — and a family left to reckon with what was real and what was never what it appeared to be.Asa Ellerup maintained she would have known. Their daughter Victoria sat in that courtroom and watched her father enter the plea. Victoria has publicly said she believes he most likely committed the killings. Asa stood outside afterward, asked for privacy, and expressed sympathy for the victims' families. Her attorney said she never claimed Rex wasn't guilty — she said the man she was married to for 27 years, the father of her daughter, she did not believe was capable of these acts. A mother and daughter. Same evidence. Same nightmare. Opposite conclusions.Prosecutors allege Heuermann engineered his crimes around his family's schedule — acting when Asa and the children were away. Investigators found violent content and checklists on his devices. A deleted planning document recovered from his hard drive allegedly detailed the methodology. A basement vault held 279 weapons. Asa's own hair was reportedly found on victims. For nearly three decades, she reportedly saw nothing. Psychotherapist Shavaun Scott breaks down the psychology of "not knowing" — how the mind builds walls that allow a person to live beside evidence they cannot process, and what a guilty plea does to the architecture that sustained decades of reported unawareness.Criminal defense attorney Bob Motta examines why the plea happened. Every defense motion failed. Whole genome sequencing was admitted for the first time in a New York courtroom. The sentence was the same either way. Motta walks through what Heuermann gained — including cooperation with the FBI — and what the families of Melissa Barthelemy, Maureen Brainard-Barnes, Amber Costello, Sandra Costilla, Valerie Mack, Jessica Taylor, Megan Waterman, and Karen Vergata lost when a plea replaced the trial that would have put every piece of evidence on the public record. For every person who followed this case from the discovery of the first remains to the plea hearing, this is the reckoning — legal, psychological, and human — that closes one chapter and leaves the hardest questions unanswered.Join Our SubStack For AD-FREE ADVANCE EPISODES & EXTRAS!: https://hiddenkillers.substack.com/Want to comment and watch this podcast as a video? Check out our YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8-vxmbhTxxG10sO1izODJg?sub_confirmation=1Instagram https://www.instagram.com/hiddenkillerspod/Facebook https://www.facebook.com/hiddenkillerspod/Tik-Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@hiddenkillerspodX Twitter https://x.com/TrueCrimePodThis publication contains commentary and opinion based on publicly available information. All individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Nothing published here should be taken as a statement of fact, health or legal advice.#RexHeuermann #GilgoBeachKiller #LISK #AsaEllerup #GuiltyPlea #GilgoBeachVictims #KarenVergata #ShavaunScott #TrueCrime #HiddenKillers

Rex Heuermann pled guilty. After nearly three years of maintaining his innocence, the accused Gilgo Beach Killer admitted in court to murdering seven women and killing an eighth — Karen Vergata. Life without parole. No trial.For the families who waited over a decade for answers — some who waited more than two decades — a guilty plea provides certainty. It provides a sentence. But it also takes something away. There is no cross-examination. No testimony laid bare in open court. No moment where the prosecution walks a jury through every piece of evidence while the families watch. Eric Faddis — defense attorney and former felony prosecutor — walks through what a plea provides and what it costs with the honesty these families deserve.We also break down the evidence that reportedly left Heuermann no path to acquittal. Prosecutors recovered a deleted planning document from his hard drive — allegedly a blueprint for the killings. Whole genome sequencing matched his DNA to hairs found on and near victims, admitted in a New York courtroom for the first time. The foundational connection started with a pizza crust collected during surveillance. Over 350 electronic devices were seized. Faddis explains what happens when a prosecutor holds both a planning document and DNA linkage across multiple crime scenes, why the defense challenged the science but not the document, and what the Frye hearing looked like from the inside. He identifies the single piece of evidence he believes sealed the outcome — and his answer goes to intent, not just forensic presence. For every person who has followed this case from the beginning, this is the legal and evidentiary reckoning that explains how it ended.Join Our SubStack For AD-FREE ADVANCE EPISODES & EXTRAS!: https://hiddenkillers.substack.com/Want to comment and watch this podcast as a video? Check out our YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8-vxmbhTxxG10sO1izODJg?sub_confirmation=1Instagram https://www.instagram.com/hiddenkillerspod/Facebook https://www.facebook.com/hiddenkillerspod/Tik-Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@hiddenkillerspodX Twitter https://x.com/TrueCrimePodThis publication contains commentary and opinion based on publicly available information. All individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Nothing published here should be taken as a statement of fact, health or legal advice.#RexHeuermann #GilgoBeachKiller #LISK #GuiltyPlea #GilgoBeachVictims #KarenVergata #LongIslandSerialKiller #TrueCrime #HiddenKillers #TrueCrimePodcast

Rex Heuermann got hustled on September 1, 2010 — and it may be the reason he's in prison. Amber Costello's roommate Dave Schaller ran a scam on a client at their West Babylon house. The client — described by Schaller as massive, an "ogre" — left, got into a first-generation Chevrolet Avalanche, and sent a text: "That was not nice, so do I get credit for next time." The next night, the same burner phone contacted Amber. She walked out to meet the man. Schaller saw the truck again. Amber never came back.Episode 7 of "The Seven" — the final installment. That Avalanche description sat in the case file until 2022, when the Gilgo Beach task force ran it through vehicle registration records. The name that came back: Rex Heuermann, architect, Massapequa Park. From there — surveillance, the pizza crust, the DNA match, the warrants, the house searches, the planning document, the arrest.Cell tower data tracked the burner phone from Massapequa Park to West Babylon on both nights. Amber was 27, four feet eleven, battling addiction. Her sister said she forgives Heuermann. The evidence trail that started with a roommate's description of a truck and ended with an arrest — all covered here. The last known victim became the case that broke everything open.Join Our SubStack For AD-FREE ADVANCE EPISODES & EXTRAS!: https://hiddenkillers.substack.com/Want to comment and watch this podcast as a video? Check out our YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8-vxmbhTxxG10sO1izODJg?sub_confirmation=1Instagram https://www.instagram.com/hiddenkillerspod/Facebook https://www.facebook.com/hiddenkillerspod/Tik-Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@hiddenkillerspodX Twitter https://x.com/TrueCrimePodThis publication contains commentary and opinion based on publicly available information. All individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Nothing published here should be taken as a statement of fact, health or legal advice.#AmberCostello #RexHeuermann #GilgoBeach #GilgoFour #LISK #ChevyAvalanche 

The pizza crust changed everything. Investigators had Heuermann under surveillance for months before they collected the abandoned DNA sample that cracked the case. He discarded a pizza crust near his Manhattan office. The DNA on it matched a male hair found in the burlap wrapping around Megan Waterman's remains. That match gave prosecutors warrants for his house in Massapequa Park, where they seized more than 350 electronic devices, the planning document, and evidence connecting Heuermann to multiple victims.Episode 6 of "The Seven." Megan was 22, from Maine, a devoted mother who called her three-year-old daughter every single day. When the calls stopped on June 6, 2010, her family knew immediately. The Holiday Inn Express surveillance footage — the last known image of Megan alive — shows her walking out at 1:15 a.m. She was found six months later in burlap on Ocean Parkway.Prosecutors allege Heuermann's family was out of state during every murder he's charged with. His search history allegedly included images of the victims and their families — their sisters, their children. The DNA breakthrough, Megan's story, and every piece of evidence that flowed from a discarded pizza crust — all covered here.Join Our SubStack For AD-FREE ADVANCE EPISODES & EXTRAS!: https://hiddenkillers.substack.com/Want to comment and watch this podcast as a video? Check out our YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8-vxmbhTxxG10sO1izODJg?sub_confirmation=1Instagram https://www.instagram.com/hiddenkillerspod/Facebook https://www.facebook.com/hiddenkillerspod/Tik-Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@hiddenkillerspodX Twitter https://x.com/TrueCrimePodThis publication contains commentary and opinion based on publicly available information. All individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Nothing published here should be taken as a statement of fact, health or legal advice.#MeganWaterman #RexHeuermann #GilgoBeach #GilgoFour #LISK #PizzaCrustDNA #DNAEvidence #TheSeven #TrueCrime #GilgoBeachKiller

Asa Ellerup was in the courtroom. Last row. Watching the man she was married to for nearly thirty years admit to things she once said she would have known about if they were true. Rex Heuermann's guilty plea is now the record. And Asa is navigating a world where the person she built her life around has admitted to being someone she says she never knew existed.Her daughter Victoria was there too. Victoria already said publicly that she believes her father most likely did it. She arrived at that conclusion before the plea. Her mother held on longer. After court, Asa told reporters her thoughts are with the victims. Her attorney blasted a wrongful death lawsuit that now names both of them — filed by the son of Valerie Mack, alleging the family profited from a documentary and showed disregard for the people harmed.This is where the case gets personal for the people who've been following it. The legal chapter is closing. The human chapter is just beginning — for every family connected to this story. On Hidden Killers Live With Tony Brueski & Robin Dreeke, Eric Faddis and Robin Dreeke continue the panel discussion on the aftermath. The lawsuit. The family fracture. The FBI cooperation that suggests this story may still have chapters no one has seen yet. And the question at the center of it: how do the people who loved him survive what he just admitted?Join Our SubStack For AD-FREE ADVANCE EPISODES & EXTRAS!: https://hiddenkillers.substack.com/Want to comment and watch this podcast as a video? Check out our YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8-vxmbhTxxG10sO1izODJg?sub_confirmation=1Instagram https://www.instagram.com/hiddenkillerspod/Facebook https://www.facebook.com/hiddenkillerspod/Tik-Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@hiddenkillerspodX Twitter https://x.com/TrueCrimePodThis publication contains commentary and opinion based on publicly available information. All individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Nothing published here should be taken as a statement of fact, health or legal advice.#RexHeuermann #GilgoBeach #AsaEllerup #VictoriaHeuermann #GilgoBeachKiller #WrongfulDeath #SerialKillerFamily #HiddenKillersLive #GilgoBeachVictims #TrueCrime

He said it. After years of standing stone-faced in court, after denying everything, after forcing investigators and families through years of legal proceedings — Rex Heuermann stood in Suffolk County Court and pleaded guilty to killing seven women. He admitted to killing an eighth, Karen Vergata, whose case will not be separately charged under the plea deal.For the families of Melissa Barthelemy, Maureen Brainard-Barnes, Amber Lynn Costello, Sandra Costilla, Valerie Mack, Jessica Taylor, and Megan Waterman — this is the formal legal confirmation of what they have been carrying for years. Some wept in the courtroom as Heuermann detailed his crimes. This is what resolution looks like when it comes too late and still isn't enough.Heuermann's ex-wife Asa Ellerup sat in the last row with their daughter Victoria. Asa told reporters her thoughts and prayers are with the victims. Victoria has previously stated publicly that she believes her father most likely committed the killings. A wrongful death lawsuit has been filed against all three of them by the son of Valerie Mack.On Hidden Killers Live With Tony Brueski & Robin Dreeke, defense attorney and former prosecutor Eric Faddis and Robin Dreeke sit down for a panel discussion on what this plea means — legally, behaviorally, and for every family connected to this case. What the defense gained. What the prosecution traded. What the FBI cooperation opens up. And why his attorney chose the word “relief” to describe a man admitting to killing eight women.Join Our SubStack For AD-FREE ADVANCE EPISODES & EXTRAS!: https://hiddenkillers.substack.com/Want to comment and watch this podcast as a video? Check out our YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8-vxmbhTxxG10sO1izODJg?sub_confirmation=1Instagram https://www.instagram.com/hiddenkillerspod/Facebook https://www.facebook.com/hiddenkillerspod/Tik-Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@hiddenkillerspodX Twitter https://x.com/TrueCrimePodThis publication contains commentary and opinion based on publicly available information. All individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Nothing published here should be taken as a statement of fact, health or legal advice.#RexHeuermann #GilgoBeach #GilgoBeachKiller #GuiltyPlea #GilgoBeachVictims #KarenVergata #AsaEllerup #EricFaddis #HiddenKillersLive #Justice

The cellphone evidence in Melissa Barthelemy's case maps Rex Heuermann's alleged movements with precision. Prosecutors say the burner phone she'd connected with traveled from Massapequa Park to Midtown Manhattan on the day she disappeared — mirroring Heuermann's daily commute. Hours later, Melissa's own phone traveled the reverse route — from Manhattan back toward Long Island. And then, for five weeks, someone used Melissa's phone to call her 15-year-old sister, taunting her with details of the killing. Under three minutes per call. From crowded Manhattan locations. Emotionally flat. Calculated.Episode 5 of "The Seven." Melissa was 24, from Buffalo, living in the Bronx, working escort ads on Craigslist because the cosmetology career she'd trained for hadn't taken off yet. She was four feet ten, 95 pounds. She had eight cats. Her landlady described her as a sweet girl. Her remains were the first found in December 2010 — discovered by a cadaver dog during a training exercise along Ocean Parkway.Prosecutors allege Heuermann's internet searches included more than 200 queries about the Gilgo investigation and images of the victims' families. The phone trail, the taunting calls, the DNA, the search history, and Melissa's full story — all covered here.Join Our SubStack For AD-FREE ADVANCE EPISODES & EXTRAS!: https://hiddenkillers.substack.com/Want to comment and watch this podcast as a video? Check out our YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8-vxmbhTxxG10sO1izODJg?sub_confirmation=1Instagram https://www.instagram.com/hiddenkillerspod/Facebook https://www.facebook.com/hiddenkillerspod/Tik-Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@hiddenkillerspodX Twitter https://x.com/TrueCrimePodThis publication contains commentary and opinion based on publicly available information. All individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Nothing published here should be taken as a statement of fact, health or legal advice.#MelissaBarthelemy #RexHeuermann #GilgoBeach #GilgoFour #LISK #CellPhoneEvidence #TauntingCalls #TheSeven #TrueCrime #GilgoBeachKiller

Maureen Brainard-Barnes was the first of the Gilgo Four to disappear — July 2007. Three days later, her phone was used in Suffolk County along the Long Island Expressway. Prosecutors allege Rex Heuermann checked her voicemail after she was gone. Burner phone data from the phone that contacted Maureen traced back to "the box" — a tight cluster of cell towers surrounding Heuermann's Massapequa Park home. Every burner phone connected to the Gilgo Four pinged from that same area.Episode 4 of "The Seven." Maureen was 25, a mother of two, facing eviction, about to lose custody. She took the train from Connecticut to work as an escort in Midtown Manhattan because the money was the only thing standing between her and losing her children. At 11:43 p.m. on July 9, she called a friend and said she was going to meet a client. Nobody heard from her again for more than three years — until her remains were found in December 2010, wrapped in burlap on Ocean Parkway, alongside the other Gilgo Four victims.DNA on a leather belt used to bind her remains matched Heuermann's wife's profile. The belt also bore the initials "WH" — matching Heuermann's grandfather, William Heuermann. The cellphone evidence, the DNA, the family's fight for justice, and Maureen's full story — all covered here.Join Our SubStack For AD-FREE ADVANCE EPISODES & EXTRAS!: https://hiddenkillers.substack.com/Want to comment and watch this podcast as a video? Check out our YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8-vxmbhTxxG10sO1izODJg?sub_confirmation=1Instagram https://www.instagram.com/hiddenkillerspod/Facebook https://www.facebook.com/hiddenkillerspod/Tik-Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@hiddenkillerspodX Twitter https://x.com/TrueCrimePodThis publication contains commentary and opinion based on publicly available information. All individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Nothing published here should be taken as a statement of fact, health or legal advice.#MaureenBrainardBarnes #RexHeuermann #GilgoBeach #GilgoFour #LISK #BurnerPhone #DNAEvidence #TheSeven #TrueCrime #GilgoBeachKiller

She built her life around him. He allegedly built something else entirely. Rex Heuermann is charged with the murders of seven women along Long Island's Gilgo Beach corridor — killings that reportedly spanned from 1993 to 2010. He is expected to enter a guilty plea, according to multiple reports. If accepted, he faces life without parole.But for the people who lived inside that house, the legal outcome is only the beginning. Asa Ellerup shared nearly three decades with Heuermann. She has said she would have known if something was wrong. Prosecutors allege he was methodical — allegedly timing the crimes for when his family was away, maintaining violent content and detailed checklists on his devices. Her own hair was reportedly found on victims. And yet she has maintained he isn't capable of what he's accused of. Their daughter Victoria has publicly said the opposite — that she believes her father most likely committed the killings.That split is where this conversation lives. Psychotherapist Shavaun Scott joins me to unpack how a person's entire psychological identity can be anchored to someone who, according to prosecutors, was hiding a monstrous second life. How does the brain protect itself from a truth it cannot survive? How are partners allegedly selected for their vulnerability? What does it look like when the wall finally breaks? If you've been following this case and asking yourself how someone doesn't know — this is the episode that answers that question. The answer is more unsettling than most people are ready for.Join Our SubStack For AD-FREE ADVANCE EPISODES & EXTRAS!: https://hiddenkillers.substack.com/Want to comment and watch this podcast as a video? Check out our YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8-vxmbhTxxG10sO1izODJg?sub_confirmation=1Instagram https://www.instagram.com/hiddenkillerspod/Facebook https://www.facebook.com/hiddenkillerspod/Tik-Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@hiddenkillerspodX Twitter https://x.com/TrueCrimePodThis publication contains commentary and opinion based on publicly available information. All individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Nothing published here should be taken as a statement of fact, health or legal advice.#RexHeuermann #AsaEllerup #GilgoBeach #LISK #GilgoBeachKiller #VictoriaHeuermann #SerialKillerFamily #TrueCrime #HiddenKillers #LongIslandMurders

They were bracing for a trial. The mothers, the sisters, the children of the women Rex Heuermann is charged with killing — they were preparing to sit in that courtroom and hear every piece of evidence laid out publicly. To watch the prosecution present the DNA, the cellphone records, the alleged murder blueprint recovered from his computer. To see a jury decide.Now, reportedly, that's gone.Heuermann is expected to plead guilty to seven murders after nearly three years of maintaining his innocence. His defense challenged the DNA twice. They fought to separate the cases. They filed a 178-page motion for every form of legal relief available. Every challenge was denied. Criminal defense attorney Bob Motta examines what those systematic denials mean for the attorney-client conversation that leads to a plea, and what this moment costs the families who wanted — and arguably deserved — a full public accounting.Melissa Barthelemy. Maureen Brainard-Barnes. Amber Lynn Costello. Sandra Costilla. Valerie Mack. Jessica Taylor. Megan Waterman. They disappeared between 1993 and 2010. A guilty plea gives their families an admission. It also takes away the trial. Motta breaks down whether that exchange is justice — or just an ending.Join Our SubStack For AD-FREE ADVANCE EPISODES & EXTRAS!: https://hiddenkillers.substack.com/Want to comment and watch this podcast as a video? Check out our YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8-vxmbhTxxG10sO1izODJg?sub_confirmation=1Instagram https://www.instagram.com/hiddenkillerspod/Facebook https://www.facebook.com/hiddenkillerspod/Tik-Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@hiddenkillerspodX Twitter https://x.com/TrueCrimePodThis publication contains commentary and opinion based on publicly available information. All individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Nothing published here should be taken as a statement of fact, health or legal advice.#RexHeuermann #GilgoBeach #GilgoBeachKiller #LISK #GuiltyPlea #TrueCrime #HiddenKillers #GilgoFour #SerialKiller #VictimJustice

The planning document changed this case. Prosecutors say a digital file recovered from Rex Heuermann's basement laptop contained all-caps checklists for committing murder — organized by phase, with notes on sleep, evidence cleanup, alibi preparation, and what prosecutors believe are references to violence against victims. Jessica Taylor's case is where that document hits hardest, because the forensic evidence from her body allegedly aligns with what was written in it.Episode 3 of "The Seven." Jessica was 20, working in Midtown Manhattan near Port Authority — the same neighborhood as Heuermann's office. Her torso was found in Manorville in 2003. Her head and hands were found alongside the Gilgo Four in 2011. A hair on a surgical drape under her body matched Heuermann's DNA. The tool marks on her bones matched those on Valerie Mack. The garbage bags at both scenes matched in color, seal, and construction.This episode connects the forensic dots between the Manorville and Gilgo Beach dump sites — and lays out what prosecutors describe as a method that was practiced, documented, and refined over years. Jessica's life, the evidence, and the full prosecution case — all covered here.Join Our SubStack For AD-FREE ADVANCE EPISODES & EXTRAS!: https://hiddenkillers.substack.com/Want to comment and watch this podcast as a video? Check out our YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8-vxmbhTxxG10sO1izODJg?sub_confirmation=1Instagram https://www.instagram.com/hiddenkillerspod/Facebook https://www.facebook.com/hiddenkillerspod/Tik-Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@hiddenkillerspodX Twitter https://x.com/TrueCrimePodThis publication contains commentary and opinion based on publicly available information. All individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Nothing published here should be taken as a statement of fact, health or legal advice.#JessicaTaylor #RexHeuermann #GilgoBeach #PlanningDocument #LISK #DNAEvidence #Manorville #TheSeven #TrueCrime #GilgoBeachKiller

Prosecutors say Rex Heuermann kept newspaper clippings about his alleged victims — including a 2003 New York Post article about Valerie Mack's remains. They describe these as "souvenirs" and "mementos." They also say the planning document from his laptop included instructions to "remove head and hands" — matching exactly what was done to Valerie's body. And a female hair found on her remains matched the DNA profiles of Heuermann's wife and daughter, who was a toddler at the time of Valerie's death.Episode 2 of "The Seven." Valerie Mack spent twenty years as Jane Doe Number Six. Nobody reported her missing. She was 24, a mother, adopted, working as an escort in Philadelphia. Her dismembered torso was found in Manorville in 2000. More remains surfaced along Ocean Parkway in 2011. Genetic genealogy identified her in 2020. Heuermann was charged with her murder in late 2024.The DNA, the souvenirs, the matching dismemberment patterns between Valerie and Jessica Taylor, the forensic anthropology connecting tool marks on both victims' bones, and who Valerie was before all of this — the foster care, the adoption, the son she left behind, the family that waited decades for answers. All of it covered here.Join Our SubStack For AD-FREE ADVANCE EPISODES & EXTRAS!: https://hiddenkillers.substack.com/Want to comment and watch this podcast as a video? Check out our YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8-vxmbhTxxG10sO1izODJg?sub_confirmation=1Instagram https://www.instagram.com/hiddenkillerspod/Facebook https://www.facebook.com/hiddenkillerspod/Tik-Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@hiddenkillerspodX Twitter https://x.com/TrueCrimePodThis publication contains commentary and opinion based on publicly available information. All individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Nothing published here should be taken as a statement of fact, health or legal advice.#ValerieMack #RexHeuermann #GilgoBeach #LISK #DNAEvidence #ColdCase #GilgoBeachKiller #TheSeven #TrueCrime #LongIslandSerialKiller

They were somebody's daughter. Somebody's sister. Somebody's mother. And according to prosecutors, they were chosen because the man who allegedly took them believed nobody would come looking.Rex Heuermann, 62, is expected to plead guilty at an April 8th court appearance to charges connected to the murders of seven women — Melissa Barthelemy, Megan Waterman, Amber Lynn Costello, Maureen Brainard-Barnes, Jessica Taylor, Sandra Costilla, and Valerie Mack. If the judge accepts the plea, he reportedly faces life without parole. No trial. No testimony. No cross-examination.For the families who've waited years — some of them more than a decade — this was supposed to be the moment where they finally sat in a courtroom and watched the system hold someone accountable in front of the public. A guilty plea takes that from them. It may bring finality. But it doesn't bring the full accounting many of them have been waiting for.And it doesn't bring answers for everyone. Heuermann is charged in connection with seven deaths. Additional remains were found near Gilgo Beach. Those families are still waiting.Retired FBI Special Agent Jennifer Coffindaffer examines what this moment means — for the families who get a resolution, for those who don't, and for the investigation that took so long to get here.Join Our SubStack For AD-FREE ADVANCE EPISODES & EXTRAS!: https://hiddenkillers.substack.com/Want to comment and watch this podcast as a video? Check out our YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8-vxmbhTxxG10sO1izODJg?sub_confirmation=1Instagram https://www.instagram.com/hiddenkillerspod/Facebook https://www.facebook.com/hiddenkillerspod/Tik-Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@hiddenkillerspodX Twitter https://x.com/TrueCrimePodThis publication contains commentary and opinion based on publicly available information. All individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Nothing published here should be taken as a statement of fact, health or legal advice.#RexHeuermann #GilgoBeach #GilgoBeachVictims #LongIsland #JusticeForTheVictims #SerialKiller #TrueCrime #HiddenKillers #SuffolkCounty #DNA

Sandra Costilla changes everything about the Gilgo Beach case. If you thought the killings started in 2007, prosecutors say you're off by 14 years. Sandra was found in the woods of Southampton in November 1993 — not on Gilgo Beach, not along Ocean Parkway, but 60 miles east, in a location nobody connected to the pattern until prosecutors applied advanced DNA technology to hairs found on her body. The results, according to the indictment: a 99.96 percent match to Rex Heuermann.Episode 1 of "The Seven" — one episode per victim, starting with the earliest alleged case and building chronologically through to Amber Costello.Sandra's case is the thinnest in publicly known evidence — the defense called it a single hair on a shirt — but it may be the most significant in terms of what it reveals. If Heuermann was allegedly killing in 1993, he was doing it before the marriage, before the children, before the suburban life prosecutors say gave him cover. And the seven-year gap between Sandra and the next known victim, Valerie Mack in 2000, raises questions prosecutors haven't publicly answered. The evidence, the defense challenge, the judge's ruling, and what Sandra's case means for understanding the full alleged scope — all covered here.Join Our SubStack For AD-FREE ADVANCE EPISODES & EXTRAS!: https://hiddenkillers.substack.com/Want to comment and watch this podcast as a video? Check out our YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8-vxmbhTxxG10sO1izODJg?sub_confirmation=1Instagram https://www.instagram.com/hiddenkillerspod/Facebook https://www.facebook.com/hiddenkillerspod/Tik-Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@hiddenkillerspodX Twitter https://x.com/TrueCrimePodThis publication contains commentary and opinion based on publicly available information. All individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Nothing published here should be taken as a statement of fact, health or legal advice.#SandraCostilla #RexHeuermann #GilgoBeach #LISK #DNAEvidence #ColdCase #GilgoBeachKiller #LongIslandSerialKiller #TheSeven #TrueCrime

Melissa Barthelemy was 24. Megan Waterman was 22. Amber Costello was 27. Maureen Brainard-Barnes was 25. Jessica Taylor was 20. Sandra Costilla was 28. Valerie Mack was 24. Their remains were found scattered along isolated stretches of Long Island — some near Gilgo Beach, some in Manorville, some in remote wooded areas. For over a decade, no one was charged. Their families waited. And waited. And now, reportedly, the man accused of taking all of them is expected to stand in a Suffolk County courtroom and say the word "guilty."This week's look back at the most compelling developments in the Gilgo Beach case centers on what this expected plea means for the people who've carried this weight the longest. Rex Heuermann is reportedly set to change his plea on April 8. The deal is still being finalized. A judge must accept it. But if it holds, there will be no trial. No testimony. No cross-examination. The families who have waited since the first remains were discovered will hear the plea — and that may be the closest thing to a courtroom reckoning they get.His daughter has said publicly she believes he most likely did it. Files recovered from his computer allegedly contained checklists — a systematic approach to limiting noise, cleaning bodies, destroying evidence. His defense challenged the DNA evidence twice and lost. The motion to try the cases separately was denied. Life without parole was the only outcome either way. But a plea means the story ends on his terms — not theirs.And then there are the others. Andrew Dykes' arrest in the murder of Tanya Jackson — the woman known as "Peaches" — proved that Ocean Parkway was used by more than one killer. Four additional victims found along that corridor remain uncharged. Their families don't get a courtroom. They don't get a plea. They get silence.Someone needs to answer for all of them.Join Our SubStack For AD-FREE ADVANCE EPISODES & EXTRAS!: https://hiddenkillers.substack.com/Want to comment and watch this podcast as a video? Check out our YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8-vxmbhTxxG10sO1izODJg?sub_confirmation=1Instagram https://www.instagram.com/hiddenkillerspod/Facebook https://www.facebook.com/hiddenkillerspod/Tik-Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@hiddenkillerspodX Twitter https://x.com/TrueCrimePodThis publication contains commentary and opinion based on publicly available information. All individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Nothing published here should be taken as a statement of fact, health or legal advice.#RexHeuermann #GilgoBeach #LISK #GilgoFour #JusticeForTheVictims #LongIslandSerialKiller #TrueCrime #HiddenKillers #OceanParkway #BringThemJustice

Rex Heuermann is reportedly expected to plead guilty to the alleged murders of seven women. After nearly three years of maintaining his innocence, the accused Gilgo Beach Killer and Long Island Serial Killer is apparently done fighting — and the reasons why tell you everything about how this LISK case was built.Defense attorney and former felony prosecutor Eric Faddis joins me for the complete breakdown of the Rex Heuermann case. We trace the prosecution's strategy from the 2022 cold case reopening through every charge, every denied motion, and every pretrial ruling that narrowed the Gilgo Beach Killer defense's options until a plea reportedly became the only path left.We examine the evidence in detail — the deleted Word document allegedly recovered from Heuermann's hard drive with sections on supplies, targets, disposal sites, and "Mindhunter" references. The DNA matched through whole genome sequencing, admitted in New York for the first time. The pizza crust surveillance. Faddis explains why the LISK defense challenged the DNA but not the document — and which piece of evidence he believes broke the accused Long Island Serial Killer's resolve.And we address what the Gilgo Beach Killer plea doesn't resolve. The remaining victims. Shannan Gilbert. The Bittrolff reversal on Sandra Costilla. The behavioral evidence — the planning, the timing, the alleged compartmentalized existence. Whether law enforcement keeps investigating. Whether the alternative suspect argument has any legal life. And whether a plea without a trial can ever be called justice.This is the definitive Rex Heuermann conversation. Every angle. Every question. No filter.Join Our SubStack For AD-FREE ADVANCE EPISODES & EXTRAS!: https://hiddenkillers.substack.com/Want to comment and watch this podcast as a video? Check out our YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8-vxmbhTxxG10sO1izODJg?sub_confirmation=1Instagram https://www.instagram.com/hiddenkillerspod/Facebook https://www.facebook.com/hiddenkillerspod/Tik-Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@hiddenkillerspodX Twitter https://x.com/TrueCrimePodThis publication contains commentary and opinion based on publicly available information. All individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Nothing published here should be taken as a statement of fact, health or legal advice.#RexHeuermann #GilgoBeachKiller #LISK #LongIslandSerialKiller #EricFaddis #GuiltyPlea #DNAEvidence #ShannanGilbert #GilgoBeach #TrueCrimePodcast

Rex Heuermann is expected to plead guilty to the alleged murders of seven women. But the Gilgo Beach Killer investigation uncovered eleven sets of remains — and the accused Long Island Serial Killer is not believed to be responsible for all of them. Shannan Gilbert's case remains uncharged. The Sandra Costilla murder was once attributed to convicted killer John Bittrolff before prosecutors reversed course and charged Heuermann.Defense attorney and former felony prosecutor Eric Faddis joins me to examine what a Gilgo Beach Killer guilty plea doesn't resolve. We walk through the remaining LISK victims and whether law enforcement continues investigating once the primary defendant is resolved. We examine the Bittrolff reversal in detail — what it means when the prosecution's own prior theory contradicts their current charges — and whether that argument has any legal life in a potential appeal.Faddis addresses the behavioral evidence — the alleged timing of killings when Heuermann's family was away, the planning document references, the internet search history — and what the totality of that evidence suggests about how the accused Long Island Serial Killer allegedly compartmentalized his existence. We talk about the systemic failures that allowed someone to allegedly target marginalized women for nearly two decades. And we close with the question at the center of the Gilgo Beach Killer case: is a plea without a trial justice — or is it just an ending?For anyone who has followed the Rex Heuermann case from the beginning, this is the conversation about what happens after the plea.Join Our SubStack For AD-FREE ADVANCE EPISODES & EXTRAS!: https://hiddenkillers.substack.com/Want to comment and watch this podcast as a video? Check out our YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8-vxmbhTxxG10sO1izODJg?sub_confirmation=1Instagram https://www.instagram.com/hiddenkillerspod/Facebook https://www.facebook.com/hiddenkillerspod/Tik-Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@hiddenkillerspodX Twitter https://x.com/TrueCrimePodThis publication contains commentary and opinion based on publicly available information. All individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Nothing published here should be taken as a statement of fact, health or legal advice.#RexHeuermann #GilgoBeachKiller #LISK #LongIslandSerialKiller #ShannanGilbert #JohnBittrolff #EricFaddis #GilgoBeach #TrueCrime #TrueCrimePodcast

Prosecutors in the LISK case recovered a Word document from Rex Heuermann's basement hard drive — allegedly created in 2000 — that outlined how to select victims, dispose of remains, and avoid capture. They matched the accused Gilgo Beach Killer's DNA to hairs found on and near multiple victims using whole genome sequencing, admitted for the first time in New York history. And the original break came from a pizza crust the accused Long Island Serial Killer discarded during surveillance.Defense attorney and former felony prosecutor Eric Faddis joins me to walk through both pillars of the Gilgo Beach Killer evidence. We examine the planning document's alleged contents — sections on supplies, problems, disposal sites, targets, and references to "Mindhunter" — and why the LISK defense reportedly never challenged its authenticity. We trace the DNA chain from a piece of trash to matches across multiple crime scenes spanning years. And we break down the Frye hearing that admitted whole genome sequencing — what the defense argued, what the judge ruled, and why it matters.Faddis explains what the forensic recovery of deleted files from over 350 seized devices actually involves, where the science has vulnerabilities, and which piece of evidence he believes is the reason Rex Heuermann is reportedly pleading guilty.For anyone who wants to understand the evidence at the center of the Gilgo Beach Killer case — this is the deep dive.Join Our SubStack For AD-FREE ADVANCE EPISODES & EXTRAS!: https://hiddenkillers.substack.com/Want to comment and watch this podcast as a video? Check out our YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8-vxmbhTxxG10sO1izODJg?sub_confirmation=1Instagram https://www.instagram.com/hiddenkillerspod/Facebook https://www.facebook.com/hiddenkillerspod/Tik-Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@hiddenkillerspodX Twitter https://x.com/TrueCrimePodThis publication contains commentary and opinion based on publicly available information. All individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Nothing published here should be taken as a statement of fact, health or legal advice.#RexHeuermann #GilgoBeachKiller #LISK #LongIslandSerialKiller #PlanningDocument #DNAEvidence #EricFaddis #GilgoBeach #WholeGenomeSequencing #TrueCrimePodcast

Rex Heuermann's legal team tried everything to fight the Gilgo Beach Killer charges. They moved to exclude the DNA evidence connecting the accused Long Island Serial Killer to the victims. They fought to break the LISK case into separate trials spanning different decades and different alleged methods. They filed a 178-page omnibus motion seeking dismissal of the Sandra Costilla charge and review of grand jury proceedings. They pointed to convicted killer John Bittrolff as an alternative suspect.Every motion was denied. And now, according to multiple reports, the accused Gilgo Beach Killer is expected to plead guilty to the alleged murders of seven women on Long Island.Defense attorney and former felony prosecutor Eric Faddis joins me to trace the line from Heuermann's arrest to expected plea — explaining how each failed defense motion narrowed the LISK defendant's options until a guilty plea reportedly became the only path left. Faddis walks through the specific rulings, what the defense was strategically trying to accomplish with each one, and why the court rejected them.We also examine the negotiation between defense attorney Michael Brown and DA Ray Tierney. What's being discussed? What can either side realistically offer? And we address the judge's role — whether Judge Mazzei could reject the Gilgo Beach Killer plea, and what would have to go wrong for that to happen.For anyone who has followed the Rex Heuermann investigation from the beginning, this is the conversation that explains how the legal endgame unfolded.Join Our SubStack For AD-FREE ADVANCE EPISODES & EXTRAS!: https://hiddenkillers.substack.com/Want to comment and watch this podcast as a video? Check out our YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8-vxmbhTxxG10sO1izODJg?sub_confirmation=1Instagram https://www.instagram.com/hiddenkillerspod/Facebook https://www.facebook.com/hiddenkillerspod/Tik-Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@hiddenkillerspodX Twitter https://x.com/TrueCrimePodThis publication contains commentary and opinion based on publicly available information. All individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Nothing published here should be taken as a statement of fact, health or legal advice.#RexHeuermann #GilgoBeachKiller #LISK #LongIslandSerialKiller #GuiltyPlea #EricFaddis #DefenseMotions #GilgoBeach #TrueCrime #TrueCrimePodcast

For nearly three years, the accused Long Island Serial Killer maintained his innocence. His attorney said there was no Gilgo Beach plea deal. The DA said the same. They were heading to trial in the biggest LISK proceeding in New York history. And then, reportedly, everything changed.Sources say Rex Heuermann is expected to plead guilty on April 8 to murdering seven women in the Gilgo Beach serial killings. I go deep on why — not just the legal collapse that made a Gilgo Beach trial unwinnable, but the psychological architecture of a man prosecutors allege was the LISK, now making his last controlled decision.The Gilgo Beach DNA evidence survived two challenges. Severance was denied. The planning document — the alleged murder checklist found on the LISK suspect's own computer — was going to sit over all seven Gilgo Beach charges in a single trial. The prosecution's case was a fortress. But the sentence was always going to be the same: life without parole. So this Gilgo Beach plea isn't about avoiding a harsher punishment. It's about avoiding the process — the months-long LISK trial spectacle, the evidence performed publicly, the family exposed further. For the man prosecutors say was the Long Island Serial Killer, someone who allegedly compartmentalized murder the same way he managed architectural projects, a plea is order. A trial is chaos.I also cover the health questions, the fractured Gilgo Beach narrative after Andrew Dykes' arrest proved Ocean Parkway was never one killer's corridor, and why this plea — even if it closes the LISK criminal case — doesn't close the Gilgo Beach story. Other victims along Ocean Parkway remain unidentified. Other questions remain unanswered. The Gilgo Beach investigation isn't over. It's just entering a different phase.Join Our SubStack For AD-FREE ADVANCE EPISODES & EXTRAS!: https://hiddenkillers.substack.com/Want to comment and watch this podcast as a video? Check out our YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8-vxmbhTxxG10sO1izODJg?sub_confirmation=1Instagram https://www.instagram.com/hiddenkillerspod/Facebook https://www.facebook.com/hiddenkillerspod/Tik-Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@hiddenkillerspodX Twitter https://x.com/TrueCrimePodThis publication contains commentary and opinion based on publicly available information. All individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Nothing published here should be taken as a statement of fact, health or legal advice.#LISK #GilgoBeach #GilgoBeachKiller #RexHeuermann #LongIslandSerialKiller #GuiltyPlea #OceanParkway #GilgoFour #TrueCrime #SerialKiller

Seven families may be getting a phone call soon. Sources report that Rex Heuermann is expected to plead guilty on April 8 in the Gilgo Beach serial killing case — a case that went cold for over a decade before investigators finally broke it open. That plea hasn't happened yet. But if it does, it would represent the legal resolution these families have been waiting for since their loved ones went missing years ago.Four more families won't be getting that call. Their loved ones are connected to this investigation, but the expected plea structure doesn't reach them. No charges. No resolution. And if this holds, no trial that might have brought information to light.That's where we're focused today — not on case mechanics in the abstract, but on the people whose lives were changed by what Heuermann allegedly did. The families who may finally get an answer and are already trying to understand what closure looks like in practice. The families who won't. The daughter who has said she believes he most likely did it — and what that kind of knowledge costs someone. The ex-wife who once called him her hero, who now has to rebuild everything she believed about her own life.Retired FBI Counterintelligence Behavioral Analysis Program Chief Robin Dreeke joins me to go through your listener questions — and the ones that stood out most were about these people. Not case mechanics. The human beings left inside this story as a plea negotiation plays out.One listener wrote in and said she couldn't even formulate a question — she just needed to talk about what it means that his family's DNA was allegedly on those victims through ordinary household items. We're going to talk about it.Join Our SubStack For AD-FREE ADVANCE EPISODES & EXTRAS!: https://hiddenkillers.substack.com/Want to comment and watch this podcast as a video? Check out our YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8-vxmbhTxxG10sO1izODJg?sub_confirmation=1Instagram https://www.instagram.com/hiddenkillerspod/Facebook https://www.facebook.com/hiddenkillerspod/Tik-Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@hiddenkillerspodX Twitter https://x.com/TrueCrimePodThis publication contains commentary and opinion based on publicly available information. All individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Nothing published here should be taken as a statement of fact, health or legal advice.#RexHeuermann #GilgoBeach #GilgoFour #GilgoBeachVictims #TrueCrime #HiddenKillers #SerialKiller #VictimJustice #LongIslandSerialKiller #CrimePodcast

If you've been following the Gilgo Beach case from the beginning, this is the moment the entire investigation has been building toward.According to multiple sources confirmed by the Associated Press and every major national outlet, Rex Heuermann — the architect from Massapequa Park charged with murdering seven women connected to the Long Island serial killer investigation — is expected to plead guilty on April 8 and accept life without the possibility of parole. The families have been notified. The September trial is almost certainly not happening.I've covered every turn of this case, and in this episode I'm walking through how it all finally came together — from the discovery of the Gilgo Four in December 2010, to the 2022 task force revival, to the pizza crust DNA that cracked the case open, to the arrest outside his Manhattan office in July 2023, to the charges that eventually stretched back to 1993.The murder manual in all capitals — "Body Prep," "Post Event," notes on rope weight, lessons allegedly taken from previous kills — created in 2000, updated for years, recovered after he tried to wipe it. The burner phones under fake names. The Tinder account. The 500-plus contacts. The Gmail searches for "Why hasn't the Long Island serial killer been caught." The 350-plus devices. The DNA on five victims linked not just to Heuermann — but to his wife and daughter, transferred through objects from inside their family home.His daughter says he most likely did it. His ex-wife called him her hero. The defense fought hard and lost every major motion. And then the phone calls went out to the families.Four of the eleven victims found in 2010 and 2011 remain uncharged. Andrew Dykes has been separately charged in connection with Tanya Denise Jackson — known for years only as "Peaches." The DA says the investigation is not over.This episode covers where the Gilgo case stands, what the expected guilty plea means, and what it still leaves open for the families who have waited the longest.Join Our SubStack For AD-FREE ADVANCE EPISODES & EXTRAS!: https://hiddenkillers.substack.com/Want to comment and watch this podcast as a video? Check out our YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8-vxmbhTxxG10sO1izODJg?sub_confirmation=1Instagram https://www.instagram.com/hiddenkillerspod/Facebook https://www.facebook.com/hiddenkillerspod/Tik-Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@hiddenkillerspodX Twitter https://x.com/TrueCrimePodThis publication contains commentary and opinion based on publicly available information. All individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. The expected guilty plea has not been formally entered and is subject to judicial approval. Nothing published here should be taken as a statement of fact, health or legal advice.#RexHeuermann #GilgoBeach #LongIslandSerialKiller #GilgoFour #LISK #GuiltyPlea #TrueCrime #SerialKiller #ColdCase #HiddenKillers

Someone tried to delete this file. Forensic analysts recovered it anyway. According to prosecutors, document HK2002-04 is the Long Island Serial Killer's literal how-to guide for murder.The file was hidden on one of fifty-eight hard drives seized from Rex Heuermann's Massapequa Park basement. Created in 2000, modified through 2002, it allegedly contained eighty-seven details prosecutors say match the methodology used on the Gilgo Beach victims.According to court documents: A "Supplies" section allegedly listed cutting tools, acid, tarps, and cat litter. A "Body Prep" section allegedly stated: "remove head and hands, remove ID marks like tattoos." A "Things to Remember" section allegedly contained lessons learned: "Hit harder... light rope broke under stress." References to specific pages in FBI profiler John Douglas's Mindhunter appeared throughout.Jessica Taylor's remains were found along Ocean Parkway with her head removed and tattoos mutilated—allegedly matching the document exactly. When investigators returned to Rex Heuermann's home with infrared equipment, they found adhesive residue and push pin evidence in the drop ceiling—exactly as allegedly described.DA Ray Tierney: "The exact method by which these murders were committed in excruciating detail in that document is in some cases identical to the methodology used to murder the victims."The family that lived with Rex for twenty-seven years has fractured completely. Wife Asa Ellerup still calls him her "hero" and describes jail visits like "a first date." Daughter Victoria reached a different conclusion after speaking with BTK's daughter: "most likely" guilty.According to prosecutors, female hairs on multiple victims were allegedly consistent with DNA from both women. Neither is accused—prosecutors say the hair transferred from clothing or the home. Women linked to murder victims they never knew existed.The daughter saw what the wife cannot. Both are victims. Just not of the same truth.Rex Heuermann has pleaded not guilty. Trial is September 2026.Join Our SubStack For AD-FREE ADVANCE EPISODES & EXTRAS!: https://hiddenkillers.substack.com/Want to comment and watch this podcast as a video? Check out our YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8-vxmbhTxxG10sO1izODJg?sub_confirmation=1Instagram https://www.instagram.com/hiddenkillerspod/Facebook https://www.facebook.com/hiddenkillerspod/Tik-Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@hiddenkillerspodX Twitter https://x.com/TrueCrimePodThis publication contains commentary and opinion based on publicly available information. All individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Nothing published here should be taken as a statement of fact, health or legal advice.#RexHeuermann #GilgoBeachKiller #LISK #LongIslandSerialKiller #HK2002Document #GilgoBeachMurders #AsaEllerup #VictoriaHeuermann #MurderBlueprint #RexHeuermannTrial

Part 5 of 5: How the alleged Long Island Serial Killer was finally arrested.Investigators had been watching the man they believed was LISK for months. They had cell tower evidence placing his phone with burner phones in every instance. But they needed DNA to make the Gilgo Beach case.Then he threw away a pizza box.In this final episode, we examine how a discarded pizza crust allegedly provided the evidence that led to charges in the thirteen-year Gilgo Beach cold case—and what happens when Rex Heuermann faces trial in September 2026.The investigation stalled for years after bodies were discovered along Ocean Parkway in 2010 and 2011. Then a new Suffolk County task force formed in February 2022. Six weeks in, an investigator noticed an old witness statement about an "ogre-like man" driving a Chevrolet Avalanche near where Amber Costello vanished.A database search returned one name.Cell phone records allegedly connected the alleged Gilgo Beach Killer to burner phones in every instance. But they needed physical proof.Enter whole genome sequencing—technology that can extract DNA from degraded samples. According to prosecutors, hairs on six of seven victims linked to LISK or his family.Then the pizza. DNA from the crust matched a male hair on Gilgo Four victim Megan Waterman. A profile found in only 0.04% of the population.July 13, 2023. The alleged Long Island Serial Killer arrested outside his Manhattan office. Twelve-day search of his Massapequa Park home. Fifty-eight hard drives. Over two hundred firearms. The planning document.The defense has challenged the DNA technology. Judge Mazzei allowed it—first time in a New York criminal trial. The LISK trial happens September 2026.After thirty years and seven women, the architect will finally face trial for the Gilgo Beach murders.Thank you for following this series.Join Our SubStack For AD-FREE ADVANCE EPISODES & EXTRAS!: https://hiddenkillers.substack.com/Want to comment and watch this podcast as a video? Check out our YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8-vxmbhTxxG10sO1izODJg?sub_confirmation=1Instagram https://www.instagram.com/hiddenkillerspod/Facebook https://www.facebook.com/hiddenkillerspod/Tik-Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@hiddenkillerspodX Twitter https://x.com/TrueCrimePodThis publication contains commentary and opinion based on publicly available information. All individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Nothing published here should be taken as a statement of fact, health or legal advice.#RexHeuermann #GilgoBeach #LISK #GilgoBeachKiller #LongIslandSerialKiller #GilgoBeachMurders #DNABreakthrough #PizzaBox #OceanParkway #SuffolkCounty

Part 4 of 5: How prosecutors say the alleged Gilgo Beach Killer selected, contacted, and killed his victims along Long Island.July 2009. Amanda Barthelemy, fifteen years old, received a call from her missing sister's phone. A man's voice asked: "Do you know what I did to your sister?"Over the following weeks, the man called seven times. He described what he'd done. On August 26, he said: "You won't see her again. I killed her."In this episode, we examine the alleged LISK hunting pattern that prosecutors say links Rex Heuermann to seven Long Island murders over three decades.The Gilgo Four and other victims share characteristics. All were sex workers. All were petite—the planning document allegedly notes "small is good." All advertised on Craigslist. All were allegedly contacted via burner phones. All allegedly disappeared when the alleged Long Island Serial Killer's family was traveling.According to court documents, investigators found no instance where Heuermann's personal phone was in a different location than burner phones used to contact the Gilgo Beach victims. The FBI traced calls to "the box"—a small area of Massapequa Park.Heuermann's house was inside the box.Suffolk County prosecutors also allege fake email accounts under names like John Springfield and Thomas Hawk—used to create profiles and contact sex workers. Even in 2022, investigators watched the alleged Gilgo Beach Killer add money to burner phones.And the alleged taunting went beyond phone calls. Prosecutors say LISK searched obsessively for the Ocean Parkway investigation. For photos of victims. For photos of their families.DA Tierney: "His intent was specifically to locate these victims, to hunt them down, to bring them under his control, and to kill them."Rex Heuermann has pleaded not guilty. The Gilgo Beach trial is September 2026.Join Our SubStack For AD-FREE ADVANCE EPISODES & EXTRAS!: https://hiddenkillers.substack.com/Want to comment and watch this podcast as a video? Check out our YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8-vxmbhTxxG10sO1izODJg?sub_confirmation=1Instagram https://www.instagram.com/hiddenkillerspod/Facebook https://www.facebook.com/hiddenkillerspod/Tik-Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@hiddenkillerspodX Twitter https://x.com/TrueCrimePodThis publication contains commentary and opinion based on publicly available information. All individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Nothing published here should be taken as a statement of fact, health or legal advice.#RexHeuermann #GilgoBeach #LISK #GilgoBeachKiller #LongIslandSerialKiller #GilgoFour #BurnerPhones #TauntingCalls #GilgoBeachMurders #OceanParkway

Part 3 of 5: The family fracture that defines the Long Island Serial Killer case.Asa Ellerup was married to Rex Heuermann for nearly three decades. In the Peacock documentary, she called him her "hero" and said Suffolk County police have "the wrong man." Their daughter Victoria has reached the opposite conclusion—telling producers she believes her father is "most likely the Gilgo Beach serial killer."Same house. Same twenty-seven years. Two completely different realities about LISK.In this episode, we examine what the alleged Gilgo Beach Killer's family saw and missed, why mother and daughter diverged, and what prosecutors say may have connected them to the alleged crimes without their knowledge.According to court documents, every murder Heuermann is charged with allegedly occurred when his family was out of town. Wife in Iceland, Maryland, New Jersey—each absence allegedly corresponded with a victim's disappearance along Ocean Parkway.But the connection runs deeper. Female hairs found on multiple victims' remains were allegedly consistent with DNA from Asa and Victoria. Neither is accused of involvement. Prosecutors say the hair was transferred from Rex's clothing.The women in the alleged Long Island Serial Killer's life were allegedly linked to murder victims without knowing.Victoria spoke with Kerri Rawson, BTK's daughter, about what it means to have an alleged killer for a father. By the documentary's release, she'd reached her conclusion about the Gilgo Beach murders.Asa still plans to attend every day of the LISK trial. Still calls Rex her husband.The trial is September 2026. Both will be in that courtroom—one believing innocent, one believing guilty.Join Our SubStack For AD-FREE ADVANCE EPISODES & EXTRAS!: https://hiddenkillers.substack.com/Want to comment and watch this podcast as a video? Check out our YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8-vxmbhTxxG10sO1izODJg?sub_confirmation=1Instagram https://www.instagram.com/hiddenkillerspod/Facebook https://www.facebook.com/hiddenkillerspod/Tik-Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@hiddenkillerspodX Twitter https://x.com/TrueCrimePodThis publication contains commentary and opinion based on publicly available information. All individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Nothing published here should be taken as a statement of fact, health or legal advice.#RexHeuermann #GilgoBeach #LISK #GilgoBeachKiller #LongIslandSerialKiller #AsaEllerup #VictoriaHeuermann #GilgoBeachMurders #OceanParkway #SuffolkCounty

Part 2 of 5: The document prosecutors say proves everything about the Gilgo Beach murders.Hidden on one of fifty-eight hard drives seized from Rex Heuermann's Massapequa Park basement, forensic analysts found a deleted Microsoft Word file titled HK2002-04. According to court documents, it allegedly contained eighty-seven details prosecutors call LISK's "blueprint for serial murder."In this episode, we examine every section of the alleged Long Island Serial Killer's planning document and its connection to the Gilgo Beach victims.According to bail applications and court filings, the document allegedly contained: "Supplies": cutting tools, acid, hair nets, tarps, cat litter "TGR" (targets): notes that "small is good" for victims "DS" (dump sites): including Mill Road in Manorville, where Jessica Taylor and Valerie Mack were found "Body Prep": "remove head and hands, remove ID marks like tattoos" "Things to Remember": "hit harder," "heavy rope for neck—light rope broke" Jessica Taylor was found along Ocean Parkway decapitated with mutilated tattoos. The methodology allegedly matches.The Gilgo Beach Killer's document also allegedly referenced pages in FBI profiler John Douglas's Mindhunter—passages about perpetrator psychology and crime scene behavior. Prosecutors allege LISK studied how serial killers get caught.When Suffolk County investigators returned to the home, infrared examination allegedly revealed physical evidence matching the document: adhesive residue on paneling, push pins in drop ceilings.DA Tierney: "The exact method by which these murders were committed in excruciating detail in that document is in some cases identical to the methodology used to murder the victims."Rex Heuermann has pleaded not guilty. The Gilgo Beach trial is September 2026.Join Our SubStack For AD-FREE ADVANCE EPISODES & EXTRAS!: https://hiddenkillers.substack.com/Want to comment and watch this podcast as a video? Check out our YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8-vxmbhTxxG10sO1izODJg?sub_confirmation=1Instagram https://www.instagram.com/hiddenkillerspod/Facebook https://www.facebook.com/hiddenkillerspod/Tik-Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@hiddenkillerspodX Twitter https://x.com/TrueCrimePodThis publication contains commentary and opinion based on publicly available information. All individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Nothing published here should be taken as a statement of fact, health or legal advice.#RexHeuermann #GilgoBeach #LISK #GilgoBeachKiller #LongIslandSerialKiller #GilgoBeachMurders #PlanningDocument #OceanParkway #JessicaTaylor #ValerieMack

Part 1 of 5: How did Rex Heuermann—the man prosecutors call LISK—allegedly hide in plain sight for thirty years?This is the beginning of our comprehensive series examining the case against Rex Heuermann, the Manhattan architect charged with the Gilgo Beach murders. Seven victims between 1993 and 2010. Remains discovered along Ocean Parkway starting in December 2010. He's pleaded not guilty to all charges. His trial is set for September 2026.In this episode, we examine the psychology of compartmentalization—the phenomenon that allegedly allowed the Long Island Serial Killer to live as a family man while prosecutors say he was hunting victims whenever his wife and children were out of town.His ex-wife Asa Ellerup still calls him her "hero." In the Peacock documentary, she said: "I know what bad men are capable of doing. Not my husband. You have the wrong man."Their daughter Victoria has reached a different conclusion. According to documentary producers, she now believes her father is "most likely the Gilgo Beach serial killer."Forensic psychologist Scott Bonn explains that killers like BTK and the Green River Killer had "the ability to flip a switch and go from family man to sadistic killer." Former FBI agent Robin Dreeke suggests predators often select partners for traits that make them less likely to investigate red flags.According to Suffolk County prosecutors, every murder the alleged Gilgo Beach Killer is charged with occurred during windows when his family was traveling. Wife in Iceland, Maryland, New Jersey, Virginia—each absence allegedly corresponded with a victim's disappearance.Same house. Same twenty-seven years. Two completely different conclusions about who LISK really is.The mask, if prosecutors are right, didn't slip for three decades.Join Our SubStack For AD-FREE ADVANCE EPISODES & EXTRAS!: https://hiddenkillers.substack.com/Want to comment and watch this podcast as a video? Check out our YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8-vxmbhTxxG10sO1izODJg?sub_confirmation=1Instagram https://www.instagram.com/hiddenkillerspod/Facebook https://www.facebook.com/hiddenkillerspod/Tik-Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@hiddenkillerspodX Twitter https://x.com/TrueCrimePodThis publication contains commentary and opinion based on publicly available information. All individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Nothing published here should be taken as a statement of fact, health or legal advice.#RexHeuermann #GilgoBeach #GilgoBeachKiller #LISK #LongIslandSerialKiller #GilgoBeachMurders #OceanParkway #SuffolkCounty #MassapequaPark #GilgoFour

The biggest development in the Gilgo Beach case since Rex Heuermann's arrest. On January 13, 2026, Judge Timothy Mazzei finally set a trial date — right after Labor Day, September 2026. But the defense dropped a massive 178-page omnibus motion the night before that could change everything.Defense attorneys Michael Brown and Danielle Coysh are asking the court to dismiss the Sandra Costilla murder charge entirely. Costilla was killed in 1993 — the oldest case on the indictment. The prosecution's evidence linking Heuermann to her death: a single hair on her outer shirt. Not on her body. Not in a vehicle. Not in his home. The defense argues there's no eyewitness testimony, no surveillance, no digital evidence, no phone records, no fingerprints, no confession, and no murder weapon.They're also demanding all discovery related to convicted killer John Bittrolff, who's serving time for two Long Island murders with the same victim profile and geography. A former prosecutor previously stated Bittrolff was "probably responsible" for Costilla's death.The motion challenges twenty search warrants and argues the pizza crust DNA collection violated Heuermann's Fourth Amendment rights — a novel argument that could set precedent for how DNA evidence is collected in New York.Meanwhile, Andrew Dykes was just arrested in December for the murder of "Peaches" — long assumed to be a Gilgo victim. Different killer. Same beach.DA Ray Tierney says he's confident. Prosecution responds March 3rd. Defense replies March 17th. Trial begins September 2026. Seven murder charges. Life without parole on the line.#RexHeuermann #GilgoBeach #GilgoBeachMurders #LongIslandSerialKiller #SandraCostilla #JohnBittrolff #AndrewDykes #Peaches #GilgoBeachTrial #LISKJoin Our SubStack For AD-FREE ADVANCE EPISODES & EXTRAS!: https://hiddenkillers.substack.com/Want to comment and watch this podcast as a video? Check out our YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/@hiddenkillerspodInstagram https://www.instagram.com/hiddenkillerspod/Facebook https://www.facebook.com/hiddenkillerspod/Tik-Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@hiddenkillerspodX Twitter https://x.com/tonybpodListen Ad-Free On Apple Podcasts Here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/true-crime-today-premium-plus-ad-free-advance-episode/id1705422872This publication contains commentary and opinion based on publicly available information. All individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Nothing published here should be taken as a statement of fact, health or legal advice.

He looked like the guy next door — the dependable architect in a button-down shirt, the dad carrying groceries, the man waving from the driveway. But prosecutors say Rex Heuermann was also living a second life beneath that suburban shell: the man behind the Gilgo Beach murders, one of the most disturbing serial-killer cases in modern history. In this psychological deep dive, Hidden Killers host Tony Brueski exposes the mental architecture of control, deception, and compartmentalization that behavioral experts say may allow someone to construct two worlds that never touch. From high-functioning psychopathy to strict operational secrecy, Tony explores how a person can design blueprints by day and allegedly engineer terror by night — all while maintaining a façade so ordinary that no one close to him ever sees the cracks forming. Heuermann's environment reflected his pathology: the soundproof basement, the meticulously organized tools, the rigid routines that enabled a double life to thrive. This episode breaks down how predators weaponize normalcy — and why the people closest to them often become the last to know. But there's another layer: the family. As the case moves toward trial, questions loom about whether his ex-wife Asa Ellerup or his daughter could be called to testify. Tony is joined by defense attorney and former prosecutor Eric Faddis to unpack the emotional and legal stakes of family testimony, jury bias, and the impact of years of media coverage on a case already carved into the public consciousness. This episode blends behavioral profiling with legal strategy to show how monsters hide in plain sight — and how the justice system tries to reveal what the façade so carefully concealed. Because evil doesn't always lurk in shadows. Sometimes, it stands at the front door smiling. #RexHeuermann #GilgoBeach #SerialKillerPsychology #HiddenKillers #TonyBrueski #BehavioralAnalysis #TrueCrimePodcast #AsaEllerup #FamilyTestimony #CriminalMind Want to comment and watch this podcast as a video? Check out our YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/@hiddenkillerspod Instagram https://www.instagram.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Tik-Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@hiddenkillerspod X Twitter https://x.com/tonybpod Listen Ad-Free On Apple Podcasts Here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/true-crime-today-premium-plus-ad-free-advance-episode/id1705422872

In this powerful breakdown of the Gilgo Beach case, Tony Brueski and retired FBI Special Agent Jennifer Coffindaffer take listeners inside the evidence story prosecutors will present to a single jury—now that a judge has ruled all seven murder charges against Rex Heuermann will be tried together. This ruling reshapes the entire strategy on both sides of the courtroom, giving the state a sweeping narrative arc while handing the defense the ammunition to argue prejudice, jury overload, and unfair consolidation. We begin with the evidence tour: the infamous large doll, the cage, the secret room, the basement storage vault, and the forensic haul investigators collected during the search warrant execution. Coffindaffer walks through how prosecutors will try to connect these items to time, transfer, and intent—and why the defense will insist none of it is meaningful unless tied to scientifically grounded timelines and corroboration. The rule is simple: seized items aren't guilt until they're connected to the crime. Then we dive into the science. Whole genome hair sequencing may be “new to this courtroom,” but it's not new to forensic research. The state will rely on validation studies and conservative conclusions; the defense will call it junk science. This battle could determine whether key DNA evidence even makes it to the jury box. We also explore the family factor: could Heuermann's daughter testify? Would Asa Ellerup take the stand? And how would their emotional presence—or absence—shape juror perception? Finally, former prosecutor and defense attorney Eric Faddis breaks down the legal stakes of joinder: seven counts, one jury, decades of alleged conduct, and a trial timeline stretching realistically toward 2027. This isn't just strategy—it's a marathon requiring clean science, disciplined storytelling, and a jury willing to follow every step. This is the full picture: the evidence, the science, the strategy, and the stakes. #RexHeuermann #GilgoBeach #HiddenKillers #DNAEvidence #ForensicScience #JenniferCoffindaffer #EricFaddis #TrueCrimeNews #SerialKillerTrial #TonyBrueski Want to comment and watch this podcast as a video? Check out our YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/@hiddenkillerspod Instagram https://www.instagram.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Tik-Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@hiddenkillerspod X Twitter https://x.com/tonybpod Listen Ad-Free On Apple Podcasts Here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/true-crime-today-premium-plus-ad-free-advance-episode/id1705422872

The Gilgo Beach case just took a seismic turn. A judge has ruled that all seven murder charges against Rex Heuermann will be combined into one massive, high-stakes trial — a decision that reshapes the legal battlefield and raises the pressure on everyone involved. In today's episode, Tony Brueski and defense attorney/former prosecutor Eric Faddis break down what this ruling really means for the prosecution, the defense, and the jury tasked with navigating one of the most disturbing serial murder cases in American history. We examine why combining the charges could create a devastating narrative advantage for prosecutors, who will now be able to present a sweeping pattern of alleged behavior instead of siloed incidents. But this strategy also risks unfair prejudice, especially in a case already saturated with headlines, documentaries, and public speculation. Eric explains how jurors may psychologically struggle to separate evidence tied to each victim once everything is presented together. Then we turn to the wildcard that could influence the entire trial: Heuermann's family. Could his ex-wife, Asa Ellerup, be compelled to testify? Would their daughter take the stand? And what about the documentary footage that captured intimate, raw emotional moments — could that become part of the evidentiary record? This episode explores the legal complexities of spousal testimony, impeachment risk, and whether family cooperation helps or hurts the defense. We also break down jury selection, the challenges of finding impartial jurors in New York, and the role advanced DNA techniques may play in establishing — or undermining — the state's case. The ruling to consolidate the charges is not just procedural. It is transformational. If you're following the Gilgo Beach case, this is the turning point you need to understand. #RexHeuermann #GilgoBeach #HiddenKillersLive #TrueCrimePodcast #SerialKillerCase #AsaEllerup #DNAEvidence #TrueCrimeNews #Justice #EricFaddis Want to comment and watch this podcast as a video? Check out our YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/@hiddenkillerspod Instagram https://www.instagram.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Tik-Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@hiddenkillerspod X Twitter https://x.com/tonybpod Listen Ad-Free On Apple Podcasts Here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/true-crime-today-premium-plus-ad-free-advance-episode/id1705422872

Step inside the darkness investigators uncovered in the Massapequa Park home of alleged Gilgo Beach serial killer Rex Heuermann. In this episode, we break down five of the most disturbing pieces of evidence seized from inside that ordinary-looking suburban house—items that paint a chilling psychological portrait of a man prosecutors say lived a double life for decades. From the child-sized doll encased in glass to the portrait of a bruised woman, the 87-entry “kill plan” digital file, the nearly 300-gun basement vault, and the massive collection of extreme digital content, each object reflects themes of control, violence, secrecy, and fantasy. These aren't rumors—these items were documented in court filings and discussed publicly by investigators. But the horror inside the home is only half the story. The case now barrels toward a critical turning point on July 17, when a pivotal Frye hearing will determine whether the prosecution's whole genome sequencing evidence is allowed at trial. Prosecutors say this cutting-edge DNA method connects hairs found on victims to Heuermann and his family members. The defense calls it “magic”—too new, too untested, too unreliable. If the judge rejects the science, the state loses one of its strongest forensic links. If the judge allows it, the defense may have nowhere left to run. We also examine what else could surface at the hearing: potential links to additional victims, revelations from the mountain of digital devices seized from the home, and whether the court will force this into five separate trials or one massive showdown. If you follow the Gilgo Beach case, this is essential context—the physical evidence, the psychological implications, and the legal battle that could reshape everything. #RexHeuermann #GilgoBeachMurders #EvidenceBreakdown #DNAEvidence #FryeHearing #TrueCrimeAnalysis #SerialKillerCase #HiddenKillers #ForensicUpdate #LongIslandCrime Want to comment and watch this podcast as a video? Check out our YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/@hiddenkillerspod Instagram https://www.instagram.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Tik-Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@hiddenkillerspod X Twitter https://x.com/tonybpod Listen Ad-Free On Apple Podcasts Here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/true-crime-today-premium-plus-ad-free-advance-episode/id1705422872

How does a family live beside an alleged serial killer for nearly three decades without realizing the monster in their own home? In this powerful episode, two top behavioral experts—retired FBI Special Agent Robin Dreeke and psychotherapist Shavaun Scott—break down the psychological blind spots, emotional dynamics, and manipulation patterns that may explain how Rex Heuermann hid a double life from those closest to him. Robin Dreeke opens the conversation with an FBI-level behavioral analysis of Asa Ellerup, Heuermann's longtime wife. He explores the subtle traits predators often look for in partners: trust over curiosity, stability over confrontation, and a tendency to rationalize red flags instead of investigating them. Dreeke explains how “truth-default mode” and compartmentalization allow serial offenders to mask their darkest impulses while maintaining the appearance of normal family life. We analyze key moments from the Peacock documentary that reveal how Asa's behaviors, reactions, and emotional patterns may have made her vulnerable to deception—not complicit in it. Then we shift to their daughter, Victoria, whose heartbreaking journey unfolds in real time. Shavaun Scott walks us through the psychological shock of realizing a beloved parent may be responsible for unimaginable violence. From Victoria's “love and hate can coexist” confession to her disturbing trauma-processing artwork, we explore ambiguous loss, identity shattering, and the impossible emotional math children of accused killers must reconcile. Victoria's shift from admiration to believing her father is “most likely guilty” is one of the most honest and devastating arcs in true-crime storytelling. This episode exposes not only how evil hides in plain sight—but how it fractures the #GilgoBeach #RexHeuermann #AsaEllerup #VictoriaHeuermann #TrueCrimeAnalysis #FBIBehavioralAnalysis #RobinDreeke #ShavaunScott #SerialKillerFamily #HiddenKillers Want to comment and watch this podcast as a video? Check out our YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/@hiddenkillerspod Instagram https://www.instagram.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Tik-Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@hiddenkillerspod X Twitter https://x.com/tonybpod Listen Ad-Free On Apple Podcasts Here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/true-crime-today-premium-plus-ad-free-advance-episode/id1705422872

In this deeply unsettling analysis, we examine two of the most revealing pieces of footage from the Gilgo Beach case: Asa Ellerup's tour of the rooms she was forbidden to enter for 27 years, and her emotional responses during a jail call with accused serial killer Rex Heuermann. Psychotherapist Shavaun Scott joins us to break down the psychological contradictions, trauma-bond patterns, and body-language “tells” that expose the control dynamics inside this marriage. First, we explore Asa's walkthrough of the house: a gun room behind a steel door, a locked space under the stairs she'd never seen, and the basement investigators believe may be tied to multiple murders. Even as she demonstrates the locks, she insists “nothing was off limits.” Scott explains this as classic “doublethink,” a defense mechanism where two opposing truths are held to avoid cognitive collapse. From her closed eyes during stressful moments to her insistence that investigators are “picking, picking, picking,” every movement reveals emotional conflict. Then we shift to the jail phone call. Rex casually discusses dinner while facing seven murder charges. He never proclaims innocence — a strategic silence, Scott notes — while Asa brightens just hearing his voice despite her visible physical decline. Their divorce, she argues, was “strategic,” yet the emotional attachment remains intact. We analyze Victoria Heuermann's shifting language, normalized violence in the home, and why certain family members break free while others remain psychologically tethered. This episode digs into denial, coercive control, compartmentalization, and how predators create environments where locked rooms — literal and emotional — become part of everyday life. For anyone wanting to understand the psychological machinery behind serial offenders and their families, this is essential viewing. #RexHeuermann #AsaEllerup #GilgoBeachMurders #SerialKillerPsychology #TraumaBonding #BodyLanguageAnalysis #TrueCrimeCommunity #HiddenKillers #LockedRooms #LongIslandSerialKiller Want to comment and watch this podcast as a video? Check out our YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/@hiddenkillerspod Instagram https://www.instagram.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Tik-Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@hiddenkillerspod X Twitter https://x.com/tonybpod Listen Ad-Free On Apple Podcasts Here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/true-crime-today-premium-plus-ad-free-advance-episode/id1705422872

How does a man live under the same roof as his wife and children while allegedly carrying out seven brutal murders over nearly three decades? In this powerful two-part breakdown, we bring together two of the nation's leading experts on human behavior—former FBI Special Agent Robin Dreeke and psychotherapist Shavaun Scott—to explain how Rex Heuermann may have maintained one of the most disturbing double lives in modern true crime. Robin Dreeke opens the episode with a deep dive into the psychology of compartmentalization, truth-default theory, and why spouses detect lies only about 50% of the time. He explains how Heuermann allegedly created a split existence: family man in Massapequa Park, predator operating in secrecy when his wife and children were out of town. Burner phones, controlled finances, rigid routines—each played into the illusion of normalcy. Dreeke draws critical parallels to notorious cases like BTK, revealing the subtle relationship red flags that can be missed even by those closest to the perpetrator. Then psychotherapist Shavaun Scott joins to analyze the chilling emotional dynamic captured in the Peacock documentary. Asa Ellerup's unwavering loyalty—even calling Rex her “hero”—opens a window into trauma bonding, coercive control, and the psychological grooming that can turn a spouse into an unknowing enabler. From Asa's isolation to tightly restricted access to finances and technology, Scott exposes the mechanisms that may have kept her locked inside Heuermann's constructed reality. Together, these insights reveal not just how a predator allegedly concealed his crimes, but how ordinary families can be pulled into extraordinary darkness without ever recognizing the danger. For anyone concerned about relationship safety, manipulation, or hidden abuse, this episode offers crucial perspective—and a sobering look at the human cost behind one of America's most haunting serial killer cases. #RexHeuermann #SerialKillerPsychology #GilgoBeachMurders #AsaEllerup #RobinDreeke #ShavaunScott #TrueCrimeAnalysis #DoubleLife #TraumaBonding #HiddenKillersPodcast Want to comment and watch this podcast as a video? Check out our YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/@hiddenkillerspod Instagram https://www.instagram.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Tik-Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@hiddenkillerspod X Twitter https://x.com/tonybpod Listen Ad-Free On Apple Podcasts Here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/true-crime-today-premium-plus-ad-free-advance-episode/id1705422872

In today's episode, we break down the stunning split narrative unfolding around the Gilgo Beach murders—one fueled by Netflix's Gone Girls, the other by Peacock's explosive new documentary The Gilgo Beach Killer: House of Secrets. At the center of both? Asa Ellerup, the ex-wife of accused serial killer Rex Heuermann, whose reactions are raising eyebrows across the true crime world. After watching Gone Girls, Asa reportedly began wondering whether her former husband might be a fall guy—an extraordinary claim considering the decades of corruption inside Suffolk County law enforcement. From former Police Chief James Burke's violent cover-ups to DA Thomas Spota's obstruction charges, the county's history is messy enough to make anyone question official narratives. But in a dramatic turn, Peacock's documentary shows a different Asa—one calling Rex her “hero,” defending him emotionally, and describing prison visits as “first dates.” The family reportedly received substantial payment for their participation, raising ethical questions and potential legal consequences under proposed updates to New York's Son of Sam laws. We examine the forensic battle unfolding in court, including the high-stakes Frye hearing over whole genome sequencing—a cutting-edge DNA method prosecutors say ties hairs from victims to Heuermann or members of his household. The defense, meanwhile, argues the science is untested in New York and should be excluded. Add to that:  • Over 200 firearms found in a hidden vault  • Significant damage to the Heuermann home during searches  • The children's firsthand accounts of living with an accused killer  • Statements that could be used at trial This case now sits at the chaotic intersection of true crime media, family psychology, forensic science, and a justice system still trying to outrun its own corruption. And if Asa's reaction is any indication, the story is far from settled. #GilgoBeachMurders #RexHeuermann #AsaEllerup #TrueCrimeNews #LongIslandSerialKiller #HiddenKillers #DNAEvidence #DocumentaryAnalysis #JusticeSystem #TrueCrimeCommunity Want to comment and watch this podcast as a video? Check out our YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/@hiddenkillerspod Instagram https://www.instagram.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Tik-Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@hiddenkillerspod X Twitter https://x.com/tonybpod Listen Ad-Free On Apple Podcasts Here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/true-crime-today-premium-plus-ad-free-advance-episode/id1705422872

2026 is the year Rex Heuermann finally faces trial for seven murders spanning three decades. But before the courtroom doors open, a stunning arrest just reshaped everything we thought we knew about Gilgo Beach. In December 2025, police charged Andrew Dykes — the father of "Baby Doe" — with murdering Tanya Jackson and their two-year-old daughter Tatiana. For fourteen years, investigators assumed they were victims of the Long Island Serial Killer. They weren't. Dykes had been cooperating with the investigation for months before his arrest. His name was on the child's birth certificate. That means Ocean Parkway wasn't one killer's dumping ground. It was a corridor for multiple predators. But Rex Heuermann is still facing the fight of his life. Seven victims. One trial. Judge Mazzei denied severance and admitted cutting-edge DNA evidence the defense called "magic." The prosecution has filed its statement of readiness with a 723-page evidence inventory. And then there's the planning document — a deleted Word file found on Heuermann's hard drive that prosecutors say is a literal blueprint for murder. Categories for "Body Prep." Instructions to remove heads, hands, and identifying tattoos. Notes about rope strength. References to FBI profiler John Douglas's Mindhunter. A dump site listed that matches where victims were actually found. January 13, 2026 is the next major court date. After that, we're looking at a trial date announcement. In this episode, we break down everything coming in 2026: the evidence, the victims, the family fracture, and the cold cases still waiting for answers. Karen Vergata. Asian Male Doe. Shannan Gilbert. The investigation isn't over. Rex Heuermann says he's innocent. His daughter believes otherwise. The jury will decide. #RexHeuermann #GilgoBeach #LISK #LongIslandSerialKiller #TrueCrime #GilgoBeachMurders #ColdCase #TrueCrimeNews #SerialKiller #Justice2026 Want to comment and watch this podcast as a video? Check out our YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/@hiddenkillerspod Instagram https://www.instagram.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Tik-Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@hiddenkillerspod X Twitter https://x.com/tonybpod Listen Ad-Free On Apple Podcasts Here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/true-crime-today-premium-plus-ad-free-advance-episode/id1705422872

2026 is the year Rex Heuermann finally faces trial for seven murders spanning three decades. But before the courtroom doors open, a stunning arrest just reshaped everything we thought we knew about Gilgo Beach. In December 2025, police charged Andrew Dykes — the father of "Baby Doe" — with murdering Tanya Jackson and their two-year-old daughter Tatiana. For fourteen years, investigators assumed they were victims of the Long Island Serial Killer. They weren't. Dykes had been cooperating with the investigation for months before his arrest. His name was on the child's birth certificate. That means Ocean Parkway wasn't one killer's dumping ground. It was a corridor for multiple predators. But Rex Heuermann is still facing the fight of his life. Seven victims. One trial. Judge Mazzei denied severance and admitted cutting-edge DNA evidence the defense called "magic." The prosecution has filed its statement of readiness with a 723-page evidence inventory. And then there's the planning document — a deleted Word file found on Heuermann's hard drive that prosecutors say is a literal blueprint for murder. Categories for "Body Prep." Instructions to remove heads, hands, and identifying tattoos. Notes about rope strength. References to FBI profiler John Douglas's Mindhunter. A dump site listed that matches where victims were actually found. January 13, 2026 is the next major court date. After that, we're looking at a trial date announcement. In this episode, we break down everything coming in 2026: the evidence, the victims, the family fracture, and the cold cases still waiting for answers. Karen Vergata. Asian Male Doe. Shannan Gilbert. The investigation isn't over. Rex Heuermann says he's innocent. His daughter believes otherwise. The jury will decide. #RexHeuermann #GilgoBeach #LISK #LongIslandSerialKiller #TrueCrime #GilgoBeachMurders #ColdCase #TrueCrimeNews #SerialKiller #Justice2026 Want to comment and watch this podcast as a video? Check out our YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/@hiddenkillerspod Instagram https://www.instagram.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Tik-Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@hiddenkillerspod X Twitter https://x.com/tonybpod Listen Ad-Free On Apple Podcasts Here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/true-crime-today-premium-plus-ad-free-advance-episode/id1705422872

For nearly three decades, Tanya Jackson was a nameless victim — known only as "Peaches" because of a tattoo on her chest. Her dismembered torso was found in 1997. Her arms, legs, and her two-year-old daughter's remains were discovered in 2011 during the Gilgo Beach investigation. Everyone assumed she belonged to the Long Island Serial Killer. Everyone was wrong. This week, police arrested Andrew Dykes, 66, in Florida — and charged him with murdering both Tanya Jackson and her daughter Tatiana. The twist that changes everything: Dykes is Tatiana's biological father. He allegedly killed his own child and the woman who was raising her, then scattered their bodies across Long Island in a pattern so similar to the Gilgo Beach killings that investigators spent years looking at the wrong suspect. Rex Heuermann faces trial for seven Gilgo Beach murders. But he didn't kill Tanya Jackson. He didn't kill Baby Doe. While the world focused on the architect with the kill lists, Andrew Dykes was living freely in Florida — even cooperating with police as recently as April 2025. This case exposes a hard truth: Gilgo Beach wasn't one killer's graveyard. It was a dumping ground for multiple predators. And the assumption that Peaches belonged to the serial killer let her real killer walk free for twenty-eight years. Tanya Jackson was a U.S. Army veteran from Alabama. She was 26. Her daughter was 2. They were never reported missing. They waited almost three decades for their names back — and for someone to finally answer for what was done to them. This is the full story. #GilgoBeach #TanyaJackson #AndrewDykes #RexHeuermann #Peaches #LongIslandSerialKiller #LISK #TrueCrime #ColdCase #BabyDoe Want to comment and watch this podcast as a video? Check out our YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/@hiddenkillerspod Instagram https://www.instagram.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Tik-Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@hiddenkillerspod X Twitter https://x.com/tonybpod Listen Ad-Free On Apple Podcasts Here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/true-crime-today-premium-plus-ad-free-advance-episode/id1705422872

As part of our Hidden Killers 2025 Year in Review series, we're unpacking one of the most haunting psychological stories to emerge from the Gilgo Beach murders — the steadfast denial of Asa Ellerup, estranged wife of accused serial killer Rex Heuermann. Even as prosecutors present a mountain of evidence — DNA matches, hair fibers from family members found on victims, burner phones, and a detailed murder planning document — Asa still calls her husband her “hero.” She describes visiting him in jail as feeling like “a first date.” She smiles when she hears his voice. She insists their home — where police say the murders were plotted — could never be a crime scene. In this gripping psychological breakdown, retired FBI Behavioral Analyst Robin Dreeke joins Tony Brueski to dissect how trauma, denial, and love can merge into something that looks like loyalty but is really self-preservation. Dreeke explains how 27 years of marriage built what he calls a “truth infrastructure” — a psychological foundation so powerful that admitting betrayal feels more dangerous than believing the lie. He unpacks the mechanics of trauma bonding, cognitive dissonance, and protective blindness, explaining how the human brain often rejects unbearable truth to preserve emotional stability. Dreeke also explores how financial stress, illness, and media exploitation may amplify Asa's denial — especially as she battles cancer, navigates public scrutiny, and faces criticism for participating in the Peacock documentary The Gilgo Beach Killer: House of Secrets. Then, psychotherapist Shavaun Scott joins Tony to analyze the most disturbing moments captured on camera — including Rex's recorded jail calls and Asa's telling body language. Why does she close her eyes when confronted with evidence? Why does she describe love as something that would “hurt him”? Scott reveals how guilt, dependency, and unresolved trauma often trap partners of predators in cycles of emotional paralysis. Together, Dreeke and Scott piece together a portrait not just of denial — but of the psychological collateral damage left behind when a family's reality is shattered by unimaginable truth.