Ex-wife of accused Gilgo Beach killer Rex Heuermann has 'not been involved' in decision to plead guilty, attorneys say

The ex-wife of accused Gilgo Beach serial killer Rex A. Heuermann said she was not involved in his expected decision to plead guilty Wednesday to eight homicides but is hoping their nearly three-year "nightmare" is nearing its end, her attorney said Tuesday at a news conference on the front lawn of the family's Massapequa Park home.

Only hours before her ex-husband is expected to walk into a Riverhead courtroom and confess to the killings of eight women, Asa Ellerup and her daughter, Victoria Heuermann, stood stoneface and silent before a swarm of reporters and television cameras, declining to answer questions.

While family attorney Robert Macedonio declined to comment on Heuermann's expected guilty plea, he told reporters Ellerup has "not been involved" in any decision made by her ex-husband to change his plea and could provide no insight into what prompted the move.

The Islip Terrace attorney added that the family has had "conversations" with Heuermann in recent months, declining to elaborate, and are "prepared for whatever outcome" occurs Wednesday.

"They're looking to move on, whatever that's going to be, and to put some closure to this," said Macedonio, who declined to say if the family planned to remain on Long Island or would visit Heuermann in prison.

The family had initially called for a news conference in front of the house to read a blistering statement criticizing a wrongful death lawsuit filed Monday by Miller Place attorney John Ray on behalf of Benjamin Torres, the only child of Valerie Mack, one of Heuermann's alleged victims.

The lawsuit, as first reported by Newsday, names Heuermann, along with his ex-wife and daughter, and contends family members "concealed, deliberately ignored, or consciously avoided learning" details about Mack's murder. 

Ellerup has not been accused of any involvement in her ex-husband's alleged crimes, and law enforcement officials have said the killings occurred when his family was traveling out of town.

The suit seeks unspecified money that Ellerup and Victoria Heuermann earned through their participation in a documentary on the Gilgo murders released in July on Peacock.

"My clients have fully cooperated with law enforcement from the very beginning," Macedonio said. "There is no evidence that implicates them in any way. None. Unfortunately, there has now been a lawsuit that attempts to suggest otherwise. The lawsuit is reckless, irresponsible and completely unsupported by the facts of this case."

In his statement and in responses to questions from the media, Macedonio described his clients as "victims" who have dealt with "profound personal trauma" since Heuermann's July 13, 2023 arrest.

"My clients have been living a nightmare the past three years," he said. "Their home was turned upside down. They were removed from it for 13 days. Every one of their personal items was removed, many of which we don't have back yet."

Macedonio defended the family's decision to profit from the Peacock documentary. Crews from the streaming network were at Tuesday's news conference and had seemingly unfettered access to the family's home and backyard.

"This is America," the attorney said. "People are entitled to do whatever they are entitled to do. This is nothing about Rex Heuermann. This is about Asa's life and her process through this; Victoria's life and her process through this whole thing."