Accused Gilgo Beach Killer Could Plead Guilty To 8th Murder: Report

LONG ISLAND, NY — Accused Gilgo Beach serial killer Rex Heuermann could plead guilty to the homicide of an eighth woman when he appears in court on Wednesday, a report indicated Tuesday.

According to Newsday, Heuermann could also plead guilty to the 1996 killing of Karen Vergata, whose body was found on Tobay Beach and on Fire Island.

In 2023, investigators identified the Gilgo Beach victim referred to as "Jane Doe No. 7" as Karen Vergata, Patch previously reported.

On Wednesday, Heuermann was initially expected to plead guilty to the murders of seven women, according to multiple outlets, including Newsday, which first reported the news.

Heuermann's attorney Michael Brown and Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney, who is prosecuting the case, did not return requests for comment.

After court proceedings in Riverhead on Wednesday, a press conference has been organized with members of the victims' families and will take place in Brentwood, the DA's office said.

On Monday, the son of Valerie Mack, one of the accused Gilgo Beach killer's victims, filed a suit against Heuermann and his ex-wife Asa Ellerup and daughter Victoria Heuermann, court documents indicate.

Heuermann was first arrested on July 13, 2023 in New York City and indicted the next day in Riverhead.

Heuermann has been charged in the deaths of seven women: In July 2023, Heuermann was indicted on three counts of first-degree murder and three counts of second-degree murder in the deaths of sex workers Melissa Barthelemy, Megan Waterman and Amber Costello, whose remains were found along Ocean Parkway in 2010.

Heuermann was also charged with the murder of a fourth woman, Maureen Brainard-Barnes, the DA said. New DNA evidence helped connect Heuermann to all four of the deaths, said Tierney.

Heuermann was next slapped with new second-degree murder charges in the deaths of two additional women, Jessica Taylor and Sandra Costilla, the DA said. Heuermann was also later charged with the death of a seventh victim, Valerie Mack, the DA said.

A total of 11 sets of remains were found in the Gilgo Beach murders, which rocked Long Island. The remains included that of a toddler and an Asian male.

Heuermann had previously pleaded not guilty to all charges.

If he pleads guilty, sentencing will be at a later date, Newsday said.

The remains of Vergata, 34, were first found on Fire Island on April 20, 1996, officials have said: Human remains were located in Davis Park, Suffolk County police said. DNA later linked the remains to a second set of remains found April 11, 2011, at Tobay Beach in Nassau County.

Her skull was found the same day as law enforcement discovered the remains of "Jane Doe No. 3," also known as "Peaches." The skull of Vergata, who lived in New York City, was also found just weeks after the remains of Jessica Taylor were found March 29, 2011, near Ocean Parkway, Tierney has said.

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