The estranged wife of the Manhattan architect implicated in the Gilgo Beach serial killings has opened up about the emotional toll the situation has taken on her and her adult children. Asa Ellerup, 59, who has filed for divorce from the suspect, Rex Heuermann, spoke about the difficult past few weeks they’ve endured to media.
Heuermann was arrested on July 13 and charged with three counts of murder related to the deaths of three women. He is also considered the prime suspect in the disappearance of a fourth woman, known as one of the “Gilgo Four,” whose discoveries sparked fears of a serial killer in the area.
Ellerup revealed that her two adult children are deeply affected by the ordeal. Despite their age, they are still her children, and their emotions have been overwhelming. Her son, who is 33 years old and has developmental disabilities, has been particularly distressed, crying himself to sleep.
The situation has taken a toll on Ellerup as well. She confessed to experiencing anxiety and even waking up shivering in the middle of the night. During the investigation, authorities searched their Massapequa Park home on Long Island for evidence, and when the family was finally allowed to return, they found their residence in a devastating state. The home was practically unlivable, with litter boxes scattered around, the couch shredded, and her greenhouse tampered with.
Adding to the stress, it was revealed that Heuermann had a stockpile of more than 200 guns in a vault at home. Ellerup’s 26-year-old daughter, Victoria Heuermann, expressed feeling dehumanized in the aftermath of her father’s arrest. Their lawyer, Bob Macedonio, criticized the treatment the family had received, stating that they were treated like animals.

Ellerup has been struggling to provide answers to her son about the situation, but she reassured him that they are together and will get through this difficult time as a family. The lawyer plans to create an itemized list of the damage done to the home and missing items to present to the district attorney’s office.
Macedonio described the past few weeks as tumultuous for the family, with their lives turned upside down. Rex Heuermann, the accused architect, is set to appear in court for his first hearing since his arraignment. He has pleaded not guilty and is currently held without bail.
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The arrest has deeply affected Long Island and the New York area, and the investigation into the Gilgo Beach serial killings is still ongoing.