Gilgo Beach killings: Victims' lawyer asks estranged wife of accused serial killer to make 'meaningful contribution' to families
Asa Ellerup, the estranged wife of accused Gilgo Beach serial killer Rex A. Heuermann, left. Credit: James Carbone
The estranged wife of alleged Gilgo Beach serial killer Rex A. Heuermann should meet with the victims’ families and consider making a “meaningful contribution” to a fund for them, the lawyer for the victims’ families said in a statement to Newsday on Friday.
The statement came after the estranged wife, Asa Ellerup, said that she doesn’t think her husband of 27 years is capable of having committed the killings.
Los Angeles-based attorney Gloria Allred, who is representing family members of three of the four women that Heuermann is charged with killing, responded Friday to an earlier statement from Ellerup in which she said she visits Heuermann weekly at the Suffolk County jail in Riverhead and asserted that he was not capable of the crimes he is accused of.
Ellerup, in her statement issued Wednesday by her Islip Terrace-based attorney Robert Macedonio, said she has given Heuermann “the benefit of the doubt, which we all deserve” and said she will “withhold judgment until the end of the trial.”
Ellerup, 60, who filed for divorce from Heuermann six days after his July 13 arrest on murder charges, also expressed her “heartfelt sympathies” to the victims and their families.
“We feel that sympathetic words without deeds are meaningless,” Allred said in her Friday statement. “We look forward to Ms. Ellerup’s response.”
Macedonio declined to comment Friday.
“The victims’ family members whom I represent, appreciate the 'heartfelt sympathies' for the victims and their families expressed on behalf of Asa Ellerup (defendant Rex Heuermann’s longtime spouse) by her attorneys concerning the Gilgo Beach criminal case,” Allred said.
“We wonder, however, what her response will be if Rex Heuermann is convicted by a jury of the murders and/or other felonies with which he is charged. Is Asa willing to commit that, if defendant Heuermann is convicted, she will make a meaningful contribution to a fund to compensate the family members of the victims for their heartbreaking loss?
“In addition,” Allred continued, “will she also commit to encouraging the defendant, Rex Heuermann, to contribute whatever assets he still has to compensate the victims’ family members?”
Allred added: “Further, since Ms. Ellerup visits Mr. Heuermann weekly, we also invite her to meet with the members of the victims’ families now to help her understand the depth of their loss.”
Heuermann, 60, who lived in Massapequa Park, has pleaded not guilty to murder charges in the killings of Maureen Brainard-Barnes, Megan Waterman, Melissa Barthelemy and Amber Lynn Costello, whose remains were found near Gilgo Beach 13 years ago.
Heuermann, who worked as an architect in midtown Manhattan, has been held without bail at the Suffolk County jail in Riverhead since his arrest.
All four of the women — the first of 10 sets of remains found along Ocean Parkway that are believed to be the work of one or more serial killers — were sex workers.
Allred, who appeared at a news conference with the victims’ families in Riverhead in January, said she represents the following parties: Elizabeth Meserve, the aunt of Waterman; Amanda Funderburg, the sister of Barthelemy; Lynn Barthelemy, the mother of Barthelemy; Melissa Cann, the sister of Brainard-Barnes; Nicolette Brainard-Barnes, the daughter of Brainard-Barnes; and Sara Karnes, a friend of Brainard-Barnes.
Ellerup, who has attended some of Heuermann’s court appearances and as of Wednesday had visited him while incarcerated seven times, reportedly signed a seven-figure deal with NBC Universal and other parties to participate in a documentary on the case.
The estranged wife of alleged Gilgo Beach serial killer Rex A. Heuermann should meet with the victims’ families and consider making a “meaningful contribution” to a fund for them, the lawyer for the victims’ families said in a statement to Newsday on Friday.
The statement came after the estranged wife, Asa Ellerup, said that she doesn’t think her husband of 27 years is capable of having committed the killings.
Los Angeles-based attorney Gloria Allred, who is representing family members of three of the four women that Heuermann is charged with killing, responded Friday to an earlier statement from Ellerup in which she said she visits Heuermann weekly at the Suffolk County jail in Riverhead and asserted that he was not capable of the crimes he is accused of.
Ellerup, in her statement issued Wednesday by her Islip Terrace-based attorney Robert Macedonio, said she has given Heuermann “the benefit of the doubt, which we all deserve” and said she will “withhold judgment until the end of the trial.”
Ellerup, 60, who filed for divorce from Heuermann six days after his July 13 arrest on murder charges, also expressed her “heartfelt sympathies” to the victims and their families.
“We feel that sympathetic words without deeds are meaningless,” Allred said in her Friday statement. “We look forward to Ms. Ellerup’s response.”
Macedonio declined to comment Friday.
“The victims’ family members whom I represent, appreciate the 'heartfelt sympathies' for the victims and their families expressed on behalf of Asa Ellerup (defendant Rex Heuermann’s longtime spouse) by her attorneys concerning the Gilgo Beach criminal case,” Allred said.
“We wonder, however, what her response will be if Rex Heuermann is convicted by a jury of the murders and/or other felonies with which he is charged. Is Asa willing to commit that, if defendant Heuermann is convicted, she will make a meaningful contribution to a fund to compensate the family members of the victims for their heartbreaking loss?
“In addition,” Allred continued, “will she also commit to encouraging the defendant, Rex Heuermann, to contribute whatever assets he still has to compensate the victims’ family members?”
Allred added: “Further, since Ms. Ellerup visits Mr. Heuermann weekly, we also invite her to meet with the members of the victims’ families now to help her understand the depth of their loss.”
Heuermann, 60, who lived in Massapequa Park, has pleaded not guilty to murder charges in the killings of Maureen Brainard-Barnes, Megan Waterman, Melissa Barthelemy and Amber Lynn Costello, whose remains were found near Gilgo Beach 13 years ago.
Heuermann, who worked as an architect in midtown Manhattan, has been held without bail at the Suffolk County jail in Riverhead since his arrest.
All four of the women — the first of 10 sets of remains found along Ocean Parkway that are believed to be the work of one or more serial killers — were sex workers.
Allred, who appeared at a news conference with the victims’ families in Riverhead in January, said she represents the following parties: Elizabeth Meserve, the aunt of Waterman; Amanda Funderburg, the sister of Barthelemy; Lynn Barthelemy, the mother of Barthelemy; Melissa Cann, the sister of Brainard-Barnes; Nicolette Brainard-Barnes, the daughter of Brainard-Barnes; and Sara Karnes, a friend of Brainard-Barnes.
Ellerup, who has attended some of Heuermann’s court appearances and as of Wednesday had visited him while incarcerated seven times, reportedly signed a seven-figure deal with NBC Universal and other parties to participate in a documentary on the case.
Nicole Fuller is Newsday's senior criminal justice reporter. She began working at Newsday in 2012 and previously covered local government.
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Newsday Live Music Series: Long Island Idols Newsday Live presents a special evening of music and conversation with local singers who grabbed the national spotlight on shows like "The Voice," "America's Got Talent,""The X-Factor" and "American Idol." Newsday Senior Lifestyle Host Elisa DiStefano leads a discussion and audience Q&A as the singers discuss their TV experiences, careers and perform original songs.
