The Gilgo Beach murders have returned to the limelight after law enforcement sources confirmed to ABC News that DNA from Asa Ellerup, the estranged wife of the prime suspect, Rex Heuermann, matches genetic material found on the victims’ remains. This revelation came after investigators took a cheek swab from Ellerup following Heuermann’s arrest for the murders of three women near Gilgo Beach on Long Island. The victims, Melissa Barthelemy, Amber Costello, and Megan Waterman, were discovered wrapped in burlap in a marshy area. Although Ellerup’s hair was found on the burlap, prosecutors have exonerated her, stating she was not in the vicinity when the murders occurred.
Heuermann, who has pleaded not guilty to first and second-degree murder charges, is also suspected in the death of Maureen Brainard Barnes, another Gilgo Beach victim. The Gilgo Beach murders, involving 11 individuals found in 2010 and 2011, have puzzled investigators for years. Most victims were young women engaged in sex work, discovered near Gilgo Beach, Long Island.
The case’s complexity led to the formation of an interagency task force last year, comprising the FBI and state and local police departments, focusing on resolving these unsolved killings. Suffolk County Police Commissioner Rodney Harrison highlighted this task force as a renewed effort to unravel the mysteries behind these tragic deaths.
The case has also gained further attention with NBCUniversal’s Peacock securing rights for a documentary series on Heuermann’s trial and Ellerup’s story. This move, involving the participation of Ellerup, has sparked controversy among victims’ families. The series is part of a broader trend in true crime media, reflecting public fascination with such stories, despite concerns about the potential impact on legal proceedings and the re-victimization of affected families. The financial terms of Ellerup’s involvement remain undisclosed.
