About This Episode
Rex Heuermann, a 62-year-old Manhattan architectural consultant from Massapequa Park on Long Island, pleaded guilty on April 8, 2026, to the murders of seven women linked to the Gilgo Beach serial killings. In a significant development, he also admitted to causing the death of an eighth victim, Karen Vergata, though this was not included as a separate charge under the terms of his plea agreement.
When questioned in court about the manner of death, Heuermann calmly stated that his victims died by strangulation. The guilty plea marks a dramatic shift in the case, as Heuermann had previously maintained a not guilty plea to all charges since his arrest in July 2023.
The seven victims he pleaded guilty to murdering are Maureen Brainard-Barnes, 25; Melissa Barthelemy, 24; Megan Waterman, 22; and Amber Lynn Costello, 27—collectively known as the "Gilgo Four"—along with Jessica Taylor, 20; Valerie Mack, 24; and Sandra Costilla, 28. Sandra Costilla's remains, discovered in the North Sea off Long Island, were not originally linked to the Gilgo Beach case but were eventually connected to Heuermann through DNA .