Stewie, Service Dog For Accused Gilgo Killer's Family, Seen In Court

LONG ISLAND, NY — When Rex Heuermann appeared in a Riverhead courtroom for a scheduled appearance Tuesday, many eyes were riveted not on the accused Gilgo Beach killer, charged in the deaths of six women —but, instead, on the family's dog, Stewie, brought to the proceedings by his estranged wife Asa Ellerup.

According to Ellerup's attorney Robert Macedonio, Stewart, called "Stewie" by his family, is certified as a psychological support dog for both Asa and the couple's son Christopher.

When asked why he was brought to court Tuesday, Macedonio said Stewie "gives them calm and comfort. He provides support for Asa and her family."

He added: "We all bond to our animals in times of need — and animals kind of know, also, when we need them."

Stewie is four years old, a Labrador Chihuahua mix, Macedonio said. Both Macedonio and Heuermann's attorney Michael Brown said they didn't think Heuermann had seen the dog; Ellerup and the pooch were seated at the back of the courtroom.

Commenting on the day's proceedings — Justice Timothy Mazzei announced that the next court date would be October 16, to give Brown and the District Attorney's office time to go through what Suffolk DA Ray Tierney called a "voluminous" amount of discovery — Macedonio said he agreed that there was a great deal of material to go through.

"They're all working very hard," he said. "Even when you're dealing with one alleged homicide, there are many, many pages of discovery. Now, there are at least six victims and there are hundreds of thousands of pages of discovery."

Macedonio said he and Ellerup know as much about the case as the public. "We only know what's been told to the press," he said.

But one thing he was sure of: Stewie had been a model attendee in the courtroom. "He behaved very well," he said.