Crime & Safety
Gilgo Beach Suspect's Wife Makes Jailhouse Visit
Asa Ellerup, the estranged wife of Rex Heuermann, visited him at the Suffolk County Correctional Facility in Riverside Wednesday.
![Gilgo Beach serial killer suspect Rex Heuermann.](https://patch.com/img/cdn20/users/24679441/20231109/112943/styles/patch_image/public/heuermann-2___09112852196.jpg)
YAPHANK, NY — The estranged wife of the suspected Gilgo Beach serial killer, Rex Heuermann, visited him at the Suffolk County Correctional Facility on Wednesday, her attorney said.
Asa Ellerup, who filed for divorce within weeks of Heuermann's July arrest, visited him at the maximum-security facility in Riverside on Wednesday, her attorney, Robert Macedonio of Islip Terrace, confirmed Thursday.
He declined further comment.
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Patch has reached out to the Suffolk County Sheriff's office, which oversees the jail, for comment.
Macedonio previously said that Heuermann and Ellerup had been in contact over the phone, but had not discussed his criminal case.
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Ellerup, who has breast cancer, is expected to continue care over the next year, but her health insurance was set to run out because it was connected to Heuermann's employment, Macedonio said in August.
"When the funds run out in his business accounts, the health insurance will no longer be available for her to treat the cancer," he added.
Heuermann was arrested July 14 in connection with the deaths of three of the Gilgo Four, all women who worked in the sex trade and whose bodies were found buried at Gilgo Beach.
The women include Melissa Barthelemy, Megan Waterman, and Amber Costello.
He is the prime suspect in the death of Maureen Brainard-Barnes.
Heuermann has also been linked to two other women, including Shannan Gilbert, whose disappearance led to the finding of 11 sets of remains, according to attorney John Ray.
Some of the remains included an Asian male and a toddler.
He has also been linked to Karen Vergata, who has been identified as the woman whose remains were found at Davis Park on Fire Island.
Back in July, the sheriff's office told Patch that there were some signs Heuermann was settling into his life behind bars where he was initially placed on suicide watch.
In a previous interview with Patch, Sheriff Errol Toulon said Heuermann did not have any reading materials in his cell and had not had any visitors. Since then, he has been visited by his attorney, Michael Brown, and one other person officials would not name.
He was placed on strict security protocols and was housed in an isolated unit where he does everything alone. He was alone for recreation time and was unable to speak with other prisoners.
Since his incarceration, he has been reading and has requested religious services.
Brown has maintained his innocence and says he looks forward to his day in court.
Patch has reached out to Brown for comment.
Heuermann's next court date is on Nov. 15
This story will be updated. Check back later.
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