NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK: In a courtroom drama unfolding at Suffolk County Superior Court in Riverhead, Long Island, New York, the wife of accused murderer Rex Heuermann, Asa Ellerup, is facing public scrutiny for expressing disbelief in her husband's involvement in the notorious Gilgo Beach murders.
Heuermann, charged with the heinous crimes, reportedly locked eyes with Ellerup during a recent court hearing, where she made her first appearance since his arrest on July 13.
Accompanied by her lawyer and a documentary crew from Peacock, Ellerup sat stoically as Heuermann cast a sharp glance in her direction. Despite the gravity of the accusations against her estranged husband, Ellerup's response to his gaze was a slight smile, as reported by Fox News.
"I don't know if he actually saw her, but he's appreciative that she's here," Heuermann's lawyer, Michael Brown, told reporters after the hearing.
"And listen, they were married for so many years, and they raised a family together. And my understanding is that she doesn't believe that he was capable or committed these acts."
During the 30-minute court hearing, Brown made a pivotal request for all investigator notes related to the Gilgo Beach murders to be handed over.
The prosecution disclosed that approximately 75% of the materials, including 14,000 photographs and paperwork related to warrants, had already been submitted to the defense.
Social media reactions to Asa Ellerup's comments
The public response on social media has been critical of Ellerup's apparent disbelief in her husband's alleged actions.
"The man had documented CSAM searches on his devices and she sat there in court, with her film crew. That says enough to me," one posted on Reddit.
"Are y’all ready to admit that donating money to this woman was really dumb?" another wrote.
"I had some sympathy for her at first. Not so much now," someone else chimed in.
"Well, denial is one of the stages of grief. It always amazes me when families can’t believe their loved ones are evil," another offered.
Jailhouse conversations between Rex Heuermann and Asa Ellerup
Ellerup's lawyer emphasized her limited knowledge of the case, telling the Daily Mail, "The only thing she knows about this case is what's been reported in the media. If this happened, he was living a complete double life."
Despite filing for divorce only days after Heuermann's arrest, Ellerup visited him in jail last week, marking her first such visit since the charges were filed. Reports suggest that during the prison visit, which lasted at least an hour, Ellerup and Heuermann discussed various aspects.
Brown clarified, "You have to remember that Rex is in a section of the jail that's really isolation...So other than the correctional officers and myself, he hasn't really had any interaction with anybody." He added, "So the fact that his wife, his family member, was able to see him, and they talked, that was important to him."
Ellerup's frequent court appearances are attributed, in part, to a contractual obligation with Peacock planning to release a series about the Gilgo Beach murders. As she entered the courthouse, Ellerup was seen with a cameraman, possibly for the upcoming show.
While Ellerup appeared calm during the recent court hearing, reports suggest a different demeanor in the days following Heuermann's arrest. New York Post mentioned her smiling and laughing at one point while seated near her lawyer and the documentary crew.
Despite the intense public scrutiny, Ellerup is set to attend every court hearing in the coming months to gain a comprehensive understanding of the evidence against Heuermann.
