SUFFOLK COUNTY, NEW YORK: Rex Heuermann's wife filed for divorce following his arrest after he was accused of committing the murders of three young women. When the Gilgo Beach serial killings suspect was taken into custody, his wife Asa Ellerup was "shocked" and "embarrassed."
During his arrest on Thursday, July 13, the 59-year-old was at her home in Massapequa Park when investigators came when her husband was also arrested at the exact moment outside his architectural firm in Midtown Manhattan, according to Suffolk County Police Commissioner Rodney Harrison.
What did Rex Heuermann's wife say of his arrest?
Harrison recalled the day they burst into the suspect's home. "When we told the wife, she was shocked, she was embarrassed," he said of Heuermann's now estranged wife. "But there was a point where we showed her certain pictures and she said, ‘OK, it is what it is'", said the commissioner. However, Harrison did not reveal details of the exact images shown to Ellerup that helped her come to terms with him being the suspect behind the gruesome murders.
According to New York Post, the documents in court showed numerous images of Heuermann's creepy selfies during his alleged hookups with sex workers and also images of him purchasing apparent burner phones. DNA from his wife's own hair was also discovered during the investigation. However, authorities stated that each time the three women Heuermann has allegedly killed, Ellerup was traveling at the time.
Heuermann's family had their world 'turned upside down'
The commissioner previously stated that Ellerup and her two adult children told the officers they were blindsided and had no idea about the Heuermann's "double life." "But, time will tell. And once again, there are still a lot more questions that need to be done to the family and friends," Harrison said.
Six days after Heuermann's arrest, Ellerup filed for divorce. According to her attorney Bob Macedonio, the suspect's wife and children have had their world "turned upside down," and added, "Obviously this has been a shocking time for them and a pretty difficult time to comprehend." Macedonio further said, "As with any family, it’s extremely upsetting and they’re totally shocked and caught off guard. The family doesn’t want to make any further comment than that."
The New York-based architect was arrested after he was accused of killing Melissa Barthelemy, Amber Costello, and Megan Waterman. Heuermann is also considered a prime suspect in the death of another young woman named Maureen Brainard-Barnes. The suspect who is currently held at the Suffolk County Detention Center pleaded not guilty to three counts of murder in the first degree and three counts of murder in the second degree.
