SUFFOLK COUNTY, NEW YORK: Rex Heuermann's wife has reportedly retained attorney Robert Macedonio and filed for divorce from her husband after he was arrested for being the suspected serial killer involved in the Gilgo Beach murders. On Wednesday, July 19, Macedonio confirmed a complaint and summons on behalf of Ellerup was filed in the Suffolk County Supreme Court as part of the divorce case. "I can confirm that we did file a summons complaint for the divorce today in Suffolk County Supreme Court," he told The Daily Mail. The publication also noted that "Asa Ellerup v. Rex Heuermann" has been listed as an "uncontested" matrimonial filing dated Wednesday, July 19, alongside a complaint, summons and a "notice concerning continuation of health care coverage" filed and processed.
What is known about Robert Macedonio?
Macedonio is reportedly a trial attorney with over 25 years of experience. He previously served as the Suffolk County Assistant District Attorney before entering the private sector, specializing in the fields of criminal law, matrimonial law and real estate. He reportedly graduated from St John’s University as a Bachelor of Science in 1989 and earned his Juris Doctor from New York Law School in 1992.
The attorney is reportedly a member of the New York State Bar Association, the Suffolk County Bar Association, the Suffolk County Criminal Bar Association and the Suffolk County Matrimonial Bar Association. According to an old Newsday story, now-shared on the Matthew Doig blog, a veteran criminal defense attorney and former Suffolk County prosecutor of the same name allegedly lost his law license back in December 2008 after pleading guilty to felony cocaine possession.
However, Macedonio reportedly regained his license after Hudson and District Attorney Thomas Spota allowed to reduce the felony conviction to a misdemeanor. Reports suggest that the entire investigation related to Macedonio's case remained secret and "sealed." In an interview with News 12, Macedonio said that he did not receive any special treatment while being cleared off the felony guilty plea.
"I did not receive special, preferential treatment from the district attorney's office," the attorney told the network, saying that the state started a program after his guilty plea that allows convicted drug felons to change their pleas upon completion of rehab treatment. "Your plea is vacated and you are given a misdemeanor or, in some cases, a violation. That's opposed to having a felony conviction on your record," Macedonio explained. Despite the similarities in their name and professional endeavour, it cannot be confirmed if Ellerup's lawyer is the same attorney involved in the 2008 case.
'This has been a shocking time for them'
After filing a summons on behalf of Ellerup, Macedonio told The US Sun that Heuermann's family was "blindsided" by the murder charges brought against him. "Obviously this has been a shocking time for them and a pretty difficult time to comprehend," he told the outlet. "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 lawyer added.
He also told the Daily Mail that cops executed a search warrant at the Heuermann family's New York home in Massapequa Park the same time they arrested the suspect in Midtown Manhattan. The attorney said that Ellerup was "in complete shock" as were her two adult children. "Their entire lives have been turned upside down," he mentioned. Ellerup was reportedly home at the time of her husband's arrest in Manhattan.
"When they made the arrest, they executed the search warrants at exactly the same time, so there's no tipoff for anyone to destroy any kind of evidence. So as they're taking him down in Manhattan, there was already a team waiting on the house to do it as soon as they got him so he doesn't call and say 'hey,'" Macedonio explained. Ellerup was reportedly away from home at the time of the Gilgo Beach murders and is not facing any charges related to the case.
