Rex Heuermann, the man accused in the Long Island serial killer case, was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole on Wednesday.
During the hearing at Suffolk County Court in Riverhead, New York, Heuermann briefly addressed the judge and the families of his victims.
“I am responsible”.
The 62-year-old Long Island architect pleaded guilty in April to murdering seven women: Melissa Barthelemy, Maureen Brainard-Barnes, Amber Lynn Costello, Sandra Costilla, Valerie Mack, Jessica Taylor and Megan Waterman. He also admitted in court to killing an eighth victim, Karen Vergata, though he was never charged in that death.
Families of the victims confronted him in court before sentencing, describing years of pain, unanswered questions and enduring grief. One relative told him that “a million years isn’t enough,” while another said she hoped he would suffer.
Judge Timothy Mazzei sharply rebuked Heuermann before imposing the sentence, calling him “despicable” and “a coward.”
The case, which began with the discovery of remains near Gilgo Beach along Long Island’s Ocean Parkway, went cold for years before investigators linked Heuermann to the killings in 2023. Prosecutors said evidence included DNA recovered from a pizza crust discarded in Manhattan, cellphone and tracking data, and a document they described as a blueprint for the murders.
Heuermann’s sentencing brings a formal end to one of New York’s most closely watched criminal cases, though investigators have said they will continue looking into whether he may be linked to other unsolved deaths.