Rex Heuermann was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole on Wednesday for the Gilgo Beach serial killings. The 62-year-old former architect admitted to murdering eight women between 1993 and 2010.
Heuermann pleaded guilty in April to strangling the victims, who worked as escorts, and dismembering their bodies. The victims included Melissa Barthelemy, Megan Waterman, Amber Costello, Maureen Brainard-Barnes, Sandra Costilla, Jessica Taylor, Valerie Mack and Karen Vergata.
In court, Heuermann told the judge, "I am responsible for what was said in this room today." Judge Timothy Mazzei responded by calling him a "disgusting and small man" and a coward.
Family members of the victims delivered impact statements, describing years of pain and calling Heuermann an evil monster. Some noted they became his "worst nightmare" by pursuing justice.
Heuermann was arrested in 2023 and had been held in Riverhead jail. He will now serve his sentence in a state prison and has agreed to cooperate with the FBI.
