Contentious claim in Gilgo Beach serial killer case could set suspect free

 Attorneys for the families of two Gilgo Beach victims whose cases remain unsolved are casting doubt on prosecutors' findings regarding the death of one of their clients and whether the suspected killer's wife was out of town during the murders, as investigators have said.

If lawyers for the families of several Gilgo victims are correct that Rex Heuerman's wife played a role in aiding her suspected serial killer husband, the entire case against her will be thrown out due to "reasonable suspicion," Asa denies the allegations. Allerup's lawyer argues.

Although Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney has repeatedly said that Ellerup was out of town during each of the murders her husband is accused of committing, attorney John Ray spoke at a Tuesday night hearing held at St. John's University in Queens. That conclusion was questioned at a symposium.

His attorney Bob Macedonio told Fox News Digital that if Tierney is wrong about Allerp, the entire case could be ruined.

"When, during the investigation of a criminal case, do they do this in the bail plea?" He said. "Very, very rarely. ... If he's wrong, it casts reasonable doubt about his whole case."

But, according to Ray, he spoke to a hotel manager who told him that Ellerup and her children arrived late to Atlantic City at a time when investigators believed they were in the city during at least one of the murders. Must have been.

Macedonio has rejected that claim and sent a letter to Hotel Re demanding that it either disclose the employee responsible for the "breach" of its client's confidential information or comment on the record if the claim is false. Do it.

Ray also said he had a witness who met the suspected killer and his wife at a "swinger party" in 1996, another claim Macedonian has vehemently rejected.

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Placeholder "The DA's statement would be a potential problem if it were false," said Nema Rahmani, a former Los Angeles-based federal prosecutor who has no connection to the case. “But why would the DA argue over something they were unsure about?”

Ray represents the family of Shannon Gilbert, a 25-year-old woman who disappeared on May 1, 2010, after telling a 911 dispatcher, "There's someone behind me." Gilbert's disappearance sparked an investigation that ultimately led to the discovery of 11 bodies along the Ocean Parkway, about 45 miles east of New York City.

The remains include the "Gilgo Four" – Maureen Brainard-Barnes, 25, Melissa Barthelemy, 24, Megan Waterman, 22, and Amber Costello, 27. Their families are being represented by another prominent lawyer, Gloria Allred, who made a surprise appearance. Heuerman's most recent court date came in January, when Suffolk County prosecutors announced charges in Brainard-Barnes' death.

Their bodies were disposed of near each other and under similar circumstances. Heuermann is facing murder charges in each of their deaths.

Macedonio said, "The FBI, Suffolk detectives, deputy sheriffs, everyone at the law enforcement board eliminated Asa and Victoria (Heuerman) as suspects and even as having jurisdiction during any of the four murders. Is."

Further down the highway, police found seven additional sets of remains, including Gilbert's body.

Police said in 2022 that they believed Gilbert died accidentally while running through a swamp after making an erratic call to 911 in which she appeared to be heavily intoxicated and disoriented, pleading for help.

"Shannon came from a house party, which had no connection to any allegations that Rex was at the house party," Macedonio said. "And you look at serial killers, serial killers work alone. They don't work in teams."

Ray said he has witnesses who link Heuerman to Gilbert's death and the disappearance of Karen Vergata, who was last seen alive on Valentine's Day in 1996.

Vergata's hands and feet were recovered in 1996 on Fire Island, just east of Gilgo Beach.

However, he was not identified until earlier this year.

If Alerp is in any way linked to the crimes there could be financial payouts to the victims' families. She is divorcing her architect husband and recently signed a deal for a streaming documentary with 50 Cent as producer.

Rahmani said, "Many people think that Allerup knew what Heuermann was doing, even if he did not actually participate in the murders as an accomplice or accessory." "At a minimum, there are allegations that Ellerup was present at sex parties and that he lied about being out of town at the time of the murder."

Those allegations were raised last year in an affidavit by an unnamed witness, who appeared in person at Ray's seminar on Tuesday and detailed the claims.

Rahmani said, "That's why I'm surprised Alerp is participating in the Peacock documentary." “He may need the money, but he also has potential criminal risks.”

While former Suffolk County Police Commissioner Rodney Harrison once stood with Ray during a press conference on the explosive allegations, Tierney's office responded with a press release that private attorneys for the families are not part of the law enforcement task force. .

"Any citizen who believes they have relevant evidence in relation to the Gilgo Beach investigation should report it to the investigative agencies involved in the task force," he said at the time. "Those agencies are the Suffolk County District Attorney's Office, the Suffolk County Police Department's Homicide Bureau, the Suffolk County Sheriff's Office, the New York State Police and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.