Gilgo Beach murders: Lawyer urges Rex Heuermann's wife be probed after DNA evidence links her to victims
SUFFOLK COUNTY, NEW YORK: New revelations this week have placed Asa Ellerup, the wife of accused Gilgo Beach serial killer Rex Heuermann, under intense scrutiny.
Her DNA was found to match evidence collected from the bodies of several victims, raising questions if she was involved or had knowledge of the gruesome murders that took place over a decade ago, as per The Sun.
Newsday Reports:
— Laura Ingle (@lauraingle) November 30, 2023
DNA Found on LISK Victims Matches Suspect Rex Heuermann’s Wife. The samples were taken to confirm earlier tests that indicated Asa Ellerup was a source of hairs found w/the remains. It’s not clear if the match was w/the hairs or with something else on the victims pic.twitter.com/kxJbYsyGL6
DNA sample links Rex Heuermann's wife Asa Ellerup to victims
On Wednesday, November 29, an anonymous law enforcement source revealed to 'Newsday' that a cheek swab DNA sample voluntarily provided by Ellerup in July matched genetic material discovered on or near three victims whose remains were found buried along a remote stretch of beach on Long Island between December 2010 and April 2011.
While the Suffolk County Police Department previously insisted Ellerup was not a suspect, this DNA evidence links her directly to the victims. It confirms earlier DNA tests showing her hair was found with the bodies - a fact authorities brushed aside, claiming contamination from her husband was likely.
Citing cellphone data, police earlier said Ellerup and her two children were out of town at the time they believe the murders were carried out.
With three victims now tied to Ellerup based on DNA, serious doubts have emerged over her innocence. Attorney John Ray, representing the family of victim Shannan Gilbert whose disappearance sparked the grisly discovery, believes investigators wrongly eliminated Ellerup as a potential suspect prematurely.
“Nobody knows when these girls were specifically murdered, and nobody knows how long their bodies were kept before they moved them - so the hair thing could still connect her [to the murders]," Ray told reporters.
Rex Heuermann signs over ownership of couple’s home to Asa Ellerup
Ellerup’s recent actions have also invited skepticism. Despite filing for divorce shortly after Heuermann’s arrest in July, she has maintained contact with him in prison, attended court hearings in a show of support, and is participating in a documentary series about the case that will financially benefit her.
“That sounds like somebody conspiring together and then maybe they’re taking a second look at the same evidence,” said Ray about Ellerup and Heuermann exchanging smiles in court.
In October, Heuermann signed over ownership of the couple’s home in Massapequa Park to Ellerup where police found over 250 guns in the basement. Ray believes this was a ploy to shield assets from victim lawsuits and accuses the estranged couple of fraud.
“That’s a presumptive fraud of creditors of Rex Heuermann. So, they conspired together for that to happen,” stated Ray.
Internet reacts to news of Asa Ellerup's DNA link to victims
The Internet, especially Reddit, it seems, had a lot to say on this news. One user wrote: "Read carefully. The article states the cheek swab DNA test just confirms that the hair found in the body was hers. This is not news. The wife’s hairs could easily be transferred from RH to the victim. Move along. Nothin to see here."
While another user said: "Her DNA gets on Rex and then gets on the victims. Not a surprise to me."
A third user wrote: "She lives there! What do people expect?"
Another person said: "I hope that million dollar payday she was supposed to get for her story is put on hold until this is investigated thoroughly."
A fifth user wrote: "I don’t know if she was involved or not but anyone who is a woman or lives with one knows hair is everywhere."
