Rex Heuermann, the Manhattan architect who has been identified as the Gilgo Beach serial killer, has spent the last three years isolated in a segregated jail cell, where he has engaged in solitary activities such as reading crime novels and receiving occasional visits from his lawyers and family. According to Suffolk County Sheriff Errol Toulon, Heuermann has been held at the jail in Riverhead, New York, since his arrest in July 2023.
During his incarceration, Heuermann established a brief correspondence with Keith Hunter Jesperson, known as the "Happy Face Killer," who is serving multiple life sentences in Oregon for the murders of eight women in the 1990s. Sheriff Toulon revealed that Jesperson initiated the contact by writing to Heuermann, to which Heuermann responded but subsequently did not reply to further messages from Jesperson.
Heuermann, who has pleaded guilty to murdering seven women and has admitted to killing an eighth, is facing a life sentence without parole. Sheriff Toulon noted that despite attempts from “other fanatics” to reach Heuermann, he has declined all communications, including interview requests from the media.
Gloria Allred, a lawyer representing some of the victims’ families, criticized both Heuermann and Jesperson, labeling them "losers" and "cowards." She emphasized the heart-wrenching reality that both men had murdered individuals who were daughters, mothers, and sisters, often targeting the most vulnerable women.
Most of Heuermann's victims were female sex workers, and their dismembered remains were discovered along a remote parkway close to Gilgo Beach, approximately 50 miles east of Manhattan. Similarly, Jesperson met several of his victims during his time as a truck driver, and he became notorious for drawing smiley faces on letters he sent to media and law enforcement.
In jail, Heuermann has shown a keen interest in violent crime and mystery novels, raising concerns about his mental state. His reading list includes titles such as J.D. Robb's "Portrait in Death," John Sandford's "Secret Prey," and Heather Graham's "Picture Me Dead." Sheriff Toulon remarked on the troubling nature of Heuermann's reading choices, contrasting them with more benign genres like sports or cooking literature.
Toulon described Heuermann's demeanor as unchanged throughout his jail time; he appears unaffected and emotionless. The sheriff noted that Heuermann does not display signs of discomfort or remorse, consistently maintaining a stoic expression similar to that observed in court appearances.
Heuermann resides in a standard 6-by-9-foot cell furnished with a metal sink, toilet, and a thin mattress. The cell design allows guards to monitor the inmates continually, a measure taken to prevent any potential incidents. Additional staff has been deployed to oversee Heuermann's unit since his arrest, with specific precautions in place, including the absence of female correction officers during his confinement.
Inmates receive three meals daily, which are served in their cells. Heuermann, who has limited physical activity in the prison yard, reportedly walks in circles rather than engaging in more vigorous exercise routines. He interacts with visitors in a specially designated area where physical contact is permitted only at the beginning and end of visits.
Heuermann's family, including his ex-wife Asa Ellerup and their two grown children, have announced that they will not attend the upcoming sentencing. Ellerup's attorney conveyed her decision to stay away in order to not distract from the families of victims who will be delivering impactful statements during the proceedings. The focus remains on the pursuit of justice and healing for those affected by Heuermann's actions.
