Long Island Killer: Life imprisonment for US serial killer Rex Heuermann

New York (USA) – Now he can’t hurt a woman ever again! American serial killer Rex Heuermann (62), who murdered at least eight women, was sentenced to life in prison without parole on Wednesday. He is said to have been secretly hunting for new victims at night for 17 years.

When the verdict came down, the New York architect looked straight ahead, motionless, with his hands folded, the AP news agency reported. The criminal, who became known as the “Long Island Killer,” only drummed on the table with his fingers.

Heuermann has remained largely silent at numerous court appearances since his arrest in 2023. His ex-wife and his two adult children were not present at the sentencing. They had said through their lawyers that they would stay away out of respect for the victims’ families.

Relatives: “You fill me with disgust”

After years of waiting, the victims’ families had longed for justice: “You fill me with so much disgust that I can’t bear it,” Jasmine Robinson, a cousin of victim Jessica Taylor, told the defendant in court.

“I hope you’re suffering,” said Amanda Funderburg, sister of victim Melissa Barthelemy. She asked Heuermann to look at her as she spoke. He looked in her direction, but his gaze was slightly lowered.

DNA evidence convicted the serial killer

The 62-year-old had previously confessed to the heinous acts: he strangled his victims, dismembered some bodies and dumped their remains near Gilgo Beach on Long Islandaround 80 kilometers east of Manhattan.

The police found the first victims there in 2010, some in burlap sacks. DNA Trace on a pizza and cell phone data led to Heuermann in 2023. Only later were the investigators able to reconstruct that all of the women were victims of a serial killer.