Rex Heuermann pleads guilty to 7 murders in Gilgo Beach serial killings

Heuermann pleaded guilty to three counts of murder in the first degree and four counts of murder in the second degree, the Suffolk County DA’s office said. He also publicly admitted killing an eighth victim, Karen Vergata.

Heuermann’s murders started with Sandra Costilla in November, 1993, the DA’s office said. He strangled her to death and left her remains in North Sea in the Town of Southampton. Hunters discovered her remains about a week later. She was 28, and had a 5-year-old son at the time of her death.

Heuermann admitted killing Karen Vergata in April, 1996. He strangled her to death, and then dismembered her body and distributed her remains at various locations, the Suffolk County DA’s office said. Her legs were found in Brookhaven later that month. Nearly 15 years later, her skull was found near Tobay Beach. She was 34 at the time of her death, and had two sons.

In 2000, somewhere between September and November, he killed Valerie Mack, the DA’s office said. He strangled her to death, and again dismembered her. Some of her remains were found in November, 2000. More were found over 10 years later. She was 24 at the time of her death, and had a son.

Heuermann pleaded guilty to killing Jessica Taylor in July, 2003. Her dismembered remains were found in 2003 and 2011. She was 20 at the time of her death.

In July, 2007, Heuermann killed Maureen Brainard-Barnes, he admitted. Her remains were found in 2010. She was 25 at the time of her death and had two children.

Heuermann pled guilty to killing Melissa Barthelemy in July, 2009. Her remains were found more than a year later. She was 24 at the time of her death.