‘You are a coward.’ Judge sentences Gilgo Beach killer to life in prison without parole
The sentencing comes just two months after he confessed to killing eight women.
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Confessed serial killer Rex Heuermann was sentenced on Wednesday to life in prison without parole for killing eight women, whose remains were discovered along Gilgo Beach.
He pleaded guilty in April to the strangulation deaths of Melissa Barthelemy, Megan Waterman, Amber Costello, Maureen Brainard-Barnes, Jessica Taylor, Sandra Costilla, and Valerie Mack. He also admitted to the killing of an eighth victim, Karen Vergata, which was included under his plea agreement.
News 12 was at Suffolk County Supreme Court in Riverhead, reporting live with minute-by-minute updates of the proceeding.
Family members deliver emotional victim impact statements during Rex Heuermann's sentencing
EXCLUSIVE: Suffolk DA speaks on Gilgo Beach case after Rex Heuermann sentenced to life in prison
12:08 p.m. Behind the scenes of the District Attorney's presser:
11:45 a.m. John Jay College of Criminal Justice adjunct professor David Sarni reflects on the sentencing.
11:25 a.m. Heuermann sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. Families stand, applaud and cheer.
11:23 a.m. Judge calls Heuermann a "disgusting and despicable man... You're a coward."
11:21 a.m. Heuermann begins to speak. "I am responsible for all that was said in this room... The words I say have no meaning."
Judge asks if he's even a little bit sorry. "At least eight women that we know of... Are you a little bit sorry for that?" Heuermann replies, “Yes.”
11:20 a.m. Defense Attorney Michael Brown begins speaking. He addresses the families. "I'm sorry for your loss... I've never met your sister, daughter, friend but I've been studying this case... They were beautiful young ladies and their memories will last forever.”
11:15 a.m. "This defendant only cares about himself and his sick interests," said Tierney.
11:07 a.m. "Any remorse shown is insufficient," said Tierney. "He is sorry he got caught."
11:06 a.m. "The effect this case has had on them (the families) is overwhelming," said Tierney.
11:02 a.m. Victim impact statements conclude. District Attorney Ray Tierney describes family testimonies as "spectacularly impactful.”
10:50 a.m. "She had hopes dreams and plans for the future...She was a human being, someone's daughter, someone's friend and most importantly she was my mother,” said Liliana, Megan Waterman’s daughter. “She wasn't there for my first day of school, graduation or moments that shaped me into the person I am today.”
10:48 a.m. "Be gone, cowardly demon," said Elizabeth Meserve, aunt of Megan Waterman.
10:40 a.m. "Her loss has caused unmeasurable hardship for our family,” said Elizabeth Meserve, aunt of Megan Waterman. "Megan was a mother, daughter, niece, sister and a vibrant young woman.”
10:36 a.m. "Don't even bother saying you're sorry, because no one believes it,” said Amanda Funderburg, sister of Melissa Barthelemy.
10:21 a.m. Maureen Brainard-Barnes’ daughter was only seven years old when her mother went missing.
"I was a little girl and I needed my mom. There are moments yet to come that I will need her and she will not be there,” said Nicolette Brainard-Barnes.
"Seeing your last court appearance and seeing your smirk proves you need to be locked away for the safety of the community,” she said.
10:11 a.m. "This was a calculated, unimaginable evil,” said Melissa Cann, sister of Maureen Brainard-Barnes.
9:54 a.m. Victim impact statements begin.
"Heuermann, you have done horrendous things to Valerie's earthly body but you have not touched the real Valerie,” said Ed Mack, adoptive father of Valerie Mack.
"What you have done to our family is beyond what words can express. Even though justice is done, it cannot be replaced with what you have taken from us,” said JoAnn Mack, adoptive mother of Valerie Mack.
"You took away every chance that she ever had these past 26 years because you took her life.... She had hopes and she had dreams,” said JoAnn Mack.
"Valerie Mack had a fire inside of her that lit up the world around her,” said Danielle Mack, her sister.
"Torso. Headless and handless. These words got me...That weekend, she was supposed to come home... Loved ones were calling her...She never picked up the phone because of you,” said Jasmine Robinson, Jessica Taylor’s cousin.
Heuermann is seen looking straight ahead during victim impact statements.
9:52 a.m. Rex Heuermann enters courtroom.
9:39 a.m. District Attorney Ray Tierney and Defense Attorney Michael Brown enter courtroom.
9:30 a.m. Gloria Allred, representative for some of the victim's families, seen in courtroom.
9:21 a.m. News 12 crews enter courtroom. Room is crowded with media, victim's families and members of law enforcement.
9:10 a.m. News 12 crews went through security, waiting outside the courtroom to be let in.
9:05 a.m. Courthouse doors are now open.
8:30 a.m. The doors to the courthouse open in thirty minutes. Over 60 people are waiting to get in.
8:05 a.m. 56 people are now waiting outside the courthouse.
7:30 a.m. Laura Audette, of Riverhead, spoke to News 12’s Julia Rosier in front of the courthouse.
“I’ve lived on Long Island my whole life, and this is a long time coming…. Thirty years,” she said. “This is important for Long Island.”
Nick Graystone, of Bellmore, told News 12 that he has been following the case “from day one.”
News 12 interviewed him at April’s hearing.
“I came for the confession and now today, I had to see it through,” he said. “I still don’t think this is the end. I think there is more to it.
“Today I want to see justice being served, just like the families,” he said.
7:30 a.m. View of the line.
7:10 a.m. 32 people in line outside the courthouse.
7 a.m. A few people waiting outside the courthouse brought lawn chairs to sit.
6:39 a.m. Line outside courthouse is much shorter than it was around this time during the April hearing.
April 8:
Today:
6:34 a.m. John Jay College of Criminal Justice adjunct professor David Sarni on the sentencing
Adjunct professor David Sarni joined News 12 before the proceeding to discuss what to expect ahead of Heuermann’s sentencing.
Sarni believes victim impact statements will likely be heard during today’s proceedings.
“Families of the victims will have an opportunity to speak to the killer… We don’t know if the killer will say anything back to them,” he said. “It is a chance for them to show that people he thought were lost or uncared for were loved.”
As News 12 previously reported, Heuermann will be interviewed by the FBI’s Behavioral Analysis Unit as a part of his plea deal.
Sarni says interviewing him will provide deeper insight and hopefully help investigators with other cold cases.
“It is a treasure trove of information,” he explained. “You can equate it Hannibal Lector in a sense, where you have an opportunity to speak to someone who has killed, who had planned these murders, and look into their mind.”
6:15 a.m. Line outside the courthouse has grown to about 20 people. People started lining up before 5:30 a.m.
5:40 a.m. Small line of media in front of courthouse.
4:14 a.m. Quiet outside the courthouse in Riverhead about five hours before proceedings begin.
READ MORE: Gilgo Unsolved Part 1: Origins of the case & a new approach from Suffolk PD
