Rex Heuermann's estranged wife breathed a sigh of relief when officials returned items confiscated during raids on their Long Island home.
Asa Ellerup, 59, who stayed by the side of the accused serial killer in connection with the ongoing Gilgo Beach murder case, had her life turned upside down when police raided their homes and warehouses in recent months.
Heuerman (61) was arrested in 2023 and accused of murdering six women – at least four of them were involved in prostitution before their deaths.
Although he denied any involvement in their deaths and pleaded not guilty, detectives raided his family's Massapequa Park home and rented storage units to seize the items.
“The family is grateful and relieved that they are beginning to recover some of their personal property,” Bob Macedonio, Ellerup's attorney, told Newsday, adding that the returned items will not be used as evidence in the accused killer's case.
“We are in constant contact with the district attorney's office and last month we began receiving returns of personal items that prosecutors determined had no evidentiary value in Rex Heuermann's criminal proceedings.”
Asa Ellerup, 59, who filed for divorce from Heuermann, remained by his side during the ongoing Gilgo Beach murder investigation
Heuerrman (pictured in court), 61, was arrested in 2023 and charged with the murders of six women, at least four of whom were involved in prostitution before their deaths
Macedonio told the outlet that the family received “over 50 manila envelopes” and “personal electronic devices.”
“We have been told by the District Attorney's Office that we will continue to receive the personal property of Asa (Ellerup), Victoria (Heuermann) and Christopher (Sheridan) on an ongoing basis as it is processed,” he said.
Victoria is the daughter of Heuermann and Ellerup, while Christopher is Ellrup's son from a previous relationship.
Ellerup filed for divorce six days after Heuermann was charged with the first three murders.
Greeting cards from a family member, numerous gift cards sent to the family after Heuermann's arrest and personal documents were also returned, according to Macedonio.
The lawyer revealed that the value of the gift cards was approximately $1,000 along with a personal check from a person in Iceland. The amount of the check is not clear.
Vess Mitev, a lawyer representing Victoria and Christopher, said that while some of his client's personal belongings were returned last month, many more remain in police custody.
Bob Macedonio, Ellerup's lawyer, said the returned items would not be used as evidence in the case of the accused killer
Mitev told the outlet that authorities took art supplies, antiques, books, clothing, writing utensils and even personal documentation, including social security cards, passports and birth certificates.
“Surprise and disappointment is the best way to describe my clients and my view that these items are still in the possession of law enforcement,” Mitev said.
In May, Mitev told DailyMail.com that the children and Heuermann's ex-wife were just getting their lives together when cops launched their second raid in a week.
The attorney said that just before officials showed up looking for clues to lock up Huerrman, Ellerup and their children were putting the “finishing touches” on their new living room in an attempt to make their home more comfortable.
Mitev was unable to reveal whether Ellerup and the children had prior knowledge of the search.
He said there is “understandably a degree of confusion because this is just a by-product of what's going on.”
“My clients feel a deep sense of disappointment with the police presence in their home, in their home, and especially where we are almost a year later,” he said.
As more evidence was seized in May, the piles of boxes stacked outside grew larger
“Their lives are once again turned upside down, although this time by all accounts it is a much more controlled chaos, but chaos nonetheless.”
The medical examiner also arrived at the home during the search, which retired NYPD Sergeant Joseph Giacalone said could mean investigators are looking into causes of death beyond the Gilgo Beach murders.
“Since they had already done it 10 months ago, they had to be able to prove to the judge that they had probable cause to go in there,” he said.
“The appearance of the medical examiner is really interesting.
“If we saw a forensic anthropologist, it would be even more interesting and eye-opening because doctors are the ones who determine what is a human bone and what is an animal bone.”
Police launch new search of home Heuermann searched a shocking new location in this case in woods near Manorville, about 40 miles away, in April.
Days later, investigators in Gilgo Beach used K-9 units to search the area in the North Sea on Long Island where a woman's body was found in 1993.
The search was conducted in the area where Sandra Costilla's body was found thirty years ago in an unsolved murder case.
Heuermann has since been accused of killing Costilla, Jessica Taylor, Melissa Barthelemy, Amber Lynn Costello, Megan Waterman, Maureen Brainard-Barnes and Valerie Mack.
Prosecutors said they linked Heuermann to the murders using cellphone data and DNA.
They also say that an alleged manifesto detailing how he carried out the killings was discovered on a hard drive in his basement.
Last month, police released new information about the Gilgo Beach murders and one of the unidentified bodies, known as the “Asian doe.”
Heuermann has pleaded not guilty to all charges and is currently in prison awaiting trial
A map shows where the bodies were found in Gilgo Beach
Gilgo Beach became a dumping ground for a killer – or killers – in the 1990s and early 2000s. A total of 11 bodies were found in the region.
New visualizations give a picture of what this victim looked like before his death.
Police say he was probably from southern China, aged between 17 and 23, and his death occurred at least five years before his body was found in April 2011.
At the time of discovery, the biological male was wearing female clothing – a bra, a crew-neck trim with blue cuffs and a shirt with the “Rafaella” logo, leading investigators to consider he may have lived as a woman.
“We believe the Asian doe may have been working as a prostitute. We believe they spent some time in New York before their deaths,” said Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond Tierney.
Tierney said the “task force does not forget the victims and will continue to pursue justice.”
“This person remains nameless – to us… Someone knows who this person is.”
A $2,500 reward is being offered for information leading to the victim's identification.
Heuermann is scheduled to appear in court on October 16.
