The Guilty Plea

Summary

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Monster: Hunting the Long Island Serial Killer

Episode Summary: "The Guilty Plea" (May 26, 2026)

Main Theme

In “The Guilty Plea,” host Josh Zieman chronicles the seismic moment when Rex Heuermann, the accused Long Island Serial Killer, unexpectedly pleads guilty to the murders of seven young women—and, shockingly, to the previously uncharged murder of an eighth. The episode moves through the tense court proceedings, the evidence that led to the plea, the emotional toll on surviving families, and the critical questions now left unresolved as the anticipated trial is swept away by the plea deal. Zieman and a cast of legal, law enforcement, and psychological experts unravel the motives behind the plea and explore what this means for the pursuit of justice and truth.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

The Courtroom Drama and Immediate Aftermath

• Setting the Scene: The courtroom is tense and packed—press on one side, grieving families on the other, and law enforcement lining the back wall, all awaiting confirmation of the rumored plea.

  • "The courtroom was standing room only...everyone waiting to hear if the rumors...were true." — Josh Zieman (03:42)

• Rex Heuermann’s Guilty Plea: Heuermann pleads guilty to seven murders, confessing to his role as the Long Island Serial Killer.

  • "Everything that this case had been building towards...it was all hanging on what would happen next." — Zieman (04:36)
  • “Yes, your honor.” — Rex Heuermann, responding to the judge (06:08, 10:55, 10:59, 11:03, repeated throughout)

• Victim Details Read Aloud: The names of the women murdered are read into the record, impacting families in attendance.

  • "As the DA read the names of the victims aloud... family members... now sobbing." — Zieman (05:37)

Why Plead Guilty? Theories, Evidence, and Strategy

• Overwhelming Evidence—Especially DNA: Cutting-edge forensic techniques (notably mitochondrial DNA from rootless hair) combined with an avalanche of circumstantial evidence and 85TB of digital data left little room for defense.

  • “DNA evidence and all these other things are irrefutable... I would rather have that kind of forensic and physical evidence than have an eyewitness any day.” — Joe Jacalone, retired NYPD Cold Case Commander (11:50)

• Legal Maneuvering and Pre-Trial Dynamics: Defense efforts to suppress new types of DNA as ‘novel science’ are addressed, but ultimately fall short. The court rules for a single trial consolidating all seven cases.

  • “In New York... if there's not a precedent for that type of evidence... then it has to go under a certain type of scrutiny.” — Josh Ritter, trial attorney (12:40)
  • "Rex Heuermann will face a single trial for all seven of his alleged killings." — Jacalone (15:43)

• Internet Searches and Planning Document: Discovery includes Heuermann’s planning document for murder and chilling Google searches.

  • "Rex's planning document—a blueprint for murder... describing in detail how he would plan his murders, how he would execute them, and then destroy the evidence." — Zieman (15:08)

• Plea Motivations—From Jesperson’s Advice to Family Fallout:

  • Heuermann corresponded with serial killer Keith Jesperson, who advised: "If you did this, do yourself and your family a favor and just confess, get it over with... Don't put your family through it." — Laura Engel, News Nation (21:31)
  • Dr. Joni Johnston, psychologist, posits the shift came when Heuermann’s family no longer believed in his innocence:
    "I think [Heuermann] realized at this point that his family does believe he did this. And I think that changes everything for him." (24:02)

The Elusive Truth: What’s Lost Without a Trial?

• No Answers, No Catharsis:
  Zieman laments, "This trial was supposed to answer all those questions that we've been asking for years…the darker questions. Namely, could Rex Heuermann have been stopped sooner?" (07:07)
• Impact on Victims’ Families:
  The guilty plea spares families the graphic horror of a trial but denies them deeper answers.
  • "Maybe the one saving grace of Rex pleading guilty is that the victim's families never had to hear in horrifying detail what prosecutors believed happened to their loved ones." — Zieman (34:18)
  • "To Maureen, the promise I made to you so long ago is simple. I would never stop searching for justice for you... Justice has finally found its way to you." — Maureen Brainard Barnes’ sister (35:29)

Admitting to Additional (Uncharged) Murders

• The Case of Karen Vergata ("Fire Island Jane Doe"):
  Heuermann admits to Vergata’s murder as part of his plea, even though he wasn’t charged, closing a decades-old cold case.

  • “The defendant further agrees that... he will admit, as part of his plea, that he intentionally caused the death of Karen Vergata...” — District Attorney (37:41)

• Strategic Confession:
  Heuermann’s selective admissions raise questions. He remains silent on the murder of the ‘Asian Doe’ victim, likely to keep certain secrets about himself hidden—even as he confesses to other unsolved crimes.

  • "It's his chance to say, hey, look, I'm being honest. I'm admitting to something I wasn't even charged for. But don't pay attention over here." — Zach Winters, amateur investigator (41:23)

  • “Once again, it all comes back to controlling the narrative, to the story that Rex wants to tell.” — Zieman (41:42)

The Open Questions & Lingering Shadows

• Unsolved Murders and Possible More Victims:
  With property in South Carolina, Las Vegas, and a trail of digital searches, authorities suspect other victims—potentially across the country.

  • "If Heuermann gets bored around his environment, he's going to look for other environments. And I think one is Las Vegas..." — News Reporter (42:47)

• No Closure for All Families:

  • “What about the identity of Asian Doe? Who is he? And who is responsible for his murder?” — Zieman (44:40)
  • "There are still so many questions that we all need to figure out. Which brings us back to the problem of not having a trial and all those unanswered questions that still haunt this case, questions we won't let go. Questions we'll keep asking." — Zieman (44:16)

Pleading Guilty—An Act of Sadism or Control?

• Dr. Johnston theorizes that Heuermann’s refusal to discuss certain crimes is a means of maintaining control.
  • "The things that Rex Heuermann did... are in some respects some of the most precious things to him. And I think he wants to keep those to himself. I mean, this is not somebody who is a narcissist in the classic sense of BTK... For him, he's more sadistic... but when it comes to telling the world what he did, that's his private thing—his special time." (28:50)

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Notable Quotes & Moments (with Timestamps)

• "The courtroom was standing room only ... everyone waiting to hear if the rumors ... were true." — Host Josh Zieman (03:42)
• Name of each victim read aloud by DA during plea, moving family to tears (05:45)
• "Do you waive your right to appeal voluntarily and of your own free will?" — Judge (10:55, 45:43)
  "Yes, I do." — Rex Heuermann
• "I would rather have DNA than an eyewitness any day." — Joe Jacalone, criminal investigator (11:50)
• "Rex's planning document—a blueprint for murder... describing in detail how he would plan his murders, how he would execute them, and then destroy the evidence." — Zieman (15:08)
• "If you did this, do yourself and your family a favor and just confess... Don’t put your family through it.” — Keith Jesperson, relayed by Laura Engel (21:31)
• "I think he's realized at this point that his family does believe he did this. And I think that changes everything for him." — Dr. Joni Johnston (24:02)
• "The same way Rex picked his victims is the way he picked his wife, too. People he can control, people he can manipulate, people he can dominate." — Analyst (26:05)
• "If he goes to trial, every little nook and cranny... will be exposed." — Rodney Harrison, Former Suffolk County Police Commissioner (27:13)
• "Justice has finally found its way to you. Your voice was never silent, your story never forgotten. And your life will always mean more than the tragedy that took you." — Victim's Sister (35:29)

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Key Timestamps for Important Segments

• [03:42]: Courtroom atmosphere and rumors of a plea
• [04:36]–[06:10]: Plea hearing, victims’ names, family reactions
• [08:47]–[09:23]: Discovery of bodies and initial clues
• [11:33]–[12:57]: DNA evidence and legal challenges explained
• [14:19]–[15:08]: Heuermann’s Google searches and planning document
• [17:26]–[17:48]: The complexity of Heuermann’s character
• [21:31]–[24:02]: Impact of Jesperson correspondence; psychological factors
• [26:41]–[28:50]: The dual persona—family man vs. monster; expert commentary
• [34:18]–[35:29]: Emotional toll on families, statement from Maureen’s sister
• [36:27]–[39:00]: Admitting to uncharged murder (Karen Vergata) and what’s left concealed
• [41:23]–[42:47]: Speculation on other possible victims
• [44:16]–[46:38]: Open questions and the future of the investigation

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Conclusion & Future Questions

Zieman’s tenacious pursuit for truth continues despite the plea deal. The end of courtroom drama does not mean the end of his investigation—or the end of the healing journey for the families of victims whose fates remain unresolved. As Heuermann now faces multiple life sentences and his DNA enters federal databases, the possibility lingers that more victims may be identified.

• "Rex Heuermann may have pled guilty, but the story of what he did and how far it really goes ... isn’t over." — Zieman (46:59)
• Questions persist about police (mis)conduct, the possibility of additional victims, and the monster lurking behind two masks: father and killer.

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Looking ahead:
Next episodes will explore Rex’s upcoming sentencing, the search for unidentified victims, and the persistent mysteries buried in Long Island sand.

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For listeners: this episode is an essential, vivid, and haunting exploration of justice both achieved and denied, full of tough questions about guilt, secrecy, and the lasting scars of unhealed crimes.

Transcript

[Podcast Host (Josh Zieman)]

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[Judge]

Foreign.

[True Crime Plus Promo Announcer]

You're listening to Monster Hunting the Long Island Serial Killer. The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are solely those of the individuals participating in the podcast and do not reflect those of Tenderfoot TV or iHeartMedia. This podcast contains subject matter which may not be suitable for everyone. Listener discretion is advised.

[Court Officer]

Come to order.

[Courtroom Staff]

Please remain seated.

[Public Ad Announcer]

At this time, Number eight, Rex Uerman, trial control.

[Narrator (Josh Zieman)]

The courtroom was standing room only, Press filling one side of the galley and family members, some already crying, filling the other. And lining the back wall, standing shoulder to shoulder, was the Suffolk County DA Squad, Everyone waiting to hear if the rumors that had been building for weeks were true. Whether Rex Urman, the suburban father and architect, would change his plea to guilty, confessing to the murders of seven young women and finally admitting that he was, in fact, one of the most notorious serial murderers in decades, known as the Long Island Serial Killer.

[Judge]

All right, gentlemen, I understand circumstances have changed in this case.

[Court Officer]

That's correct.

[Defendant (Rex Heuermann)]

Correct, your honor.

[District Attorney]

Your honor, it is the understanding of the district attorney's office that the defendant will plead guilty to seven counts in the indictment on Gulf deprivation.

[Judge]

Bring the defendant out now.

[Narrator (Josh Zieman)]

Everything that this case had been building towards, the upcoming trial, the quest for answers, it was all hanging on what would happen next. And that's when the holding cell door opened, And Rex, standing 6, 4, and 280 pounds, was led inside. Coming out, judge on the record is number eight. Outside the courtroom, I could hear reporters still trying to get inside. That's why I got there at 5am that morning. Because I had to be there. Because for me, this was more than just a story. I'd spent 10 years hunting Lisk, three of those years living, breathing every detail of this case as part of a documentary series called the Killing Season. And now we were finally going to hear Rex Heuermann admit to what he'd done.

[District Attorney]

Thank you, your honor. It is the understanding of the district attorney's office that the defendant will plead guilty to seven counts in the indictment.

[Narrator (Josh Zieman)]

And that's when it hit me. The weight of this senseless violence. The finality. As the DA read the names of

[District Attorney]

the victims aloud, specifically pertaining to the murders of Valerie Mack Maureen Brave Barnes, Melissa Barthelemy, Megan Waterman, Amber Costello, Jessica Taylor, and Sandra Castilla.

[Judge]

Mr. Heumann, how old are you?

[Narrator (Josh Zieman)]

62.

[Judge]

Have you discussed this case with your attorney?

[Defendant (Rex Heuermann)]

Yes, I have.

[Judge]

After discussions with your lawyer, you feel it's in your best interest to plead guilty rather than go to trial?

[Defendant (Rex Heuermann)]

Yes, you, Honor.

[Narrator (Josh Zieman)]

As Rex was forced to plead guilty to each murder, I looked around the room to see family members I had once interviewed, some now sobbing. And then to Rex Hjerman's daughter sitting in the back row, watching her face fall as if something was collapsing inside her. I couldn't stop thinking about how many times I imagined this very moment when suddenly the judge was telling everyone to leave. And just like that, it's. I remember thinking, this isn't how this was supposed to go. This trial was supposed to answer all those questions that we've been asking for years. The darker questions. Namely, could Rex Heuerman have been stopped sooner? And why did Suffolk County Police Department miss the clues sitting right in front of him? Was it incompetence? Or was it something more? And what about the other victims? Not the ones we already knew about, but the ones we didn't? Because, you see, that's what a trial does. It forces everything out into the open. All the mistakes, the failures, and even the secrets nobody wants revealed. But now that's not happening. I suddenly realized our investigation, the one that had started more than a decade ago, had now come full circle. Because once again, it was up to us to ask the questions nobody wanted to answer and to uncover the truth that no one wanted us to hear. I'm Josh Zieman, and this is Monster Hunting the Long Island Serial Killer. Now, if you've been following this case, you already know how complicated it is. It's a case that stretches back years, maybe even decades. But for most of us, it started with those victims found along Ocean Parkway, the ones discovered near Gilgo beach on the south shore of Long Island.

[Court Officer]

All right, you guys rolling?

[Narrator (Josh Zieman)]

This is Gilgo beach breaking used. An off duty cop walking his dog stumbles on a woman's dead body.

[Former Police Commissioner (Rodney Harrison)]

A case that only grows grizzlier with each discovery.

[News Reporter]

Investigators on Long island say they found the remains of 10 people thought to be the victims of a serial killer.

[Narrator (Josh Zieman)]

Before this sick bastard is caught, they are going to find more bodies out here in these woods. It's a case that went unsolved for years, but not because there weren't clues. The clues were there all along, like Dave Schaller's Chevy Avalanche tip that had been lost in Suffolk County PD's case files for over a decade.

[Defendant (Rex Heuermann)]

There was one guy who came there. He was a monster. Six foot nine, 300 fucking pounds. Just a beast of a man. He was driving a green. What the hell is that thing called? Green Avalanche. Chevy Avalanche truck.

[Narrator (Josh Zieman)]

We now know this case didn't get solved because it was trapped in a web of corruption and incompetence for years. Until finally a new district attorney named Ray Tierney and a police commissioner named Rodney Harrison breathed new life into the investigation. And within weeks of forming the Gilgo beach task force, they caught him.

[Parent 2 (Car Buyer)]

Shocked today after an arrest in the infamous gilgo beach murders, 59 year old Rex Heuermann from Long island is now charged in the murders of three women.

[Defendant (Rex Heuermann)]

I'm Rex Heuermann. I'm an architect. I'm a troubleshooter.

[Rex Heuermann (Self-Introduction)]

Born and raised on Long island, working

[Criminal Investigator / Analyst]

in Manhattan since 1987.

[Narrator (Josh Zieman)]

This is a case that has taken so many years to get to where we are.

[News Reporter]

And there are still so many questions,

[Narrator (Josh Zieman)]

so many questions about Rex's methodology, his motive, his double life. Questions that criminal trials are designed to address where families maybe can get answers, or at least as close as they're ever going to get. But then whispers of a plea deal started to spread. And later, as I sat watching Rex lumber into that courtroom with a smirk on his face, I realized those answers weren't coming.

[Judge]

All right, Mr. Heumann, are you willing to waive your right to appeal in this case in return for the plead sentence agreement?

[Defendant (Rex Heuermann)]

Yes.

[Judge]

Do you waive your right to appeal voluntarily of your own free will?

[Defendant (Rex Heuermann)]

Yes, I do.

[Judge]

Are you pleading guilty voluntarily and of your own free will?

[Defendant (Rex Heuermann)]

Yes.

[Narrator (Josh Zieman)]

So what happened? Well, a plea like this, especially in a case like this, usually doesn't happen for just one reason. Sometimes there are legal issues or trial strategies or even reasons that are far more personal. But when it comes to this case, most people will probably say it was the evidence. Because by the time Heuermann decided to plead guilty, the evidence against him had become overwhelming. And at the center of it all was DNA.

[Parent 2 (Car Buyer)]

A dramatic new court ruling in the Gilgo beach serial killing trial. Cutting edge DNA testing of evidence will be permitted. We saw stray hairs that were linked to the suspect. Suspect to six out of the seven women. This is a massive blow to the defense.

[Criminal Investigator / Analyst]

We have evidence. We have DNA. And you know what? DNA evidence and all these other things are irrefutable. They can't lie on the stand, they can't do anything. It's just. It is what it is so I would rather have that kind of forensic and physical evidence than have an eyewitness any day.

[Narrator (Josh Zieman)]

That was former commander of the Bronx Cold Case Squad, Joe Jacalum on his show True Crime with the Sarge. In the months leading up to the trial, Joe and I spent countless hours dissecting the case and all those unanswered questions going back and forth on his show and on my podcast, Sinister with Josh Zeman. Joining us for this DNA conversation was veteran trial attorney Josh Ritter, who explained the defense's argument for suppressing the DNA evidence, arguably the most important evidence in the entire case.

[Courtroom Staff]

Every jurisdiction has a different standard when it comes to what is, quote, unquote, new science. And in New York, they have a standard that if there's not a precedent for that type of evidence having been admitted before, then it has to go under a certain type of scrutiny.

[Narrator (Josh Zieman)]

I think it was the use of

[Courtroom Staff]

the mitochondrial DNA because they're dealing with hair follicles that are rootless hairs. So you're dealing with a different type of DNA that just simply hadn't been used in a criminal context in New York before. So their challenge was, hey, this is brand new science. We all know it's not brand new science. It's been used across the country and it's widely accepted from the scientific community. But they were making the argument that in New York that is not the case and therefore this judge should not accept it as something. And then that was a huge domino to fall.

[Narrator (Josh Zieman)]

But the DNA was only part of the evidence. There was also circumstantial evidence. A lot of circumstantial evidence. 330,000 pages and over 85 terabytes of data in discovery.

[Criminal Investigator / Analyst]

Yeah, that's an insane amount. Most people on their iPhone has what, 40 or 50 gigabytes and you never touch it. Right. And we know that the district attorney, Ray Tierney, was turned over terabytes of things. And what takes up that kind of room? Videos and photographs, you know, text documents don't do that.

[Narrator (Josh Zieman)]

And then there was the evidence that Rex had tried to hide using fake Internet accounts. Searches that he had hoped no one would ever see. And with good reason.

[Parent 2 (Car Buyer)]

Heuerman's Internet searches showed searches related to pornography, torture, and sex workers thousands of times. So I'm going to list out some of the thousands of searches that he did. Teen girl, tied up, pretty girl with bruised face, torture, redhead, 10 year old schoolgirl.

[Criminal Investigator / Analyst]

People are gonna be looking at those searches and you're gonna see if you got a couple of people like myself you're gonna see them taking off their glasses and looking over at the defense table like, are you fucking kidding me?

[Narrator (Josh Zieman)]

Totally. Totally. So imagine you're on the jury and, like, it's this Google searches, and you're like, this is nuts. And the next week, you get the planning document, Rex's planning document, a blueprint for murder written by Heuerman, describing in detail how he would plan his murders, how he would execute them, and then destroy the evidence.

[District Attorney]

The task force discovered a Microsoft Word document. This is a planning document, and it was utilized by Yurman to methodically blueprint and plan out his skills.

[Narrator (Josh Zieman)]

Another significant issue was how this case would be tried. Heuermann had been charged with seven murders spanning over 16 years. Murders with different modus operandi, with different disposal sites. Some part of a pattern and others seemingly random. Would these cases be tried separately, or would they be combined into one trial?

[Criminal Investigator / Analyst]

New developments today in the Gilgo beach murders. The judge in Suffolk county ruled Rex

[Narrator (Josh Zieman)]

Heuermann will face a single trial for

[Criminal Investigator / Analyst]

all seven of his alleged killings. These cases are won and lost in the pretrial hearings. Simple as that. Especially New York cases. They are the amount of pretrial hearings and the amount of things that go in the defendant's favor in a place like New York State are won and lost during these things.

[Narrator (Josh Zieman)]

Even with the overwhelming evidence, everyone assumed Rex's defense attorneys would push for a trial. Because in a criminal trial, anything can happen. And convincing 12 people to agree beyond a reasonable doubt is harder than it seems. And that's not even taking into account the shocking level of police corruption and misconduct that's tainted this case from the very start. Imagine being a juror and hearing former District Attorney Tom Spoda and Police Chief Richard Dormer arguing in public about the number of serial killers they thought were involved. The facts of the. Of the case indicate one serial killer. I very, very much disagree with that theory.

[Criminal Investigator / Analyst]

I would never even discuss this publicly, except I think that the facts do

[Narrator (Josh Zieman)]

not bear out a single killer theory at all.

[Criminal Investigator / Analyst]

You're going to hear about the fights between Spoder and Dormer. I mean, he's gonna have to pull out all the stops. Right? And this is what you expect your defense attorney to do when you're in really trouble. He's gonna try to give him the best defense that he can. And by doing so, remember, he only has to convince one person on the jury that something's afoot, and he wins. People sometimes.

[Narrator (Josh Zieman)]

Sometimes forget that all it takes is one. Right?

[Criminal Investigator / Analyst]

Right. Listen, I don't think there's going to be a mistrial. But you never know. You can't say never. You never say always.

[Narrator (Josh Zieman)]

But then there was something else to consider. The enigma of Rex Yourman himself, a man governed by a Pandora's box of behaviors that we'll probably never comprehend. Rex was the wild card. And that's where this story shifts into something far more complex.

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Investing Brokerage Services by Open to the Public Investing Inc. Member FINRA and SIPC Advisory Services by Public Advisors llc. SEC Registered Advisor. Generated Assets is an interactive analysis tool. Output is for informational purposes only and is not an investment recommendation or advice.

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[Narrator (Josh Zieman)]

While a guilty verdict seemed inevitable, Rex's decision to plead guilty was still a mystery. Usually, defendant would only plea if there was something worth bargaining for. But New York State doesn't even have the death penalty, and none of the criminal charges could be elevated to federal. So again, no death penalty. So why not roll the dice? Well, one theory points to the simplest of reasons. A theory based upon a letter Rex wrote while sitting in jail, a letter to a most unusual pen pal. News Nation reporter Laura Engel explains.

[Parent 2 (Car Buyer)]

Back when Rex Uerman was first arrested, it was a couple months afterwards, we got word that he had been in communication with a serial killer by the name of Keith Jesperson, who is known as the Happy Face Killer. In Oregon, Keith Jesperson was writing to Rex Heuerman. And there was one, and still to this day, only one letter that went back to Keith Jesperson from Rex Heuermann, which I have here, I have a copy of it. And he asks Keith Jesperson if he has butter for his bread in prison. And the reason he asked that? Well, because he wants to know if he's, you know, there's butter somewhere else. But the reason that he that conversation started is because Keith Jesperson had said to Rex Heuerman in many of his letters, look, man, if you did this, do yourself and your family a favor and just confess, get it over with, you'll go to a better place. You'll go to a better prison. You know, maybe your cell will be bigger. You're Just going to have a better life. Don't put your family through it. Don't put yourself through it. And get yourself some better food.

[Narrator (Josh Zieman)]

But so was it possible that Rex Horman pled to get better conditions? Maybe the idea of Rex, at 6 foot 4, spending the next 25 years of his life in a cell barely wider than his outstretched arms was more than he could take. And considering his weight and that his DNA was taken from a discarded piece of pizza, maybe better food was more important to him. And we realize, because food is one of those things we rarely think about. But food in jail to someone weighing 240 pounds becomes something else entirely. And for a DA facing a months long trial, a bigger cell and better food could have been the easiest of bargains. Or maybe this decision had to do with another part of Jesperson's letter, the one that read, don't put your family through it. Don't put yourself through it.

[Parent 2 (Car Buyer)]

Today he remains estranged wife Asa Ellera and their daughter Victoria also appeared at court.

[Narrator (Josh Zieman)]

This has destroyed their lives. July of 2023.

[News Reporter]

July 12, 2023, Victoria went to work.

[Narrator (Josh Zieman)]

Asa was home as a housewife. That's never going to be the same.

[Dr. Joni Johnston (Clinical Psychologist)]

I had thought about that long before. Like, would he ever plead? And I at the time thought, no, he won't plead.

[Narrator (Josh Zieman)]

You're hearing Dr. Joni Johnston, a clinical psychologist who spent decades delving into the minds of criminals like Rex Heuermann.

[Dr. Joni Johnston (Clinical Psychologist)]

And I think it was because I thought his family would continue to stand behind him. I think if he believed that his family thought he was innocent and he could convince them of that, no matter what the evidence was to the contrary, then I think he would never have pleaded. But I think he's realized at this point that his family does believe he did this. And I think that changes everything for him.

[Narrator (Josh Zieman)]

Maybe Rex thought the police would never uncover the full scope of his depravity, especially considering how meticulous he'd been destroying evidence. Maybe in his narcissistic mind he could still maintain his innocence and his family would support him. But once that avalanche of evidence came to light through discovery, especially those files on his computer he thought he had erased, maybe he had second thoughts.

[Criminal Investigator / Analyst]

Listen, there's a hundred thousand images, right? And videos that they, they have. And if you also recall saying that this happened in the basement, they show the video of, of beams, whatever, or things taken out of the ceiling. They showed us that.

[Narrator (Josh Zieman)]

When I saw the picture of the basement, it all just came. It hit home for me and I realized how Terrifying three days of torture for your loved one would be. I got a chill. And I don't know if the hearing it and knowing it is worth watching him squirm on the stand considering. I don't even think we can mentally comprehend what he did to these individuals. While we know that Rex had absolutely no sympathy or compassion for his victims, did that same emotional detachment extend to his own family? Did he really care about shielding them from the horrors? Or was this just another form of manipulation, of hiding the truth from the only people who might still support him? So the question becomes, is he sparing his family of the horrific things that he did in that house? It's not like he wants to protect his family. Or does he, like, listen?

[Criminal Investigator / Analyst]

The same way Rex picked his victims is the way he picked his wife, too. People he can control, people he can manipulate, people he can dominate.

[Narrator (Josh Zieman)]

And this is where those two versions of Rex Heuerman collide. The person his family knows, the husband, the father, and the person prosecutors say he is the Long island serial killer. But what happens when those two Personas become one and your true self is finally revealed to your wife, to your daughter, and to the public for all to see?

[Criminal Investigator / Analyst]

These offenders, these highly organized offenders have stable jobs, families, and a good social mask, so to speak. Like, they're able to hide this from others that are very close to him.

[Narrator (Josh Zieman)]

And then there's those disturbing Internet searches. While Rex will never be the same man he was to his family before his arrest, a trial would reveal an entirely different side of him. One he might even be more desperate to hide than that of the Long island serial killer.

[Former Police Commissioner (Rodney Harrison)]

If he goes to trial, every little nook and cranny of things that he was involved in will be exposed.

[Narrator (Josh Zieman)]

That's Rodney Harrison, the former Suffolk county police commissioner and the man who spearheaded the Gilgo beach task force. You know, he has some pretty unseemly Google searches. Searches. There's been a lot of talk about child pornography, things like that.

[Former Police Commissioner (Rodney Harrison)]

That, coupled with the other searches that he was involved in, showed what type of animal he was. And, you know, it wasn't like it was just a one time search. This was something that was coupled with a host of other very, very nasty types of searches. I was like, oh, this guy is really a disgusting, disgusting human being.

[Narrator (Josh Zieman)]

So the question then becomes, could they reveal information generally to the public that he does not want out there? It's embarrassing whether it's embarrassing for his family or whether it's gonna cause problems for him in jail, but he does

[Former Police Commissioner (Rodney Harrison)]

not want to Bring any embarrassment to his family. That's what it comes down to. And compliments to Ray. Train the stuff that he put together regarding discovery in this case to kind of put him in a corner show, like, yeah, listen, maybe it's in your best interest to take a plea. There's a lot of things that are going to come out that may embarrass you. And you know what? He went in the direction to protect his family, which is what I believe.

[Narrator (Josh Zieman)]

So maybe Rex was trying to protect that image of himself, that of the husband and father, the man his wife, Asa once called her hero. Or maybe he pled to protect something far more personal. Here again is Dr. Joni Johnston.

[Dr. Joni Johnston (Clinical Psychologist)]

I think that the things that Rex Heuermann did, the horrible things that he did, I think are in some respects some of the most precious things to him. And I think he wants to keep those to himself. I mean, this is not somebody who is a narcissist in the classic sense of btk, who's calling the media and, you know, wanting attention, writing the newspaper, taunting police. I think for. He's more sadistic. Would he call up a victim's sister and tell her all the things he did? Yeah, he would. You know why? Because that's a sadistic thing to do. He can get pleasure out of that, and it's still kind of secret, but when it comes to, like, telling the world what he did, uh, that's his private thing, right? That's his special thing, His. His special time.

[Narrator (Josh Zieman)]

Well, there are still so many things we don't know about Rex. He. The one thing his guilty plea confirms is that beyond a reasonable doubt, he is the Long island serial killer. A sadist who reveled in the control he held over his victims. And police now facing multiple life sentences, maybe the only thing left that Heuermann can control is how his story gets told. And so flipping the script and pleading guilty doesn't just become a possibility. It becomes the only option Heuermann has left.

[Parent 1 (Car Buyer)]

Are you really buying a car online on autotrader right now?

[Parent 2 (Car Buyer)]

Really? I can get super specific with dealer listings and see cars based on my budget.

[Parent 1 (Car Buyer)]

You can really have it delivered or pick it up. I think kid is walking up the slide.

[Narrator (Josh Zieman)]

Really?

[Parent 2 (Car Buyer)]

Auto trader. Buy your car online. Really?

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[Narrator (Josh Zieman)]

Ever since Rex was arrested, we expected a trial that would finally answer the questions we've been asking. But the promise of that trial was more than just answers. It was about justice for the families of so many victims who had waited far too long for their day in court. Having interviewed many of those family members, mothers, sisters, even daughters I heard their pain firsthand and the frustration of watching a case sit in limbo. A case that at times had been obstructed by the very same individual individuals tasked with solving it. In the end, it didn't matter what the public or press wanted. The families came first with a development like this.

[Dr. Joni Johnston (Clinical Psychologist)]

You also wonder how victims families are doing.

[Court Officer]

For many of these victims families, this has been something that has stretched on for decades. They got a call to make a very sudden decision. Either back this plea arrangement and let this difficult trial come to an end, or push for a trial and learn the exact details of how it is that their loved ones came to have been murdered.

[Narrator (Josh Zieman)]

While many people seemed infuriated by the idea of there not being a trial, far fewer stopped to consider just how difficult that trial might be on the families. We've read these documents. Right. It's terrifying. We know he's a sexual sadist.

[Criminal Investigator / Analyst]

Yeah. That's the stuff that you don't want the families to hear at all costs because they've already been damaged on so many levels. And that could really set people back even more.

[Narrator (Josh Zieman)]

Maybe the one saving grace of Rex pleading guilty is that the victim's families never had to hear in horrifying detail what prosecutors believed happened to their loved ones.

[Criminal Investigator / Analyst]

When I was doing these cold cases, yes, you want to hear more from the suspect. You want him to talk about other cases, you want to close other cases. However, you know, the best thing for this is that you don't put the victim's families through all this stuff. So we. So in. In from the law enforcement perspective. Listen, I'd love to hear him talk about all these things, but I don't want him to talk about it. I want him to plead guilty and spare the families.

[Narrator (Josh Zieman)]

This, as any seasoned investigator will tell you. When you're following a case for this long, more than a decade, you get tunnel vision. You submerge yourself in every possible detail, chasing every angle. But sometimes that search for answers can overshadow the victims at the center of it all. But for Melissa can the sister of Maureen Brainard Barnes, this was never just a search for answers. It was a mission.

[Court Officer]

The sister of one of the victims just spoke here. And she had a message for her deceased sister.

[Victim's Sister (Maureen Brainard Barnes)]

To Maureen, the promise I made to you so long ago is simple. I would never stop searching for justice for you. Through every year, every setback, every every unanswered question, I carried you with me. And I kept that promise. And today it has been done. Justice has finally found its way to you. Your voice was never silent, your story never forgotten. And your life will always mean more than the tragedy that took you.

[Narrator (Josh Zieman)]

Perhaps giving the families at least some sense of finality without forcing them through an agonizing trial was worth the lack of answers, especially after we learned that Rex Urman would plead guilty. Not Just to the seven murders he'd already been charged with, but to an eighth victim that no one saw coming. Karen Vergata, AKA Fire Island Jane Doe.

[Parent 2 (Car Buyer)]

The search for more human remains extended into Nassau county. Today, searchers, some on horseback, would find

[Narrator (Josh Zieman)]

a skull near Oyster Bay Park.

[Parent 2 (Car Buyer)]

DNA proves that skull belongs to the same woman whose legs were found wrapped in plastic back in 1996. For 27 years, she was known only as Fire Island Jane Doe. Today, her true name, we are able

[District Attorney]

to identify Fire Island Jane Doe as Karen Vergata.

[Narrator (Josh Zieman)]

The mystery of Karen Vergada's murder began in 1996 when her legs were discovered on Fire island, and then 15 years later, when her skull was found on Ocean Parkway. While prosecutors believe that Heuermann was her killer, he was never charged with her murder. Was it a lack of evidence of suitable DNA or any DNA, or was it a jurisdictional issue because her remains were found in both Suffolk and Nassau counties? For years, we speculated that Rex may have intentionally disposed of victims across state lines in order to hinder investigations. Now, whether his plan worked or not, it didn't matter, because Rex is now admitting to Karen Vergata's murder anyway.

[District Attorney]

The defendant further agrees that although he has not been charged with this crime, he will admit, as part of his plea, that he intentionally caused the death of Karen Vergata and transported and left her remains in Suffolk county in 1996.

[Narrator (Josh Zieman)]

So why would Rex admit to this additional murder? Well, we later learned that Rex had already admitted to it during what's known as a proffer agreement, a series of closed door conversations leading up to a plea where a defendant admits to his crimes without fear of prosecution. Maybe once the proverbial cat was out of the bag, Rex figured, why not? Or maybe he also learned that prosecutors were still compiling the evidence against him for Karen and that a potential indictment was forthcoming. So maybe they were going to eventually charge him for Karen. Right, and they're like, dude, we're gonna charge you for this. You might as well.

[Criminal Investigator / Analyst]

Right, Exactly. And they were basically told to put on hold with the Karen Vergata thing to see what happens, what transpires. And then let's say if the case falls apart now, we can hit him with the Karen Vergata thing, and then

[Narrator (Josh Zieman)]

this way we could try him again.

[Criminal Investigator / Analyst]

Because, listen, he's looking at, what, 700 years plus, you know, I guess if there's life after death, we got him for seven more lives before he can get out of prison.

[Narrator (Josh Zieman)]

So was Rex, in essence, coming clean, or was there another Reason he was willing to confess to Karen's murder. Because if this was about a confession about telling the truth, Then another question emerges. Why admit to killing a woman he'd long been suspected of? A victim whose remains were found along ocean parkway but remained silent about? Another victim, One he'd been linked to for years, who was also found on Ocean Parkway.

[Parent 2 (Car Buyer)]

One male body was found among the 10. Police also revealed that he may have been killed between five and 10 years ago.

[Narrator (Josh Zieman)]

The unidentified Asian male was estimated to between the ages of 17 and 23 years old. the time of his death, he was wearing women's clothing, and I think that's significant. Asian doe had always been considered the anomaly in the this case. A biologically male victim, Possibly a transgender sex worker, who had been severely beaten and dumped along ocean parkway. For years, investigators theorized the killer felt duped and lashed out in a fit of rage. But new evidence suggests a different scenario. A killing that may be far more intentional. There's a number of people who have asked, well, you know, how do we know that Asian. How do we know that they really could be a victim? Well, let's first look at some of our Google searches, Because it is all right there in the Google searches, There is young Asian twink. No older heterosexual male is gonna pull up the term Asian twink. So this indicates to me that this was very intentional. When an offender presents themselves as very straight, and Rex did that. The hunting, the gun clubs, all the tough guy stuff, when they struggle with same sex attraction, it's information that he does not want out there. It's embarrassing for his family. So that changes the narrative. So did Rex admit Karen Vergata's murder Because it was a story he was willing to own but kept quiet about Asian doe's murder because it revealed something he'd spent his life trying to hide? It's a question I put to amateur investigator Zach winters, who, like many of us, has spent years immersed in the Long island serial killer case.

[Amateur Investigator (Zach Winters)]

I just truly believe that Asian doe is not an outlier here, that he's part of it, and I really hope he doesn't get lost. I feel like that's why Karen Vergada became a big deal for him. It's his chance to say, hey, look, I'm being honest. I admitting to something I wasn't even charged for. But don't pay attention over here.

[Narrator (Josh Zieman)]

Once again, it all comes back to controlling the narrative, to the story that Rex wants to tell. It's possible he's the only one who knows how Many more victims are out there, and now he gets to decide what gets revealed and what doesn't. So what does that mean for the victims found along Ocean Parkway or the other potential victims found across Long Island? Or worse yet, those we haven't found in other states?

[Public Ad Announcer]

And this investigation has come a long

[Narrator (Josh Zieman)]

way, but it's far from over.

[Public Ad Announcer]

With these new investigations launching and other law enforcement jurisdiction, it really is deepening fears that these attacks that we're seeing right here in Long island are not isolated, but actually could extend to other areas of our country.

[Criminal Investigator / Analyst]

I think this case gets worse and worse. I don't think we're done. When you look at the Asian male doe and you look at Tanya Jackson, former, you know, Peaches, you looked at that. You looked at all these things all in the same row. How many more are there that we don't know about? If you look at his Google searches, he expanded into other areas, too.

[News Reporter]

If Heuerman gets bored around his environment, he's going to look for other environments. And I think one is Las Vegas, because he owned a lot of property in Las Vegas, and in the desert, you can do a lot of very interesting things.

[Parent 2 (Car Buyer)]

Authorities have expanded their search into South Carolina as we learn Rex Heuerman owns property in Chester County.

[Narrator (Josh Zieman)]

It's our hope that after Rex is sentenced, we'll finally get some answers when his DNA is entered into codis, a database that could potentially connect him to other unsolved cases. Maybe there's a match in Vegas, the Carolinas, or somewhere else. Or maybe we'll learn that Rex never strayed far from home, that Long island was both his hunting ground and his dumping ground. I spoke with veteran journalist Mary Murphy about what that can mean for the investigation and the loose threads that still remain. In your mind. Will this be the end of the case? Potentially this summer, or maybe come fall when we get the CODIS answers, Will that be the end of the case for you, or should it be the end of this case for everybody?

[Journalist (Mary Murphy)]

You know, you have to go back to, what is the DA's office going to do? You know, I want to know if he's connected to any other cases in Suffolk County. Yeah, just as a starting point, because there are a lot of unsolved cases there. So I want to know, did he do any of those other cases?

[Narrator (Josh Zieman)]

There are still so many questions that we all need to figure out. Which brings us back to the problem of not having a trial and all those unanswered questions that still haunt this case, questions we won't let Go. Questions. We'll keep asking.

[Judge]

But, Mr. Human, how old are you?

[Narrator (Josh Zieman)]

62. Like, what about the identity of Asian Doe? Who is he? And who is responsible for his murder? And if Rex won't admit it, will he ever be charged? And what about Tanya Denise Jackson, formerly known as Peaches, and her daughter Tatiana, who many believed were also Lisk victims. Until that surprising announcement from the Nassau county da an announcement? Announcement that raised more questions than answers.

[Judge]

Have you discussed this case with your attorney?

[Defendant (Rex Heuermann)]

Yes, I have.

[Narrator (Josh Zieman)]

And what about the possibility of other victims, like Carmen Vargas and Rex's property in South Carolina, in Vegas? How many more victims are there that we don't know about?

[Judge]

Are you willing to waive your right to appeal in this case in return for the plenty sentence agreement?

[Defendant (Rex Heuermann)]

Yes.

[Narrator (Josh Zieman)]

Then there's Rex himself. The family. Family man. The monster. Will we ever get the full story? Could this sexual sadist truly care about his family? Or is this just another manipulation, another chance to control the narrative?

[Judge]

Do you waive your right to appeal voluntarily, of your own free will?

[Defendant (Rex Heuermann)]

Yes, I do.

[Narrator (Josh Zieman)]

And then there's the questions that go beyond Rex. Could he have been stopped sooner? And if the answer is yes, will. Will those responsible ever be held accountable? Or will Suffolk county try and bury the sins of the past?

[Judge]

Are you pleading guilty voluntarily and of your own free will?

[Defendant (Rex Heuermann)]

Yes.

[Narrator (Josh Zieman)]

And finally, there's that overlooked detail buried in Rex's plea. The one that brings us back to the FBI, to Mindhunter, and to the golden age of serial murder.

[Judge]

After discussions with your lawyer, you feel in your best interest to plead guilty rather than go to trial.

[Defendant (Rex Heuermann)]

Yes, your honor.

[Narrator (Josh Zieman)]

In the following episodes, we'll continue to investigate these questions. And we'll be there all the way through Rex's sentencing, breaking down what it means as his DNA is put into codis.

[Journalist (Mary Murphy)]

Sometimes justice moves a little slowly. What happens to the other victims that you know don't have justice yet? Would there be an indictment if. If he was connected to several more cases or dozens more cases? That's sort of unclear. I'm just wondering, you know, how wide a net there might be. What could be eye opening?

[Narrator (Josh Zieman)]

If there's one thing we've come to learn, it's this. Rex Hman may have pled guilty, but the story of what he did and how far it really goes. That story isn't over. Ready to keep listening? Remember, you can binge the rest of the season right now with an iheart True crime plus subscription, available exclusively on Apple podcasts. Plus you get exclusive bonuses and ad free listening. So head to Apple Podcasts. Search I Heart True Crime plus and subscribe today. Hunting the Long Island Serial Killer is a production of Tenderfoot TV and iHeart podcasts. Hosted, written and executive produced by me, Josh Zieman produced and written by Kaitlin Colford. Donald Albright and Payne Lindsay are executive producers on behalf of Tenderfoot tv. Matt Frederick and Trevor Young are executive producers on behalf of iHeart podcasts. Original music by Alex Lysarenko, David Little and makeup and vanity set. Our supervising producer is John Street. Editing and writing by Daniel Lonsberry. Additional voiceover provided by Rachel Mills. Additional production provided by Ghost Robot Sound design, mix and master by Dayton Cole Cover Design by Byron McCoy Interns Arnetta Fontenot, Shelby Hansen, Alec Walker and Fox Williams. A and e Television Networks, LLC. Audio from the Killing Season used under license. Copyright 2025 A&E Television Networks, LLC. All rights reserved. Special thanks to the team at United Talent Agency, the Nord Group, Brad Abramson, Todd Liebowitz, Rich Perillo and Jigsaw Productions, Rachel Mills, Zachary Mortensen, Jen Beagle, David Baker, Joe Jacalone and Evan Krause as well as the teams at iHeart Podcasts and Tenderfoot TV. Find us on social media at MonsterPod. For more podcasts like Monster Hunting the Long Island Serial Killer, search Tenderfoot TV in your podcast app or visit Tenderfoot tv. And if you want to keep following my hunt for the Long Island Serial Killer for a deeper dive into my other true crime content, join me on YouTube at Sinister with Josh Zieman.

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[Payne Lindsay (High Strange Podcast Host)]

Is the government hiding proof of intelligent life beyond our planet? A New Season of High the explanation keeps changing, but the stories don't go away.

[Narrator (Josh Zieman)]

Videos appearing to show UFOs flying through the air are real.

[Payne Lindsay (High Strange Podcast Host)]

My name is Payne Lindsay and my new season of High Strange goes deeper into real encounters, first hand accounts and the explanations that never seem to stick.

[Narrator (Josh Zieman)]

Images of that rotating thing captured by US Navy aircraft.

[Payne Lindsay (High Strange Podcast Host)]

I talk to scientists, military, military witnesses, pilots and people who saw something they can't unsee.

[Defendant (Rex Heuermann)]

There is no other explanation for what

[Narrator (Josh Zieman)]

we saw that day. I remembered those faces, and they weren't human.

[Payne Lindsay (High Strange Podcast Host)]

High strange seasons one and two are available now. Listen for free on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Season three of High Strange is coming June 26th for ad free listening. Subscribe to Tenderfoot plus at Tinderfoot plus

[Podcast Host (Josh Zieman)]

this is an iHeart podcast. Guaranteed human.