DNA found on the remains of some of the Long Island victims matches that of cheek swab samples taken from murder suspect Rex Heuermann’s wife.
A law enforcement source told Newsday that samples were taken from Asa Ellerup on July 13, the day her husband was charged with the murders of three of the so-called Gilgo 4, found dead on Gilgo Beach in 2010.
The samples were taken to confirm earlier tests that indicated Ellerup was a source of hairs found with the remains. It’s not clear if the match was with the hairs or with something else found on the victims.
Ellerup’s lawyer, Robert Macedonio, confirmed that investigators had taken samples from Ellerup and her two children. He declined to comment on the DNA match.
Ellerup has not been accused of wrongdoing in the case, and prosecutors have said she was out of the state or even out of the country at the time of the murders.
Ellerup filed for divorce days after her husband was arrested. Macedonio said the filing was a precautionary measure to protect the family assets in case the families of the victims sue. Late last month, Heuermann signed over the family home to Ellerup.
Ellerup has also signed a deal for a documentary series, produced by Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson’s G-Unit Film & Television production company for the NBCUniversal’s Peacock streaming network, Fox News reported. CrimeOnline previously reported that Ellerup’s children and Heuermann’s attorneys were also being paid for the production, but Peacock has not confirmed those reports. The family is reportedly receiving in the neighborhood of $1 million.
Heuermann is accused of killing Melissa Barthelemy, Amber Lynn Costello, and Megan Waterman. He has been named the prime suspect in the death of Maureen Brainerd-Barnes, whose death is still under investigation by a grand jury.
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[Featured image: Asa Ellerup/GoFundMe and Rex Heuermann in court on November 15/(James Carbone/Newsday via AP, Pool)]
