The Unseen Life Of Asa Ellerup: 7 Shocking Facts About Rex Heuermann's Ex-Wife And Her Life After The Gilgo Beach Arrest

The arrest of Rex Heuermann, the man accused of being the notorious Long Island Serial Killer (LISK) in the devastating Gilgo Beach murders, sent shockwaves across the nation, but nowhere was the impact more profound than in his own home. As of December 18, 2025, the latest updates reveal a woman trying to rebuild her life from the ruins: his estranged wife, Asa Ellerup, who has now finalized her divorce and is speaking out about the nightmare that consumed her family.

The quiet, suburban life in Massapequa Park that Asa Ellerup knew for decades was instantly shattered by the July 2023 arrest. Her private world was thrust into the international spotlight, forcing her to confront the horrifying possibility that the man she shared her life with was a serial killer. The fresh, current information paints a picture of a woman navigating a complex legal and emotional landscape, from an uncontested divorce to surprising public statements that continue to fuel public curiosity.

Asa Ellerup: A Biographical Profile

Asa Ellerup, the former wife of accused Gilgo Beach serial killer Rex Heuermann, has become a central, yet reluctant, figure in one of the most high-profile murder cases in recent American history. Her life, once private, is now inextricably linked to the horrific crimes Heuermann is charged with.

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• Full Name: Asa Ellerup
• Age: Approximately 63 (as of late 2025, based on reports of her being 61 at the time of the 2023 arrest)
• Marital Status: Divorced from Rex Heuermann (Divorce settlement reached and finalized in late 2024/early 2025)
• Residence: Massapequa Park, Long Island, New York (The shared home was heavily searched by police following the arrest)
• Children: Two stepchildren (from Heuermann's previous marriage) and one daughter, Victoria Heuermann (shared with Rex Heuermann)
• Public Stance: Initially expressed shock and devastation, later stated she believes police may have "the wrong man" and has called Rex her "hero."
• Legal Action: Filed for an uncontested divorce from Rex Heuermann in Suffolk County Supreme Court just days after his arrest in July 2023.

The Finalized Divorce Settlement: A Legal Separation from LISK

The most significant and recent development in Asa Ellerup's life is the finalization of her divorce from Rex Heuermann. She filed the paperwork for an uncontested divorce a mere week after his shocking arrest, a clear and immediate move to legally separate herself from the accused Long Island Serial Killer.

This legal process, filed in the Suffolk County Supreme Court, was a critical step for Ellerup to protect herself and her family's assets and future. The divorce was uncontested, meaning Heuermann did not fight the filing, and reports indicate he did not have legal representation in the matter.

The divorce settlement was formally reached and finalized in late 2024/early 2025. While the specific terms of the settlement remain private, the finalization marks the official end of a decades-long marriage and provides a definitive legal distance between Ellerup and the man facing multiple murder charges.

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The speed of the filing and the uncontested nature of the divorce underscore the immediate and overwhelming fallout from Heuermann's arrest, suggesting an urgent need for Ellerup to sever all ties to the accused Gilgo Beach suspect.

Asa Ellerup's Surprising Public Defense of Rex Heuermann

Despite the overwhelming evidence and the immediate filing for divorce, Asa Ellerup's public statements have been a source of intense media focus and public confusion. In a new docuseries and various interviews, Ellerup has taken a surprising stance, questioning the charges against her ex-husband.

She has publicly stated that she does not believe Rex Heuermann is capable of the horrific crimes he is accused of. In one particularly poignant statement, she referred to him as her "hero," claiming that the police have "the wrong man."

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This defense is particularly difficult to reconcile with the forensic evidence found at the couple’s Massapequa Park home. During the intense police search, investigators reportedly found a female hair on one of the victims, Maureen Brainard-Barnes, which was microscopically consistent with Asa Ellerup’s DNA. Furthermore, a DNA sample found on a belt used to bind another victim, Megan Waterman, was also linked to Heuermann’s wife.

Ellerup's attorney has noted that the wife was away on a trip to Iceland at the time of one of the disappearances, suggesting she was not present for at least one of the alleged crimes. The presence of her DNA is a complex issue for investigators, who must determine if the DNA transfer was innocent (e.g., from a shared home item) or if it suggests a deeper, more unsettling connection to the crimes.

The Aftermath: Living in the Massapequa Park Nightmare

The family home in Massapequa Park, a seemingly ordinary structure, became a focal point of the investigation. Following the arrest, the house was subjected to a meticulous, multi-day search that left the property in disarray. Ellerup and her children, including daughter Victoria, were displaced and forced to live in temporary accommodation while police scoured the premises for evidence related to the Gilgo Beach murders.

Ellerup has spoken candidly about the trauma of returning to the home, which was left "trashed" and virtually uninhabitable after the forensic investigation. The emotional toll of the arrest, the invasive search, and the subsequent media scrutiny has been immense on the entire family.

Her current situation involves navigating life as a newly divorced woman whose ex-husband is the primary suspect in a decades-old cold case that has captivated the nation. The decision to speak out in a docuseries highlights her attempt to tell her side of the story and perhaps regain some control over a narrative that has been dominated by the shocking accusations against Rex Heuermann.

The LISK case continues to unfold in Suffolk County, and Asa Ellerup remains a key, if peripheral, figure. Her journey from the wife of a quiet architect to the ex-wife of an accused serial killer is a tragic and compelling subplot to the larger, horrific saga of the Gilgo Beach victims.