Son of Gilgo Beach Victim Files Wrongful Death Lawsuit Against Rex Heuermann and Family
Benjamin Torres, son of Valerie Mack, has initiated a wrongful death lawsuit against accused serial killer Rex Heuermann, his ex-wife, and their daughter, alleging torture and dismemberment of his mother.
Benjamin Torres, the son of Valerie Mack, has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Rex Heuermann, his former wife Asa Ellerup, and their daughter Victoria Heuermann. The suit alleges that Mack was "tortured ferociously, and her body dismembered," resulting in Torres being deprived of his mother's care and support.
The legal action seeks damages for the alleged torture, murder, and concealment of Mack's remains, as well as the emotional and economic impact on her son. Investigators believe Mack was murdered between September and November 2000. Heuermann was charged with her murder in December 2024, following his arrest in July 2023.
Mack, a 24-year-old sex worker from the Philadelphia and Atlantic City areas, disappeared in 2000. Her remains were discovered in two locations on Long Island: a wooded area near Manorville and near Gilgo Beach, where Heuermann is accused of disposing of most of his alleged victims.
The lawsuit also targets any profits Ellerup and Victoria Heuermann may have received from media appearances related to the case, alleging they exploited the situation for financial gain.
Robert Macedonio, attorney for Ellerup and Victoria Heuermann, described the lawsuit as a "reckless attempt" to keep attorney John Ray relevant in the case. He noted that at the time of Mack's murder, Victoria was 13 years old, questioning the plausibility of her involvement.
Reports suggest that Rex Heuermann may change his plea to guilty in the murders of seven women, including Mack, at his next court appearance on April 8. Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney declined to comment on potential plea negotiations, stating, "Nothing is done, and so we wait."