Serial killer Keith Jesperson warns Gilgo Beach murderer Rex Heuermann about prison challenges
In a series of messages, convicted serial killer Keith Jesperson cautioned that Gilgo Beach killer Rex Heuermann’s size will not protect him from violence once transferred to a state prison after his sentencing.
Keith Jesperson, the convicted "Happy Face" killer, told podcaster Keith Rovere that former architect Rex Heuermann, who pleaded guilty to seven Gilgo Beach murders, should not expect prison to be easy despite his physical stature. Jesperson wrote that Heuermann’s “big ego” may lead to fights, even if placed in protective custody, and suggested that guards could "toss him to the wolves" at times.
Heuermann was sentenced on Wednesday to three consecutive life terms without parole, followed by four additional sentences of 25 years to life. He remains in the Suffolk County Jail in Riverhead and will be moved to a state prison after his formal sentencing on June 17.
When asked whether Heuermann might have additional victims, Jesperson declined to comment, saying the matter will become clear at the sentencing hearing.
Heuermann’s ex-wife, Asa Ellerup, said through her attorney that she will not attend the sentencing, emphasizing that the focus should remain on the victims and their families. Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney noted that investigators do not believe the family was involved in the crimes.
Jesperson, who has corresponded with Heuermann since his arrest in July 2023, said the former architect had thanked him for information about the criminal-justice process. He also mentioned that Heuermann’s attorney had unsuccessfully sought to suppress DNA evidence linking Heuermann to the murders.
The Gilgo Beach killings, first uncovered in 2010 after the disappearance of Shannan Gilbert, involved the torture, strangulation and, in some cases, dismemberment of seven women, with an eighth murder later admitted by Heuermann as part of his plea deal.