Rex Heuermann Wife and Kids: The Shocking Story Behind the Gilgo Beach Killer's Family

Updated: April 9, 2026

The arrest of Rex Heuermann in July 2023 sent shockwaves across the nation, but for his wife Asa Ellerup and their children, it turned their entire world upside down. Once living a quiet suburban life in Massapequa Park, Long Island, the family now finds itself forever linked to one of America’s most infamous serial killer cases. Heuermann, a seemingly ordinary architect, faced charges in the Gilgo Beach murders—the brutal killings of multiple women whose remains were discovered along a remote stretch of Long Island’s coastline. On April 8, 2026, Heuermann pleaded guilty to murdering seven women and admitted to killing an eighth, bringing a grim sense of closure to a case that haunted investigators and victims’ families for years. Yet for his ex-wife and kids, the pain and public scrutiny continue.

This story isn’t just about the crimes—it’s about how an ordinary family grappled with the unthinkable. Asa Ellerup, who stood by Heuermann for nearly three decades, has spoken candidly about their life together, while their adult children have described feeling trapped in a “waking horror show.” Here’s a closer look at Rex Heuermann’s wife and kids, their lives before and after the arrest, and how they’re trying to rebuild amid the chaos.

Who Is Asa Ellerup? The Wife Who Met Rex at 18

Asa Ellerup, originally from Iceland, entered Rex Heuermann’s life when she was just 18 years old. The couple married in April 1996 after a whirlwind connection. Heuermann, then building his career as an architect, offered her stability in his childhood home in Massapequa Park—a modest one-story house that later became central to the investigation. Ellerup has described their early days fondly in interviews and the Peacock documentary The Gilgo Beach Killer: House of Secrets. She recalled turning her head when she first saw him, calling him the kind of guy who caught attention. “There’s a picture of me on our wedding day and I’m looking up going, ‘I finally got him. He’s mine,'” she shared.

For 27 years, their marriage appeared ordinary on the surface. Heuermann worked long hours in Manhattan, even consulting for high-profile clients like the Trump Organization at one point. Ellerup focused on raising their family. Neighbors described the household as private and unremarkable—Heuermann wasn’t the social type, despite growing up in the tight-knit community. But behind closed doors, prosecutors alleged a dark double life that allegedly involved using the family home for horrific purposes. Ellerup has repeatedly insisted her husband is “not capable” of such acts, even after their divorce was finalized in March 2025. She has maintained contact with him, referring to him affectionately at times and emphasizing that the split was largely financial—to protect assets and prevent the family from becoming homeless.

In the documentary and interviews, Ellerup opened up about the emotional toll. She spoke of waking up shivering at night and feeling lost as a mother with no answers for her children. Despite everything, she and her daughter have attended court hearings, and she has described the house search as devastating. Now in her early 60s, Ellerup is in the process of selling the Massapequa Park home and relocating to South Carolina, where the family had purchased property years earlier as a potential retirement spot. It’s a fresh start, she says, marking the end of one painful chapter.

Rex Heuermann’s Children: Victoria and Christopher’s Struggle

Rex Heuermann and Asa Ellerup share one biological daughter, Victoria Heuermann, now around 29 years old. Ellerup also brought a son from a previous relationship, Christopher Sheridan, whom Heuermann helped raise as his own. The two adult children lived with their parents in the family home well into adulthood, creating a close-knit but insular unit. Before the arrest, life seemed routine: Victoria worked at her father’s Manhattan architecture firm after graduating from the New York Institute of Technology with a degree in fine arts. Christopher, now in his mid-30s, has developmental disabilities and relied heavily on the family structure.

The arrest shattered that normalcy overnight. Attorneys described the siblings as “bystanders” caught in the “legal case of the century,” living in a nightmare of media attention, public stares, and constant scrutiny. Victoria has struggled to find employment since the family business closed. Her lawyer noted the difficulty of job hunting when your name is synonymous with one of the biggest true crime stories. Christopher’s challenges have been even more pronounced—Ellerup revealed he cried himself to sleep, distraught and unable to fully comprehend the accusations against the man he called dad. “They can’t even walk the dog down the block without being photographed or catcalled,” one attorney shared.

In the Peacock documentary, both Victoria and Ellerup broke their long silence. Victoria expressed that she believes her father is “most likely” responsible, a stark contrast to her mother’s ongoing doubts. She described the divorce as a practical move to secure the house, insisting, “It doesn’t mean that we’re not a family anymore.” The children have cooperated with authorities and tried to keep a low profile, but the shadow of the case lingers. They reportedly plan to join Ellerup in South Carolina, seeking distance from the Long Island spotlight and a chance to heal.

Life Before and After the Arrest: A Family Torn Apart

Before July 2023, the Heuermann-Ellerup household blended into suburban Long Island. Rex commuted to the city, Victoria assisted at the firm, and Christopher stayed close to home. The family kept to themselves—no flashy parties or neighborhood gossip. Heuermann was known as a dedicated provider, even helping fund legal matters during Ellerup’s earlier divorce from Christopher’s biological father.

Everything changed with the dramatic arrest in Midtown Manhattan. Police swarmed the Massapequa Park home, searching for evidence and “trophies.” The family was temporarily displaced, their privacy invaded by cameras and reporters. Ellerup filed for divorce just days later, a move she later framed as protective rather than a complete break. Holidays became painful milestones—the first ones without the old family dynamic felt like survival.

The guilty plea on April 8, 2026, to seven murders (with an admission to an eighth) brought legal finality, with sentencing scheduled for June. For the family, though, questions remain. How do you reconcile the man who raised you with the monster described in court? Victoria has wrestled openly with this duality, while Ellerup clings to disbelief. Both mother and daughter have spoken of anxiety, sleepless nights, and the feeling of being “not human” amid the relentless coverage. Yet they’ve shown resilience—attending hearings, participating in the documentary, and planning a geographic reset in South Carolina.

Family Information at a Glance

Here’s a quick overview of the key details about Rex Heuermann’s immediate family:

Wife/Ex-Wife: Asa Ellerup (originally from Iceland, married 1996, divorced finalized March 2025; maintains some contact)
Biological Daughter: Victoria Heuermann (approx. 29 years old, fine arts graduate, previously worked at father’s firm)
Stepson: Christopher Sheridan (approx. 35 years old, has developmental disabilities)
Family Home: Massapequa Park, Long Island (childhood home of Heuermann; now being sold)
Current Plans: Relocating to South Carolina; seeking privacy and new beginnings
Public Statements: Featured in Peacock’s The Gilgo Beach Killer: House of Secrets; mixed views on guilt (mother doubts, daughter leans toward acceptance)

This table captures the core relationships and status as of early 2026, highlighting how one man’s actions rippled through an entire family.

Conclusion: Picking Up the Pieces in the Shadow of Tragedy

The story of Rex Heuermann’s wife and kids is a heartbreaking reminder that true crime cases don’t end with an arrest or a guilty plea—they leave lasting scars on innocent loved ones. Asa Ellerup, Victoria, and Christopher never asked to be part of this narrative. They’ve endured public judgment, emotional turmoil, and the loss of their private family life. While Heuermann’s guilty plea on April 8, 2026, offers justice for the victims and their families, his own relatives are still navigating a path forward filled with uncertainty and grief.

Ellerup’s move to South Carolina symbolizes hope for renewal—a chance to leave behind the house tied to so many painful memories. Victoria and Christopher, now adults facing adult-sized challenges, deserve space to rebuild without constant reminders. Their voices in the documentary show courage: acknowledging the darkness while holding onto fragments of the father and husband they once knew.

In the end, this case underscores the hidden costs of such horrors. Families like the Heuermann-Ellerups don’t just lose a loved one to prison; they lose their sense of normalcy, trust, and identity. As they try to move on, one can only hope they find the peace and privacy they’ve been denied for so long. The Gilgo Beach killings may be resolved in court, but for Rex Heuermann’s wife and kids, the journey of healing is just beginning.