Judge sentences Gilgo Beach serial killer Rex Heuermann to life without parole

Thu Jun 18 2026 12:30:56 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

Judge Timothy Mazzei hands down maximum penalty to Rex Heuermann, sending the Gilgo Beach killer to prison for life with additional 25‑year terms.

Rex Heuermann, the man behind the 1993‑2010 murders of eight women on Long Island’s Gilgo Beach, was sentenced on June 17 to two consecutive life terms and an additional 25‑year‑to‑life term for second‑degree murder charges. Judge Timothy Mazzei delivered the verdict in a Riverhead courtroom, punctuated by emotional victim impact statements and cheers from the jurors. Heuermann, a 62‑year‑old architect, had previously pleaded guilty to all eight murders, confirming he strangled, bound, and left bodies scattered across the remote beaches. The case, which took over a decade to unravel, highlighted local police investigations and the delayed justice faced by victims’ families. Students, witnesses and family members in the courtroom reacted to the sentence, with some expressing the enduring impact of the crimes.

In a Riverhead courtroom on June 17, Judge Timothy Mazzei delivered the maximum punishment for Rex Heuermann, the culprit behind the Gilgo Beach serial killings that spanned from 1993 to 2010. The judge sentenced him to two consecutive life terms, followed by 25 years to life for four second‑degree murder convictions, all running consecutively.

Rex Heuermann in court — Gilgo Beach killer Rex Heuermann speaks in court during sentencing.

Heuermann, a 62‑year‑old architect from Massapequa Park, had been arrested in 2023 after DNA from a pizza delivery box linked him to the murders. He ultimately pleaded guilty to all eight killings, confirming he strangled, bound, and left the victims’ bodies scattered across the remote cliffs of Gilgo Beach.

During the proceeding, victim families delivered “fiery” statements that laid bare the long‑standing despair caused by the crimes. One sister described phone calls in which Heuermann threatened to let her loved one’s body “rot,” while another recalled the shame and fear followed by the loss of her mother. Their testimonies triggered jubilant cheers when the judge pronounced the sentence.

Judge Mazzei, visibly emotional, declared, “Get him out of here,” before pointing to the courtroom, a phrase that echoed the collective relief of the gathering. The judge’s remark underscored that Heuermann would serve life without the possibility of parole.

Judge Tim Mazzei in courtroom — Judge Tim Mazzei becomes emotional during the sentencing.

The sentencing followed a period during which Suffolk County police and federal agents combed through a decade of evidence and finally tied Heuermann to the murders, thanks in part to a tip from a victim’s roommate that described a large man and a distinct Chevrolet Avalanche. Issues of bias and length of investigation were raised by the families, who felt the case was delayed because several victims were sex workers.

Heuermann’s defense lawyer, Michael Brown, visited him in custody after the sentencing, saying the judge was a “decent man” and that Heuermann’s confession was a step toward letting the families heal. Brown noted that Heuermann wanted to spare his family from a lengthy trial. The verdict marks the end of a long‑search that has left many Long Island residents shocked at how long it took to bring justice to the victims.