Rex Heuermann has been sentenced to three consecutive life terms without parole for the Gilgo Beach serial killings. The 62-year-old architect pleaded guilty in April to seven murders committed between 1993 and 2010 near Long Island, New York.
Heuermann addressed the Suffolk County Court on Wednesday, stating he was responsible for the crimes. Family members of the victims delivered emotional impact statements during the proceeding before Judge Timothy Mazzei.
Investigators solved the cold case after linking Heuermann to a vehicle associated with one victim. Forensic analysis of DNA from a discarded pizza box and cell phone data provided critical evidence connecting him to the crime spree. Authorities also discovered incriminating internet searches regarding the investigation at his Massapequa Park home.
The sentencing marks the conclusion of a high-profile manhunt that stumped law enforcement for over a decade. Most victims were discovered along the Atlantic barrier beach in 2010 and 2011, ending years of uncertainty for the coastal community.