Asa Ellerup, the ex-wife of confessed Gilgo Beach serial killer Rex Heuermann, has revealed that she now sleeps in the basement room where he admitted to dismembering his victims.
In a recent episode of Peacock's docuseries The Gilgo Beach Killer: House of Secrets, Ellerup described how she has transformed the space—which prosecutors have called the "kill room"—into a functional bedroom, complete with a Hello Kitty bedspread, stuffed animals, floral paintings, and a cross.
Heuermann, who confessed to killing eight women during an April 8 court appearance, privately admitted his crimes to Ellerup weeks earlier. Despite filing for divorce after his 2023 arrest to retain the Long Island home, Ellerup has maintained contact with the former architect.
"The brutal truth is that Rex Heuermann said he dismembered the bodies in this room," Ellerup said. "I'm here because I do feel spiritual. I am trying to say spiritually, in my own way, that I am really sorry for what these victims went through."
She explained that the room has been completely gutted and redone, with new floors, walls, moldings, and doors. Yet she remains haunted by what occurred there.
"Every night that I go to bed and go to sleep, I am haunted by dreams," she said. "Every night. It will never go away. It will follow me for the rest of my life."
Heuermann pleaded guilty to murdering seven women and confessed to an eighth, admitting to strangling each victim. His killing spree began in 1993 and continued until 2010. He targeted sex workers and used a so-called "Hunt and Kill" planning document, according to police.
Ellerup stated she has seen Heuermann about 12 times since his confession, adding, "I want to get to know this other side of Rex. I want to know why Rex killed these women, what his triggers were. I'm processing the information in a very different way, because now I see the evil in him."