Accused Gilgo Beach killer's family to receive $1M for documentary

Publish date: 2024-08-31

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The family of accused Gilgo Beach killer Rex Heuermann will rake in a staggering seven-figure windfall for a documentary about the grisly sex worker slayings, according to a report. 

Heuermann’s wife, Asa Ellerup, and her adult children, Victoria and Christopher, will receive at least $1 million for the NBC/Peacock documentary, which will follow the family throughout the suspected killer’s trial, NewsNation reported. 

“There’s a reason why she hasn’t talked to the media at all because she has signed a major deal with the documentary crew,” NewsNation’s senior story editor Paula Froelich told NewsNation Live’s Nichole Berlie.

Ellerup filed for divorce from the Long Island architect just six days after his arrest in July.

The family’s lawyers are also expected to receive six-figure payouts for participating in the doc, the outlet reported

Ellerup’s lawyer, Robert Macedonio, is believed to have signed a $400,000 deal for his participation, while Vess Mitev, a lawyer for Heuermann’s daughter, Victoria, and stepson, Christopher, is expected to receive $200,000 in compensation, the outlet reported.

Rex Heuermann has been charged with murder in connection to the strangulation deaths of three sex workers. Getty Images
Asa Ellerup was seen leaving the Riverhead Court after a hearing for Rex Heuermann. Dennis A. Clark

Macedonio told The Post that Ellerup and her children are participating in a Gilgo Beach documentary being produced by NBCUniversal in collaboration with Texas Crew Productions and rapper 50 Cent’s G-Unit production company, but declined to comment on fees. Mitev also declined to comment.

Earlier this week, a Peacock documentary crew was spotted trailing Ellerup, 59, after she exited a silver Mercedes at the Arthur M. Cromarty Courthouse in Riverhead, Long Island, to attend her estranged husband’s court appearance over three counts of murder related to the strangulation deaths of Amber Lynn Costello, 27, Melissa Barthelemy, 24, and Megan Waterman, 22.

Heuermann, who pleaded not guilty to the charges, is also the prime suspect in the death of 25-year-old Maureen Brainard-Barnes.

The documentary will follow Heuermann’s family throughout his murder trial over the Gilgo Beach killings. Edmund J Coppa
Melissa Barthelemy, top left, Amber Costello, top right, Megan Waterman, bottom left, and Maureen Brainard-Barnes. AP

Because the money is going to the accused killer’s family, and not Heuermann himself, it is not subject to New York’s “Son of Sam” laws, which prohibit criminals from selling their stories to the media.

The family of suspected University of Idaho murderer Bryan Kohburger has also reportedly been approached by documentary filmmakers to participate in productions, but so far have declined all offers.

“They have been offered big money, but haven’t taken anyone up on it so far,” one source told NewsNation.

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