Gilgo Beach Killer's Chilling Confession: "Guilty" Eight Times

In a stark Long Island courtroom, suspected serial killer Rex Heuermann pleaded guilty to murdering eight people. The proceedings took a mere 20 minutes. Heuermann, a 60-year-old architect, is the prime suspect in the long-unsolved Gilgo Beach murders. The case involves bodies found along a remote beach road over a decade ago. When the judge asked how he pleaded for each killing, Heuermann gave the same simple answer every time: "Guilty." His plea covers the murders of three women: Melissa Barthelemy, Megan Waterman, and Amber Costello. It also includes the killing of a fourth victim, Maureen Brainard-Barnes. These four were known as the "Gilgo Four." Heuermann also admitted guilt for the murders of Sandra Costilla, Jessica Taylor, Valerie Mack, and an unidentified woman known as "Peaches." These deaths are part of a larger group of unsolved cases. By pleading guilty, Heuermann avoids a trial and will receive a sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole. Formal sentencing is scheduled for later this year. The guilty plea brings a sudden conclusion to one of America's most infamous serial murder investigations. For years, the Gilgo Beach case had frustrated police and terrified the local community.