Is Asa Ellerup in contact with Rex Heuermann? Spousal immunity shields her from testifying against estranged husband
SUFFOLK COUNTY, NEW YORK: Rex Heuermann's estranged wife has been in contact with him since his arrest on July 13, according to her divorce attorney. However, she has not yet been interviewed by the Gilgo Beach murder case investigators.
Asa Ellerup, 59, who has been married to the alleged killer for over two decades, has had "personal conversations" with him over the phone, said her lawyer Robert Macedonio. Heuermann is currently awaiting his trial in Suffolk County jail, reported New York Post.
Ellerup was 'completely blindsided by the whole event'
Speaking to Newsday on Tuesday, August 2 about Ellerup being in touch with Heuermann, Macedonio said "They have spoken." He declined to share further information about their conversations but emphasized that she was "completely blindsided by the whole event." Talking about how Ellerup felt since the suspect's arrest on the horrifying serial murders, the lawyer said, "It was like getting hit by a Mack truck walking on 42nd Street. Obviously, her head was just spinning."
Will Ellerup cooperate with the murder case investigation?
When asked about Ellerup's willingness to cooperate with the murder probe, her divorce attorney said that he "can't even speculate" on the matter because they have not yet been asked by the investigators. Macedonio also pointed out that she would have spousal immunity that would protect her from testifying against her estranged husband about events that took place before or during their marriage.
Ray Tierney, a spokesperson for Suffolk County DA said that there was "no indication" that Heuermann’s family, which also includes a daughter, Victoria, 32, and a son, Christopher, 32, were aware of his alleged notorious killings.
Heuermann pleaded not guilty to triple-murder charges
On July 14, Heuermann pleaded not guilty to the murders of Megan Waterman, Melissa Barthelemy, and Amber Lynn Costello who were strangled to death, and their bodies were found along Ocean Parkway in December 2010. The 59-year-old New York-based architect is also considered a main suspect in the murder of another one of the first of "Gilgo Four" who is identified as Maureen Brainard-Barnes.
According to the suspect's initial arrest warrant, his wife who is originally from Iceland was reportedly away from the couple's home in Massapequa Park when the victims who were all sex workers were killed.
Macedonio continued telling the media outlet that Ellerup was not aware that her husband was allegedly soliciting sex workers and she finds it difficult to recollect the events that occurred surrounding those specific dates connecting to the murders that began in 2008. "It’s trying to recollect events more than 10 years ago. She hasn’t had the opportunity to sit down and think about it. She’s trying to locate passports to jog her memory," said Macedonio.