HOME / NEWS / CRIME & JUSTICE

Who was Rex Heuermann's first wife? Gilgo Beach murders suspect was 26 when he married Elizabeth Ryan

Rex Heuermann and Elizabeth Ryan reportedly married in New Jersey in 1990

SUFFOLK COUNTY, NEW YORK: Rex Heuermann, the 59-year-old architect who was recently arrested on suspicion of being connected to the Gilgo Beach serial murders, reportedly has a close-knit family. He had been married twice and has two children. His first wife is Elizabeth Ryan, while his current wife is Asa Ellerup. 

Heuermann was reportedly only 26 years old when he married Ryan, the New York Post reported. However, his first wife is yet to comment on his arrest. The RH Architecture  founder was caught on Thursday, July 13, and charged over the killings of four victims, known as "The Gilgo Four." He has reportedly pled not guilty to three counts of first degree murder and three counts of second degree murder. 

What is known about Elizabeth Ryan? 

Ryan is the first wife of Gilgo Beach serial murders suspect Heuermann. According to a 1990 wedding announcement, Heuermann and Ryan married at St Peter’s Church in New Brunswick, New Jersey. At the time of their wedding, Ryan was a junior planner at a New Jersey office supplies company while Heuermann was an intern at an architecture company. 

Ryan was reportedly a “graduate of St. Peter’s High School” in New Brunswick, the New York Post reported. She also holds a degree in business administration from Montclair State College. As per the publication, Heuermann was reportedly seen smiling in spectacles in photos from his marriage to Ryan. His brother, Craig, reportedly served as his best man in the wedding. 

It is not known when Ryan decided to part ways with Heuermann and if the pair are officially divorced. The reason behind their split also remains unclear. The outlet noted that Ryan currently lives on her own but her whereabouts remains undisclosed at the time of writing. She has reportedly been living in the same residence for the past 15 years and neighbours told the publication that she has possibly been apart from her husband for the same time period.

'Regular family man' 

Despite parting ways with his first wife, Heuermann was known as a family man in his locality. His neighbors in Massapequa Park, who were shocked by his arrest, described him as a "quiet businessman" and a "regular family man." Actor Billy Baldwin, who was one of Heuermann's neighbors and former classmate at school, took to social media to define him as, "Married, two kids, architect. 'Average guy… quiet, family man.'"

The actor said that "Massapequa is in shock" over Heuermann's connection to the Gilgo Beach serial murders. While Heuermann's first wife, Ryan, did not react to his arrest, his current wife, Ellerup, also decided to maintain silence. "Please leave me alone. I will not be saying anything," she reportedly told Newsday, as per the New York Post.