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Who is Karla Homolka? Rex Heuermann's wife Asa Ellerup compared to serial rapist and killer Paul Bernardo's lover

Rex Heuermann was arrested on July 13 in connection to the murders of the 'Gilgo Four', whose remains were discovered on a remote Long Island beach

LONG ISLAND, NEW YORK: Rex Heuermann's arrest in connection with the Gilgo Beach murders has sent shockwaves through his Long Island neighborhood, sparking questions about his wife’s involvement in the petrifying case. The Manhattan architect, 59, was arrested from his office on July 13 as a primary suspect in the murder of the "Gilgo Four," whose remains were discovered on a remote Long Island beach.

Following Heuermann’s arrest, authorities raided his Massapequa Park residence, a rundown red house that held secrets waiting to be unveiled. On Monday, gloved officers were spotted at the property removing a slew of items, including a Playboy magazine, film negatives, a poster from the TV show “M*A*S*H,” and a macabre painting. The disturbing artwork taken by police features a blond woman’s face with dark pupils and bruising below the eyes. This came after investigators removed a child-sized doll and a massive trove of up to 300 firearms from a locked vault in the basement of the home, where he lived with his wife, Asa Ellerup, and their adult children.

Was Asa Ellrup involved in Rex Heuermann's crimes?

The discovery of bizarre items from Heuermann’s residence has sparked questions regarding Ellrup’s involvement in the murders. The concerns were heightened further after an attorney, who is presenting the victims’ families, stated that he believes the serial killer had a female accomplice who lured the victims. To support his theory, John Ray referenced the discovery of the remains of an unidentified 10-month-old baby girl found wrapped in a blanket on Long Island in 2011. He argued that the careful manner in which the infant's body was wrapped suggests the involvement of a compassionate figure, possibly a mother.

"It's that kind of thing that, if you're such a depraved murderer, you don't take time to do. That to me seems like an act of a mother," the attorney told The Sun, adding, "We also believe that some of the victims could've been lured by a woman." Ray’s comments soon garnered immense social media attention, with netizens pointing fingers at Ellrup and questioning how she lived in the same rundown house without knowing about the terrifying evidence. "Hard to believe she didn't at least suspect something," one user said while another wrote, "My thoughts exactly. As if she didn’t find it very concerning that every time she went away someone in her town was murdered?"

Who is Karla Homolka?

One Twitter user compared Ellerup with Karla Homolka, who acted as an accomplice to her husband, Paul Bernardo, taking an active part in the rapes and murders of minors in Ontario – including her own sister, Tammy Homolka – between 1990 and 1992. "The wife is most likely involved as well. Good case to reference right here in my province of Ontario Canada. This BLEEP tortured ...decapitated...murdered...raped...assisted husband in strangulation and mutilation of school girls.... nobody believed it til they found videos," the user wrote, referring to Homolka, who was only convicted of manslaughter and served only twelve years for the torture, rapes and murders of two teenaged girls, Leslie Mahaffy and Kristen French.

Bernardo and Homolka committed some of the most heinous and divisive crimes in Canadian history. The infamous couple was arrested in 1993 in connection to the sexual assault and death of three minor girls, including 15-year-old Tammy. The teen died in December 1990 after Bernardo brutally raped her with Homolka's assistance. Tammy died after choking on her own vomit, but her death was ruled an accident. Following their arrest, it was revealed that during their relationship, Bernardo raped women in Scarborough with Homolka's knowledge and agreement. She also stated to investigators that she had been an unwilling accomplice in Bernardo's murders as a result of domestic violence, resulting in a deal made with prosecutors for a reduced prison sentence in exchange for a guilty plea to the charge of manslaughter.