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<\/p>\nConfessed serial killer Rex Heuermann was sentenced on Wednesday to life in prison without parole for killing eight women, whose remains were discovered along Gilgo Beach.<\/p>\n
He pleaded guilty in April to the strangulation deaths of Melissa Barthelemy, Megan Waterman, Amber Costello, Maureen Brainard-Barnes, Jessica Taylor, Sandra Costilla, and Valerie Mack. He also admitted to the killing of an eighth victim, Karen Vergata, which was included under his plea agreement.<\/p>\n
News 12 was at Suffolk County Supreme Court in Riverhead reporting live with minute-by-minute updates of the proceeding.<\/p>\n
12:08 p.m. Behind the scenes of the District Attorney’s presser:<\/p>\n
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11:45 a.m. John Jay College of Criminal Justice adjunct professor David Sarni reflects on the sentencing.<\/p>\n
11:25 a.m. Heuermann sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. Families stand, applaud and cheer. <\/p>\n
11:23 a.m. Judge calls Heuermann a “disgusting and despicable man… You’re a coward.” <\/p>\n
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11:21 a.m. Heuermann begins to speak. “I am responsible for all that was said in this room… The words I say have no meaning.”<\/p>\n
Judge asks if he’s even a little bit sorry. “At least eight women that we know of… Are you a little bit sorry for that?” Heuermann replies \u201cyes.\u201d<\/p>\n
11:20 a.m. Defense Attorney Michael Brown begins speaking. He addresses the families. “I’m sorry for your loss… I’ve never met your sister, daughter, friend but I’ve been studying this case… They were beautiful young ladies and their memories will last forever.\u201d<\/p>\n
11:15 a.m. “This defendant only cares about himself and his sick interests,” said Tierney. <\/p>\n
11:07 a.m. “Any remorse shown is insufficient,” said Tierney. “He is sorry he got caught.” <\/p>\n
11:06 a.m. “The effect this case has had on them (the families) is overwhelming,” said Tierney. <\/p>\n
11:02 a.m. Victim impact statements conclude. District Attorney Ray Tierney describes family testimonies as “spectacularly impactful.\u201d<\/p>\n
10:50 a.m. “She had hopes dreams and plans for the future…She was a human being, someone’s daughter, someone’s friend and most importantly she was my mother,\u201d said Liliana, Megan Waterman\u2019s daughter. \u201cShe wasn’t there for my first day of school, graduation or moments that shaped me into the person I am today.\u201d<\/p>\n
10:48 a.m. “Be gone, cowardly demon,” said Elizabeth Meserve, aunt of Megan Waterman.<\/p>\n
10:40 a.m. “Her loss has caused unmeasurable hardship for our family,\u201d said Elizabeth Meserve, aunt of Megan Waterman. “Megan was a mother, daughter, niece, sister and a vibrant young woman.\u201d<\/p>\n
10:36 a.m. “Don’t even bother saying you’re sorry, because no one believes it,\u201d said Amanda Funderburg, sister of Melissa Barthelemy.<\/p>\n
10:21 a.m. Maureen Brainard-Barnes\u2019 daughter was only seven years old when her mother went missing.<\/p>\n
“I was a little girl and I needed my mom. There are moments yet to come that I will need her and she will not be there,\u201d said Nicolette Brainard-Barnes.<\/p>\n
“Seeing your last court appearance and seeing your smirk proves you need to be locked away for the safety of the community,\u201d she said. <\/p>\n
10:11 a.m. “This was a calculated, unimaginable evil,\u201d said Melissa Cann, sister of Maureen Brainard-Barnes. <\/p>\n
9:54 a.m. Victim impact statements begin. <\/p>\n
“Heuermann, you have done horrendous things to Valerie’s earthly body but you have not touched the real Valerie,\u201d said Ed Mack, adoptive father of Valerie Mack.<\/p>\n
“What you have done to our family is beyond what words can express. Even though justice is done, it cannot be replaced with what you have taken from us,\u201d said JoAnn Mack, adoptive mother of Valerie Mack.<\/p>\n
“You took away every chance that she ever had these past 26 years because you took her life…. She had hopes and she had dreams,\u201d said JoAnn Mack.<\/p>\n
“Valerie Mack had a fire inside of her that lit up the world around her,\u201d said Danielle Mack, her sister.<\/p>\n
“Torso. Headless and handless. These words got me…That weekend, she was supposed to come home… Loved ones were calling her…She never picked up the phone because of you,\u201d said Jasmine Robinson, Jessica Taylor\u2019s cousin. <\/p>\n
Heuermann is seen looking straight ahead during victim impact statements. <\/p>\n
9:52 a.m. Rex Heuermann enters courtroom.<\/p>\n
9:39 a.m. District Attorney Ray Tierney and Defense Attorney Michael Brown enter courtroom.<\/p>\n
9:30 a.m. Gloria Allred, representative for some of the victim’s families, seen in courtroom. <\/p>\n
9:21 a.m. News 12 crews enter courtroom. Room is crowded with media, victim’s families and members of law enforcement. <\/p>\n
9:10 a.m. News 12 crews went through security, waiting outside the courtroom to be let in. <\/p>\n
9:05 a.m. Courthouse doors are now open. <\/p>\n
8:30 a.m. The doors to the courthouse open in thirty minutes. Over 60 people are waiting to get in. <\/p>\n
8:05 a.m. 56 people now waiting outside the courthouse.<\/p>\n
7:30 a.m. Laura Audette, of Riverhead, spoke to News 12\u2019s Julia Rosier in front of the courthouse.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve lived on Long Island my whole life, and this is a long time coming\u2026. Thirty years,\u201d she said. \u201cThis is important for Long Island.\u201d <\/p>\n
Nick Graystone, of Bellmore, told News 12 that he has been following the case \u201cfrom day one.\u201d<\/p>\n
News 12 interviewed him at April\u2019s hearing.<\/p>\n
\u201cI came for the confession and now today, I had to see it through,\u201d he said. \u201cI still don\u2019t think this is the end. I think there is more to it.<\/p>\n
\u201cToday I want to see justice being served, just like the families,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
7:30 a.m. View of the line. <\/p>\n
7:10 a.m. 32 people in line outside of courthouse. <\/p>\n
7 a.m. A few people waiting outside the courthouse brought lawn chairs to sit.<\/p>\n
6:39 a.m. Line outside courthouse is much shorter than it was around this time during the April hearing.<\/p>\n
April 8: <\/p>\n
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Today: <\/p>\n
6:34 a.m. John Jay College of Criminal Justice adjunct professor David Sarni on the sentencing<\/p>\n
Adjunct professor David Sarni joined News 12 before the proceeding to discuss what to expect ahead of Heuermann\u2019s sentencing.<\/p>\n
Sarni believes victim impact statements will likely be heard during today\u2019s proceedings.<\/p>\n
\u201cFamilies of the victims will have an opportunity to speak to the killer\u2026 We don\u2019t know if the killer will say anything back to them,\u201d he said. \u201cIt is a chance for them to show that people he thought were lost or uncared for were loved.\u201d<\/p>\n
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