Cats of belonging Rex Heuermann’s family were reportedly taken to a kill shelter, following investigators’ weeks-long search of the suspect’s New York home.
Heuermann’s wife, Asa Ellerup, and her two adult children, Christopher and Victoria, were banned from their home for weeks while investigators searched the Massapequa Park residence in July and Agusut, in an attempt to find evidence against Heuermann, the prime suspect in the deaths of several women found murdered over a decade ago.
As CrimeOnline previously reported, Heuermann was arrested on July 13 for the deaths of three of the four women known collectively as the “Gilgo Four.” The bodies were found within days of each other on Gilgo Beach in December 2010. All four women were buried in burlap sacks.
Heuermann is now facing six counts of murder in the deaths of Melissa Barthelemy, 24; Megan Waterman, 22; and Amber Lynn Costello, 27; and is the prime suspect in the death of 25-year-old Maureen Brainard-Barnes.
According to the “Happy Face” serial killer’s daughter, Melissa Moore, police took the family’s cats during the home search and dropped them off at a kill shelter, while leaving the house in disarray, with valuables and furniture broken.
“They left assuming the police would care for the animals as they left the home without any notice,” Moore told the US Sun. “Immediately, the authorities trapped the cats and sent them to a kill shelter.”
Moore added that Christopher, who has specials needs, initially couldn’t find his service dog, only locating him after searching the property. She said the family then found the cats at the shelter before they were euthanized.
“In my time working with families such as these, I have known law enforcement to place a family in a hotel when they seize the home for evidence. This was not the case for Asa, Christopher, and Victoria,” Moore added.
“When Rex was arrested—they went into the house, the police and the feds. And then they said, ‘Listen, we have the warrants. We’re going to search this house. We’re going to be here for a while.'”
“Asa and the kids left and slept in the rental car until they were given their home back by authorities. Lawyers representing Asa learned that her animals were in a shelter and arranged for them to be removed before they could be euthanized.”
Ellerup’s lawyers said earlier this month that the home was left in shambles with “valuables shattered” and their pillows, couches, and other items destroyed.
Suffolk County Police Commissioner Rodney Harrison said the evidence found at the site was turned over to the district attorney in connection with the murders.
“This is a 24-hour, 7-day a week operation but the team effort is helping us getting to a place where we could present it to Ray Tierney, the district attorney, and put this gentleman away for a very, very long period of time,” Harrison told reporters in July.
“We’re going to make sure that if there is anything that we need to retrieve that is going to help us with the prosecution we will take it with us and add it to the package.”
In response, Moore created a GoFundMe fundraiser for Ellerup to help with the family’s basic needs and to possibly help restore their home.
Meanwhile, Heuermann pleaded not guilty at his arraignment. He remains behind bars at the Suffolk County Correctional Facility without bail.
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[Feature Photo: Ava Ellerup/Facebook; Rex Heuermann/Suffolk County Police Department via AP]
