The $1 million documentary deal signed by the wife of Gilgo Beach murder suspect Rex Heuermann is in jeopardy as lawmakers rush to introduce new bills to prevent suspects' relatives from profiting from crimes.
Asa Ellerup filed for divorce six days after Heuermann, 60, was accused of murdering three sex workers whose bodies were found on the deserted stretch of coast near their Long Island Home between 2010 and 2011.
She agreed to take part in the mega-deal with NBC's streaming service Peacock, which will see a crew film her family during her husband's trial set to begin next year.
The families of the Gilgo Beach victims have denounced the deal as “evil” and claim the documentary series will re-victimize and “re-traumatize” them.
It has led to two new bills that aim to change New York's Son of Sam law, which prevents the families of suspects from making money from crimes. If passed, it would take effect immediately and call Ellerup's agreement into question.
The $1 million documentary deal signed by the wife of Gilgo Beach murder suspect Rex Heuermann is in jeopardy as lawmakers rush to introduce new bills to prevent suspects' relatives from profiting from crimes
Asa Ellerup filed for divorce six days after Heuermann, 60, was accused of murdering three sex workers whose bodies were found on the deserted stretch of coast near their Long Island Home between 2010 and 2011.
Ellerup agreed to take part in the mega deal with NBC's streaming service Peacock, which will see a crew film her family during her husband's trial. Pictured: Television crew outside the Suffolk County Supreme Court, where Heuermann had a hearing on Nov. 15
Film crews were seen following Heuermann's estranged wife, 59, and two children Victoria and Christopher as they attended his arraignment last month.
Authorities have said Ellerup was unaware of her husband's alleged murders and that the money made from the show will not go to his defense because New York law prohibits suspects from selling their story to the media .
But two bills have been introduced to change the state's Son of Sam law and prevent suspects' families from profiting from crimes.
“The amount of money being thrown here while the victims' families get nothing is just appalling,” said Senator Kevin Thomas. CBS News.
“They're just exploiting their pain for gain.” He added that his bill will close this loophole.
State Senator Fred Thiele Jr. said, “Why would the family or former spouse also benefit from this crime? I think it's an insult to the victim.”
The Son of Sam Act was initially ruled unconstitutional and amended.
Crime victims are now being notified of movie and book deals so they can sue for the profits.
Ellerup arrived in court in November to hear evidence as her estranged husband faces murder charges over the deaths of three sex workers
Their son Christopher and daughter Victoria left the parental home last month
Attorney John Ray, who represents the families of the Gilgo Beach victims, praised the proposals.
“(Ellerup) is a ghoul and she feeds on the dead using their memories and the circumstances that her husband created and that she may have a role in,” he said.
But Ellerup's lawyer Robert Macadonio said: 'It is a sad day in America when people are willing to trample on the Constitution to get press attention.
“The next thing they will try to do is control the media reporting.”
Hofstra law professor Fred Klein added, “To the extent that the law is going to apply to a family member, who may have done nothing wrong, you probably have a significant First Amendment problem there.”
A Peacock spokesperson said Ellerup “was not paid for her participation, but was paid a licensing fee for the use of her archival material.”
It said it had “approached the families of all victims to appear in the documentary, all of whom were unresponsive or declined.”
Sherre Gilbert, the sister of Shannan Gilbert, whose remains were found in 2010 and led to the discovery of other victims, took to social media to express her shock, saying: 'disappointed…disgusted…stunned… .'frustrated.'
“The way the media buys stories to re-victimize, re-traumatize and exploit the families and victims of serial killers is evil!,” she said.
Heuermann is currently being held in a Suffolk County jail in connection with three murders.
In July, he was charged with the murders of Melissa Barthelemy, Megan Waterman and Amber Lynn Costello, who disappeared in 2009 and 2010.
Authorities said he is also the “prime suspect” in the murder of Maureen Brainard-Barnes.
The first victim, Melissa Barthelemy, 24, was discovered by Suffolk County police on December 11, 2010. The body of Megan Waterman, 22, was found two days later.
Maureen Brainard-Barnes was 25 years old when she went missing (left). Amber Lynn Costello was 27 years old. Their bodies were found the same day near Barthelemy
Police have released a laundry list of “red flags” that they say led them to Heuermann as a suspect, with the first piece of evidence being a Chevrolet Avalanche owned by him that was linked to Costello's murder by a witness.
According to documents filed in Suffolk County District Court, investigators were then able to match that car to Heuermann's cellphone records, linking him to locations linked to the murders, which ultimately led to them obtaining a DNA sample .
Police say Heuermann used Melissa Barthelemy's phone to make harassing calls to her family from the victim's phone, calls made just steps from his Manhattan office.
After Heuermann was identified as the owner of the Chevrolet, police issued more than 300 subpoenas, search warrants and other legal processes to obtain further evidence.
Ellerup visited the Manhattan architect in jail for the first time last month and has been seen in court to “see for himself what is being presented in court.”
In August, she was accused by attorney Ray of being involved in the gruesome murders.
Police have not indicated any connection involving Ellerup or the couple's children in the murders, but Ray claims to have witnesses who he believes could confirm her presence when Heuermann would bring sex workers home.
He said her alleged presence when he would do so indicates she may have been aware of the killings, a claim rejected by Macedonio, who said his client and her children are not under any suspicion by investigators.
Macedonio said Ellerup was not in the region at the time her husband allegedly committed the murders.