DNA Match Links Murder Suspect's Wife to Crime Scene, Lawyers Offer Differing Views on Significance

DNA evidence has taken center stage in the ongoing murder case
against Rex Heuermann, the prime suspect in the deaths of three
women near Gilgo Beach in 2010. A recent development reveals that
a cheek swab taken from Heuermann's estranged wife, Asa Ellerup,
matches the DNA found on the burlap that was used to wrap the
victims' bodies, according to sources close to the
investigation.
 
 Asa Ellerup's DNA sample was collected on July 13, the same
day her husband was arrested and charged with the murders of
Melissa Barthelemy, Megan Waterman, and Amber Lynn Costello. This
revelation has raised questions about the potential implications
of her DNA being found at the crime scene.
 
 Ellerup's lawyer, Robert Macedonio, downplayed the
significance of the DNA match, suggesting it could be the result
of a "hair transfer inside the house." He emphasized that Ellerup
has not been accused of any involvement in the alleged murders
and was out of the country when each of the crimes is believed to
have taken place.
 
 Meanwhile, experts have noted that Rex Heuermann's hair was
also found under Megan Waterman's body. This hair contained
mitochondrial DNA, which could provide additional genetic clues.
However, Heuermann's lawyer, Michael J. Brown, has asserted that
mitochondrial DNA does not directly identify a suspect, as it
could potentially match thousands of individuals in the
area.
 
 "There is nobody on the face of this Earth, that is
credible, who is going to say the hair is from my client," Brown
stated. "That is impossible under science standards. What they
can do is say potentially he [Heuermann] is a donor. But so could
thousands and thousands of other persons in our area."
 
 Suffolk prosecutors have previously indicated that
Heuermann's DNA matched samples found on a discarded pizza box
near his Manhattan office. This match is among the evidence
linking him to the murders of the three women.
 
 Rex Heuermann, a 60-year-old man, has been accused of
killing the three women and dumping their bodies along Gilgo
Beach in December 2010. Additionally, he is considered a prime
suspect in the death of a fourth woman, Maureen Brainard-Barnes,
25. Police have relied on various sources of evidence, including
cellphone records, witness accounts, and DNA analysis, to
establish these connections.
 
 Notably, Asa Ellerup filed for divorce following her
husband's arrest, indicating a strained relationship in the wake
of the murder charges against him. The recent revelation of her
DNA matching evidence at the crime scene adds another layer of
complexity to a case that has garnered significant attention over
the years.
 
 The question of how significant this DNA match will prove
to be in court remains uncertain. As legal proceedings continue,
both sides are likely to scrutinize the DNA evidence, attempting
to establish its relevance and reliability. This development
raises new questions in a case that has already spanned more than
a decade, leaving the public and legal experts eager to see how
it will ultimately unfold.


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