The wife of Rex Heuermann, the man suspected of being the Gilgo Beach serial killer, has released a statement through her lawyers defending her husband and expressing disbelief in his capability to commit the brutal crimes he is accused of. Asa Ellerup, who filed for divorce from Heuermann shortly after his arrest, stated that she will give him the benefit of the doubt until all the evidence is presented in court. She extended her sympathies to the victims and their families, emphasizing that "nobody deserves to die in that manner."

Heuermann, who has been charged with the murders of Melissa Barthelemy, Megan Waterman, Amber Costello, and Maureen Brainard-Barnes, has pleaded not guilty to the charges. He is being held without bail and faces several life sentences without parole if convicted. His attorney, Mike Brown, maintains his client's innocence and is reviewing new information presented by prosecutors.

Ellerup's statement comes after months of silence since her husband's arrest in July. Despite filing for divorce, she has been visiting Heuermann weekly at the Suffolk County Jail. However, a spokesperson for the Suffolk County Sheriff's Office disputed this claim, stating that Ellerup had only visited seven times in seven months.

Investigators have stated that Ellerup was out of town during each of the alleged murders and she has not been charged or named as a suspect in the case. The couple has been married for 27 years, and Ellerup's decision to support her estranged husband until proven otherwise marks a significant shift in her stance. The statement from Ellerup on Wednesday has sparked speculation and raised questions about her involvement and knowledge of the crimes.