The estranged wife of accused Long Island serial killer Rex Heuermann is seeking to have all of her legally owned guns returned to her, arguing they are “marital property” worth “hundreds of thousands of dollars.”
Robert Macedonio, an attorney representing Asa Ellerup, argued in court documents that he has the right to retain ownership of any of the nearly 300 legally purchased firearms.
She also claims any jewelry, clothing and cash owed from Heuermann’s Massapequa Park home should also be returned to Ellerup, who she says is entitled to at least marital assets pending the outcome of her and Heuermann’s divorce.
Macedonio told Newsday he intends to file a notice of claim on the property, after it was transferred to Nassau County police for consideration of the firearms charges.
“The county has no legal right to any of it that is not considered legal contraband,” Macedonio said.
Asa Ellerup, the estranged wife of Rex Heuermann, is trying to get all of her legally owned guns returned to her. Edmund J Coppa
Ellerup’s attorney argued in court documents that the firearms, and other items seized from the home, were “marital property” and were his property. Edmund J Coppa
Suffolk police seized more than 280 firearms from Heuermann’s home while executing a search warrant in July, and have since concluded their analysis — finding that some of them had been possessed in violation of New York state law, according to court filings.
Heuermann, who turned 60 on Wednesday while he was behind bars for the deaths of three women whose bodies were found in burlap sacks along Gilgo Beach, had a permit for just 92 guns, Newsday reported.
Many others are long guns, which are not subject to authorization in New York.
The Suffolk County Police Department’s Property Division inventory of Heuermann’s gun stash includes a collection of historic long guns, hunting rifles, revolvers and semi-automatic weapons, Newsday reported.
It includes firearms dating back to the 1860s, as well as firearms manufactured in England, Sweden, Switzerland, Italy, Russia, Belgium, Romania, Israel and France.
Some were used in world wars, according to Newsday, while others included Uzi and Tommy guns.
Heuermann remains in prison as he turns 60 on Wednesday. Suffolk County District Attorney
Heuermann pleaded not guilty to murdering three women whose bodies were found along Gilgo Beach.via REUTERS
The guns range in value from a few hundred dollars to more than $5,000 each, according to a comparison of inventory with online gun dealer price listings.
In total, Macedonio estimates the entire collection could be worth about $300,000.
“It’s a valuable collector’s item that he collected legally,” he said, calling Heuermann a “gunman” who attended the NRA conference.
Prosecutors are trying to get the weapons turned over to Nassau County police.
However, no firearms are believed to have been used in the deaths of the Gilgo Beach victims, Megan Waterman, 22, Melissa Barthelemy, 24, and Amber Lynn Costello, 27.
Heuerman is accused of killing Megan Waterman, 22, Melissa Barthelemy, 24, and Amber Lynn Costello, 27, and is the prime suspect in the murder of Maureen Brainard-Barnes, 25.AP
The Manhattan architect was arrested near his Midtown office on July 13, after police were able to connect DNA found on pizza crusts he threw away to DNA found on the bodies of the three women.
Heuermann is also the prime suspect in the murder of a fourth woman, 25-year-old Maureen Brainard-Barnes, whose body was found near the others.
He pleaded not guilty to the charges against him.
Following the arrest, Ellerup and her two adult children, Christopher and Victoria, were forced to evacuate their home as Long Island police tore it apart, looking for any evidence that might help convict Heuermann in court.
She and her children ended up sleeping in a rental car for more than a week because they didn’t know what else to do, Ellerup previously told the US Sun.
Suffolk police seized more than 280 firearms from Heuermann’s home during a search warrant in July.Edmund J Coppa
Long Island police tore through Massapequa Park for nearly two weeks, looking for any evidence that might help convict Heuermann in court.AP
Ellerup previously said he would renovate the home, where he raised his children.New York Post
Ellerup said he was finally able to find solace in his old home, where he was allowed to return after 12 days – only to find it in disarray from the investigation.
“It’s chaos over there,” he told the Sun. “But this is my home. I raised my children in this house, and I need to fix it.
“I’m just trying to enjoy this for now,” she added, pointing to the sun before pulling her hood down.
“I have skin cancer, you know, so I have to cover my a- up.”
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Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
