The New York architect’s wife accused of murdering three women whose remains were found on a Long Island beach more than a decade ago filed for divorce on Wednesday, July 19, her attorney said.
Attorney Robert Macedonio said a subpoena and complaint had been filed with the Suffolk County Supreme Court on behalf of Asa Ellerup. He declined to comment further.
Authorities have said Ellerup was out of state at the time of the murders and is not considered a suspect.
Rex Heuermann, 59, was charged Friday with three counts of first-degree murder and three counts of first-degree murder in the death of Melissa Barthelemy, 24; Megan Waterman, 22; and Amber Lynn Costello 27.
According to the police, the women were sex workers who advertised online. Their remains were discovered in December 2010 in Gilgo Beach on the south coast of Long Island.
Heuermann, of Massapequa Park, is also suspected in the disappearance and death of a fourth woman, Maureen Brainard-Barnes, 25, whose remains were also found near Gilgo Beach. That investigation is continuing, according to a bail application.
The remains of the four women, known as the “Gilgo Four,” were discovered during the search for another missing woman, Shannan Gilbert, 23, who was reportedly last seen running through the nearby gated community of Oak Beach after leaving a client’s home, according to a police timeline.
Michael J. Brown, a lawyer for Heuermann, told reporters his client has denied any involvement in the murders and that the allegations are “extremely circumstantial in nature.”
Brown described Heuermann, who pleaded not guilty and is being held without bail, as “obviously distraught” over the allegations.
This story originally appeared on NBC News. com.
This article was originally published on TODAY.com
