Suffolk County Sheriff Errol D. Toulon Jr. has supervised a number of infamous criminals over his career, including John Gotti, Bernhard Goetz, and even “Preppy Killer” Robert Chambers. Still, Rex Heuermann—who pleaded guilty to seven murders and took responsibility for another death as the Gilgo Beach Killer on April 8—has managed to stand out in one haunting way.
“I can tell you the one thing that’s different about Rex Heuermann than all those individuals is that, at some point, I did see some despair in those individuals when they were in their cells,” Toulon told News12 reporter Cecelia Dowd. “Yet every single time I have walked into that housing area and toured and saw Rex Heuermann, there seemed like there wasn’t a care in the world and also a little bit of smugness about his demeanor.”
His infamy now sealed, Heuermann awaits his ultimate fate—expected to be life in prison—at his sentencing scheduled for June 17. In the meantime, interest about his crimes and time in custody is at its peak. A new Prime Video documentary series, Killing Grounds: The Gilgo Beach Murders, premieres on Wednesday, April 22.
However, we already have a good idea of what Heuermann’s daily life is now like.
Where Is Rex Heuermann Incarcerated?
Heuermann, 62, has been held at the Suffolk County Correctional Facility in Riverhead, New York, since his arrest in July 2023.
He is housed in voluntary segregation, meaning Heuermann chose to separate himself from the general inmate population. “We do that because certain individuals, either because of their crime or fearful for their own self, their own … some sort of harm, that they will want to be in voluntary segregation,” Toulon said.
What Is Rex Heuermann’s Daily Prison Routine?
Toulon revealed to News12 what a typical day might look like for Heuermann.
After waking up and eating breakfast—which is the same for all inmates—Heuermann is able to attend religious services, participate in a recreational activity, or take out books from the library. Then, according to Toulon, Heuermann eats lunch and is able to meet with any visitors he might have. His day concludes with dinner and watching television in his cell.
Toulon estimates Heuermann has met with around 150 visitors—including his attorneys and family members, as well as mental health professionals—during his time in custody.
Does Rex Heuermann Communicate with Other Killers?
Heuermann doesn’t receive a lot of prison mail, but “we have seen quite a bit of incarcerated individuals throughout the country, especially one in Oregon, who seem to want to communicate with him,” Toulon said in the video interview.
Authorities aren’t allowed to read the letters, but can look at the incoming correspondence on the envelopes, the sheriff previously told the New York Post.
Although Toulon hasn’t confirmed any individual pen pals of Heuermann, the Oregon location might be a reference to Keith Hunter Jesperson, the infamous “Happy Face Killer.” Jesperson attempted to advise Heuermann “not to go to trial” and to plead guilty in hopes of being able to serve his potential life sentence in a better location, the Daily Mail reported earlier this month.
According to the Oregon Department of Corrections, Jesperson, 71, is currently incarcerated at the Oregon State Penitentiary.
Has Rex Heuermann Had Any Behavioral Complaints in Prison?
Heuermann has been “totally compliant” during incarceration, per Toulon.
Given the similarities of his victims—all women—the correctional staff assigned only male officers to Heuermann’s unit. Toulon also feels they are better able to handle Heuermann, who has been reported as 6 feet 4 inches tall, in the event of a physical altercation.
“I think part of [the compliance] is because he’s around men. That’s my own guess, because we purposely said we were not going to put any female correctional officers in that housing area,” Toulon explained. “That’s his modus operandi, and who knows what he would do, what could be a potential trigger.”
What’s Next for Rex Heuermann?
After entering his guilty plea earlier this month, Heuermann will remain at Riverdale until his sentencing on June 17. At that point, Toulon said, the staff will work as quickly as possible to relocate Heuermann to a state prison facility.
Prosecutors are recommending multiple life prison sentences plus an additional 100 years, with no chance of parole, for Heuermann, according to WSKG radio.
“I’ve been fascinated with this. We’ve implemented so many security procedures because we want to make sure justice is served in the courts and not in our jail,” Toulon said.
Tyler Piccotti joined the Biography.com staff as an Associate News Editor and is now the News and Culture Editor. He previously worked as a reporter and copy editor for a daily newspaper recognized by the Associated Press Sports Editors. In his current role, he shares the true stories behind your favorite movies and TV shows and profiles rising musicians, actors, and athletes. When he's not working, you can find him at the nearest amusement park or movie theater and cheering on his favorite teams.
