Rex Heuermann admits killing 8 women in the Gilgo Beach serial slayings

Rex Heuermann, a former architect accused of killing seven women and dumping them on Long Island's Gilgo Beach, pleaded guilty Wednesday, more than a decade after the discovery of human remains sent shock waves through the New York City suburb and captivated the nation.

RIVERHEAD, N.Y. — A former architect admitted Wednesday to having killed eight women and dumping their bodies in Long Island's Gilgo Beach, more than a decade after the discovery of human remains sent shock waves through the New York City suburb and captivated the nation.

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Rex Heuermann, 62, changed his plea at an appearance in Suffolk County Court on Wednesday in connection with seven murders over 17 years. He also admitted that he intentionally caused the death of an eighth woman, Karen Vergata, who disappeared in 1996.

As part of the plea deal, Heuermann will not be charged with Vergata's currently uncharged murder. In court, he admitted to meeting all eight women, strangling them and dumping their bodies where they were found across Gilgo Beach, Manorville and Southampton.