The estranged wife of accused Long Island serial killer Rex Heuermann is seeking to get all of his legally owned guns returned to her, arguing they are “marital property” worth “hundreds of thousands of dollars.”
Robert Macedonio, an attorney representing Asa Ellerup, argues in court documents that she has a right to retain ownership of any of the nearly 300 guns that were legally purchased.
He also claims any outstanding jewelry, clothing and cash removed from Heuermann’s Massapequa Park home should also be returned to Ellerup, who he said is entitled to at least the 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 is transferred to Nassau County police for consideration of gun charges.
“The county has no lawful right to any of it that’s not considered legal contraband,” Macedonio said.
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 a court filing.
Heuermann, who turned 60 on Wednesday as he remains behind bars for the deaths of three women whose bodies were found in burlap sacks along Gilgo Beach, had permits for just 92 guns, Newsday reports.
Many others were long guns, which are not subject to permitting in New York.
The Suffolk County Police Department’s Property Section inventory of Heuermann’s gun stash included an extensive collection of historic long guns, hunting rifles, revolvers and semi-automatic weapons, Newsday reported.
It includes guns dating back to the 1860s, as well as firearms that were manufactured in England, Sweden, Switzerland, Italy, Russia, Belgium, Romania, Israel and France.
Some were used in world wars, according to Newsday, while others include an Uzi and Tommy guns.
The weapons range in value between a couple hundred dollars and more than $5,000 apiece, according to a comparison of the inventory to online gun dealer price listings.
Altogether, Macedonio estimates the entire collection could be worth about $300,000.
“They are valuable collectors’ items that he collected legally,” he said, calling Heuermann a “gun guy” who attended NRA conferences.
Prosecutors are trying to get the guns handed over to Nassau County cops.
But no guns 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.
The Manhattan architect was arrested near his Midtown office on July 13, after police were able to connect DNA found on a pizza crust he threw out 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 has pleaded not guilty to the charges against him.
Following the arrest, Ellerup and her two adult children, Christopher and Victoria, had to vacate their home as Long Island cops tore it apart, looking for any evidence that might help convict Heuermann in court.
She and her kids 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.
Ellerup said she was finally able to find some peace at her longtime home, to which she was allowed to return after 12 days — and found it was in complete disarray from the investigation.
“It’s a mess in there,” she told the Sun. “But this is my home. I raised my children in this home, and I’ve got to fix it up.
“I’m just trying to enjoy this for now,” she added, gesturing toward the sun before pulling her hood down.
“I have skin cancer, you know, so I have to cover my a– up.”
