Life changed in an instant for the family living at 105 1st Avenue in Massapequa Park. One minute, they were an ordinary, if somewhat quiet, Long Island family. The next, their world was literal crime scene tape and flashbulbs. When Rex Heuermann was arrested in July 2023, the focus shifted naturally to the victims of the Gilgo Beach serial killings. But in the shadows of that massive investigation, two adult children were left to pick up the pieces of a life they no longer recognized.
Victoria Heuermann and Christopher Sheridan didn't ask for any of this. Honestly, they’ve spent the last couple of years living through what their lawyer, Vess Mitev, calls a "surreal, waking horror show." They aren't suspects. They aren't public figures. They’re just two people whose father is accused of being one of the most prolific serial killers in New York history.
Who are Victoria Heuermann and Christopher Sheridan?
Most people don't realize that Rex Heuermann’s household wasn't exactly what it seemed from the outside. Victoria is Rex’s biological daughter with his now ex-wife, Asa Ellerup. Christopher is Asa’s son from a previous marriage, making him Rex’s stepson.
Christopher, who is in his early 30s, has developmental disabilities. This has made the entire ordeal significantly more complicated for the family. According to Asa, he often "cries himself to sleep," unable to fully process why his father figure is gone and why the house was torn apart by investigators. Victoria, now 28, actually worked alongside her father at his architecture firm in Manhattan before the arrest. That business is gone now. Shuttered.
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The "House of Secrets" and the daughter's admission
For a long time, the family stayed relatively quiet. That changed recently with the release of the Peacock documentary The Gilgo Beach Killer: House of Secrets. In a move that shocked many following the case, Victoria Heuermann reportedly admitted to producers that she believes her father "most likely" committed the crimes.
It’s a heartbreaking pivot. Imagine working with someone every day, living in the same small ranch house, and then having to reconcile that person with the monster described in a grand jury indictment.
- The shock of the search: When police first raided the home, they didn't just look for evidence. They took floorboards. They dug up the yard. They left the family with a home that was essentially unlivable.
- The double life: Prosecutors claim Rex waited until his wife and kids were out of town—often in Iceland or Maryland—to commit his alleged crimes. This "timing" is a key part of the DNA evidence linking the family to the crime scenes through discarded hairs.
- A father vs. a suspect: Victoria described her dad as an "open book" who loved woodcarving and guns. There were no "serial killer vibes" at the dinner table. Just a guy who sometimes got frustrated and threw a plate in the sink.
Surviving the aftermath in Massapequa Park
The financial reality for the Rex Heuermann kids is pretty grim. Since the architecture firm closed, Victoria has struggled to find work. Who wants to hire the daughter of a suspected serial killer? It’s unfair, but it’s the reality of the "digital scarlet letter" they now wear.
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They’ve mostly stayed holed up in that same Massapequa Park house. It's a bit of a fortress now. Their lawyer has mentioned that Christopher can't even walk the dog down the street without being harassed or filmed. People drive by just to gawk at the house. It's become a dark tourism landmark, which is kind of gross when you remember there are people actually trying to live inside those walls.
Asa Ellerup finalized her divorce from Rex in March 2025. She’s also been battling breast cancer throughout this entire nightmare. While she has been seen at court hearings supporting Rex—or at least appearing to—the family is clearly fractured. They are currently looking to sell the Long Island home and move to South Carolina to find some semblance of peace.
What’s next for the Heuermann family?
The trial for Rex Heuermann is looming. With seven murder charges now on the table, the evidence is massive. For the kids, the trial won't just be about justice for the victims; it will be the final confirmation of whether their entire childhood was a lie.
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There was a GoFundMe set up by Melissa Moore—the daughter of the "Happy Face Killer"—to help the family. She knows better than anyone what it’s like to wake up and find out your dad is a headline. That fund raised tens of thousands of dollars, which has likely been the only thing keeping them afloat while Victoria looks for a path forward.
Basically, the Rex Heuermann kids are the "other" victims in this story. They didn't commit the crimes, but they are serving a life sentence of public scrutiny.
How to stay informed and help:
- Follow official court transcripts: If you're interested in the case, stick to the legal filings rather than tabloid speculation. The DNA evidence involving the family's hair is a major technical point in the upcoming trial.
- Respect privacy: If you live near Massapequa Park or see the family in public, remember they are "collateral damage." Avoid the urge to film or take photos.
- Support victim advocacy: The best way to channel interest in this case is by supporting organizations like the Doe Network or local Long Island groups that help the families of the women found at Gilgo Beach.