Families of eight women killed confront the Gilgo Beach serial killer: ‘Save a spot in hell’

Liliana Waterman, daughter of Megan Waterman, a victim of Rex Heuermann, speaks outside of the court, alongside other family members of victims, in Riverhead, New York, on Wednesday. Photograph: Ryan Murphy/AP View image in fullscreen Liliana Waterman, daughter of Megan Waterman, a victim of Rex Heuermann, speaks outside of the court, alongside other family members of victims, in Riverhead, New York, on Wednesday. Photograph: Ryan Murphy/AP Families of eight women killed confront the Gilgo Beach serial killer: ‘Save a spot in hell’ New York judge imposes life without parole after emotional statements at Rex Heuermann’s sentencing Sign up for the Breaking News US newsletter email The families of eight women killed by Rex Heuermann spoke at the Gilgo Beach killer’s sentencing in Riverhead, New York , on Wednesday, more than three decades after the 62-year-old Manhattan architect began his killing spree. Heuermann pleaded guilty to murdering seven women and admitted to the killing of an eighth victim in April. Just before being sentenced to life in prison without parole on Wednesday for his admitted crimes, Heuermann offered a weak, generalized apology for his actions. “Everything that has been said is true,” he said. “There are no words I can say. The words I would say have no meaning.” Timothy Mazzei, the judge, exploded in response, calling the serial killer a “disgusting and pathetic, small man, if you are a man at all. You are a coward.” Those sentiments were echoed in statements made by various family members of Heuermann’s victims. Kimberly Overstreet, sister of victim Amber Costello, called Heuermann “a raging, murdering sex addict”. Liliana Waterman, the daughter of Megan Waterman, who was three when her mother was killed by Heuermann, recalled learning about what happened to her: “I came across an article about her. That was the moment I truly understood what happened. I remember asking what ‘prostitute’ and ‘pimp’ meant.” Waterman said her heart had been broken and “for years I tried to find a place where I felt like I belonged.” Waterman’s aunt, Elizabeth Meserve, told the serial killer: “Begone, you evil demon.” Jasmine Robinson, a cousin of victim Jessica Taylor, told Heuermann: “You fill me with so much repugnance, I can’t stand it. “A million years isn’t enough,” Robinson said of Heuermann’s impending sentence. “Nothing will ever make this right.” “Justice has been done, but it can’t replace what has been taken,” said JoAnn Mack, the mother of victim Valerie Mack. “She had dreams, and you took them all away from her.” Maureen Brainard-Barnes’s two children and sister were also in court on Wednesday and described how the loss of their mother had affected them. Maureen Brainard-Barnes’s sister, Melissa Cann, said she had lived with “survivor’s guilt” for decades. “It was a weight I carried everywhere,” Cann said, sobbing deeply. But, she said, that guilt is “not mine to carry. It is for Rex and Rex alone.” As sentencing concluded, Judg