Gilgo Beach serial killer sentenced; Millionaire at the center of fatal boat crash - TCN Sidebar

**Joshua Ritter** (0:11)
Hello and welcome to The Sidebar, presented by True Crime News, taking you inside the courtrooms of high-profile and notorious cases from across the country. I'm your host, Joshua Ritter. I'm a criminal defense lawyer based in Los Angeles and previously an LA County prosecutor for nearly a decade. We are recording this on Wednesday, June 17th, 2026
In this week's episode, the millionaire at the center of a fatal boat crash tells his side of the story as his defense takes center stage. Plus, prosecutors reveal the alleged motive of the man accused of starting the devastating Palisades fire. But first, the sentencing of Gilgo Beach serial killer Rex Heuermann, as the family members of his victims had their chance to speak in court. Today, we are joined by Nicole Kazakov, a digital creator and law student at Suffolk University. Nicole, welcome. How are you?

**Nicole Kazakov** (1:03)
I'm great. How are you? Thanks for having me.

**Joshua Ritter** (1:05)
I'm doing fantastic. I'm very much looking forward to this because you're the first law student that we've had on. I will tell you, you're probably going to be better at this than most lawyers because you're so in the weeds and fresh with all of the law. Whereas, I feel like you get out of law school and it becomes much more about business cards and expensive lunches than actually understanding the law. So no pressure, but I'm looking forward to this conversation.
Let's jump in then. First out of Long Island, New York, over three decades after the start of a killing spree that haunted the area, Rex Heuermann has been sentenced to more than three life terms in the Gilgo Beach slayings. The serial killer pled guilty this spring to the murders of eight women, leaving no doubt he would spend the rest of his life behind bars. However, Heuermann, who admitted to strangling and dismembering each of his victims, had the opportunity to address the court, saying only that he was, quote, responsible for all that was said in this room, adding, the words I say have no meaning. The sentiment didn't register as genuine, contrition or an apology, leading the judge who admonished Heuermann as a disgusting and small man, calling him a coward. More importantly, victim impact statements were given, allowing those forever affected by Heuermann's actions to have their voices heard. Many spoke to the devastating losses they suffered after losing their loved ones. Some victims even directed their ir at Heuermann's family for profiting off of the deaths in their deal with the network streamer Peacock. While there's never a sense of justice in cases as tragic as this, it does for the time being close the book on one of the darkest chapters in Long Island's history. You know, Nicole, these sentencing hearings are kind of a curious thing if you think about it. And this is not a really a legal question. This is just kind of as a person watching this, as a person who's invested time in understanding the pain that this man has caused.
What do we really expect to get out of these? I mean, is this just kind of a moment for catharsis for the victims? Do we really expect to hear Heuermann say anything of value? What are your thoughts?

**Nicole Kazakov** (3:30)
Yeah, I did watch his incredibly brief statement today. And I kind of, as you alluded to, I definitely think it's for the victims' families, the victims themselves.
Yeah, kind of a cathartic thing. But yeah, I, not that I'm a seasoned attorney or anything, but I have never seen a judge react that way after someone's statement. I kind of thought it was warranted, though, I have to say.

**Joshua Ritter** (3:58)
Yeah. You know what? And I'm glad he did it. I think he kind of was speaking for all of us. I mean, we heard from the family members and it was as expected, just filled with continued rage and wounds that will never heal, but you can tell that they're still fresh in their psyche. But the judge kind of said the stuff that I would have liked to have said, somebody who wasn't really directly affected by this, I would have liked to have called him a small man and say how he doesn't, you know, nothing that he says is of any value to that point.
You know, one of the things that's a part of his deal, as it were, that a lot of people have pointed to was the idea that he plans on or at least has promised to cooperate with the FBI behavioral unit and tell them about his thinking. Again, do you think this is valuable or is this just another opportunity for this man to brag about himself?