How Can Heuermann's Family Heal from Rex's Alleged Crimes?

Welcome to the "Week in Review," where we delve into the true stories behind this week's headlines. Your host, Tony Brueski, joins hands with a rotating roster of guests, sharing their insights and analysis on a collection of intriguing, perplexing, and often chilling stories that made the news.       This is not your average news recap. With the sharp investigative lens of Tony and his guests, the show uncovers layers beneath the headlines, offering a comprehensive perspective that traditional news can often miss. From high-profile criminal trials to in-depth examinations of ongoing investigations, this podcast takes listeners on a fascinating journey through the world of true crime and current events.       Each episode navigates through multiple stories, illuminating their details with factual reporting, expert commentary, and engaging conversation. Tony and his guests discuss each case's nuances, complexities, and human elements, delivering a multi-dimensional understanding to their audience.  Whether you are a dedicated follower of true crime, or an everyday listener interested in the stories shaping our world, the "Week in Review" brings you the perfect balance of intrigue, information, and intelligent conversation. Expect thoughtful analysis, informed opinions, and thought-provoking discussions beyond the 24-hour news cycle. Want to comment and watch this podcast as a video?  Check out our YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/@hiddenkillerspod Instagram https://www.instagram.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Tik-Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@hiddenkillerspod X Twitter https://x.com/tonybpod Listen Ad-Free On Apple Podcasts Here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/true-crime-today-premium-plus-ad-free-advance-episode/id1705422872

28 Kesä 18min

Inside the Mind of Asa Ellerup: FBI Profiler Breaks Down the Gilgo Beach Killer’s Home Life In this special full-length edition of Hidden Killers, Tony Brueski is joined by Robin Dreeke—retired FBI Special Agent and former chief of the Counterintelligence Behavioral Analysis Program—for a masterclass in psychological profiling, emotional survival, and the terrifying ease with which evil can thrive inside a family home. Together, they dissect the marriage between Asa Ellerup and accused Gilgo Beach serial killer Rex Heuermann. Through footage from Peacock’s documentary, The Gilgo Beach Killer: Secrets of a Serial Killer, Robin examines Asa’s emotional patterns, her lack of curiosity, and what her devotion may reveal about how Rex was able to live a double life for decades without raising alarm. From their earliest days together—when Rex “saved” Asa from a difficult divorce—to the secret gun vault in the basement she never questioned, every detail is unpacked through the lens of behavioral science. Why did Asa never ask what her husband did during those long weekends alone? Why did she trust him so completely, even when DNA evidence tied her family to the victims? We also explore the conflicted voice of Victoria Heuermann, their daughter, who is caught between love and revulsion. Like Kerri Rawson, daughter of BTK, Victoria must now reconcile the man who built her a dollhouse with the man now accused of horrific crimes. Robin Dreeke breaks down how manipulation, grooming, denial, and emotional projection form the perfect storm for long-term concealment—and how that storm unraveled in one Long Island household. This isn’t just about a killer. It’s about the people who lived with him. And what they may have known—or refused to see.   Hashtags: #RexHeuermann #AsaEllerup #VictoriaHeuermann #GilgoBeach #FBIProfiler #RobinDreeke #PeacockDocumentary #SerialKillerWife #TrueCrimePodcast #HiddenKillers Want to comment and watch this podcast as a video?  Check out our YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/@hiddenkillerspod Instagram https://www.instagram.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Tik-Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@hiddenkillerspod X Twitter https://x.com/tonybpod Listen Ad-Free On Apple Podcasts Here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/true-crime-today-premium-plus-ad-free-advance-episode/id1705422872

27 Kesä 59min

"He's My Hero" - Gilgo Beach Killer's Wife Defends Rex Heuermann Despite DNA on Bodies | Psychologist Reacts In this deeply disturbing analysis of the Peacock documentary, psychotherapist Shavaun Scott and I decode the most baffling true crime mystery: How did Rex Heuermann's family NOT KNOW he was allegedly the Long Island Serial Killer? We examine Asa Ellerup's shocking devotion to her husband despite DNA evidence linking him to seven murders. From her declaration that "he's my hero" to her bizarre claim that saying "I love you" would hurt him, we explore the psychological phenomenon of "negative hallucination" - not seeing what's right in front of you. Key revelations include: The secret room with a steel door that even his wife couldn't enter Why Rex was present 90% of the time but killed during the 10% when family was away How he chose a vulnerable, submissive partner who wouldn't question him Victoria Heuermann's evolution from defender to believing he's "most likely" guilty The disturbing prison phone calls where Asa still lights up hearing his voice Why trauma bonding can survive even murder charges This isn't just about the Gilgo Beach murders - it's about how predators select and manipulate their own families, creating expanding circles of trauma. We explore cognitive dissonance, compartmentalization, and the psychology of denial in one of the most complex true crime cases of our time. ⚠️ Content Warning: Discussion of serial murder, psychological manipulation, and family trauma #RexHeuermann #GilgoBeach #LongIslandSerialKiller #TrueCrime #AsaEllerup #VictoriaHeuermann #SerialKiller #CriminalPsychology #TraumaBonding #TrueCrimeCommunity Want to comment and watch this podcast as a video?  Check out our YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/@hiddenkillerspod Instagram https://www.instagram.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Tik-Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@hiddenkillerspod X Twitter https://x.com/tonybpod Listen Ad-Free On Apple Podcasts Here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/true-crime-today-premium-plus-ad-free-advance-episode/id1705422872

27 Kesä 43min

“Telling Him I Love Him Hurts Him” — Gilgo Killer's Wife, Asa Ellerup’s Most Bizarre Statement Yet In this final segment, Tony Brueski and retired FBI Special Agent Robin Dreeke turn their focus toward the most emotionally revealing clips from the Peacock documentary, featuring Asa Ellerup’s reaction to her husband Rex Heuermann’s arrest—and her increasingly surreal statements in the aftermath. Asa says she doesn’t want to tell Rex she loves him… because it would hurt him. She defends him against allegations with unwavering loyalty, declaring “he’s a family man,” and insists that he never kept anything from her—even while describing rooms in the house she was never allowed to enter. Robin Dreeke walks us through the psychological mechanisms at play: projection, cognitive dissonance, and denial as a survival strategy. He explains why Asa isn’t just refusing to believe the evidence—she’s incapable of it. To accept it would be to unravel her entire life, her marriage, and the identity she’s built around being the wife of a good man. Dreeke also analyzes Asa’s body language, defensive responses, and deeply embedded belief system. He argues that Asa’s lack of curiosity—and Rex’s understanding of that trait—created a “perfect storm” for secrecy and long-term concealment. We also explore the disturbing reality that forensic evidence linked hair from Asa and her daughter to some of the victims. How does Asa rationalize this? She doesn’t. She simply... doesn’t ask. As the segment closes, we also address the broader forensic and behavioral implications: Was this family environment intentionally manipulated? And what mistakes may have occurred because no one was asking the hard questions? This isn’t just about one woman’s denial—it’s about the terrifying ease with which predators can operate when no one dares to ask why. Featuring keywords: Asa Ellerup denial, Gilgo Beach murders, Rex Heuermann family, FBI behavioral analysis, secret room, emotional projection, forensic psychology, serial killer spouse, Robin Dreeke, Peacock documentary #AsaEllerup #RexHeuermann #GilgoBeach #TrueCrimePodcast #RobinDreeke #FBIProfiler #PeacockDocumentary #ForensicPsychology #FamilyDenial #HiddenKillers Want to comment and watch this podcast as a video?  Check out our YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/@hiddenkillerspod Instagram https://www.instagram.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Tik-Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@hiddenkillerspod X Twitter https://x.com/tonybpod Listen Ad-Free On Apple Podcasts Here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/true-crime-today-premium-plus-ad-free-advance-episode/id1705422872

26 Kesä 19min

"I Can Love AND Hate My Dad" - Rex Heuermann's Daughter's HEARTBREAKING Journey to Accepting Truth This is the most psychologically complex footage from any true crime documentary - a daughter processing in REAL TIME that her father might be a serial killer. Psychotherapist Shavaun Scott helps us understand Victoria Heuermann's impossible journey. Victoria was Rex Heuermann's protégé, working at his architecture firm when he was arrested. In an instant, she lost: Her father, mentor, and employer Her entire professional identity Her privacy (every Google search links her to murder) Her ability to form new relationships without explaining Most haunting: She was 10-13 years old during the Gilgo Four murders. Doing homework while dad allegedly hunted. At school while he allegedly disposed of bodies. Key psychological insights: 🧠 The 90/10 split - Rex was present 90% of the time, absent during every murder 🎨 Victoria now creates "disturbing artwork" processing trauma 💔 "Ambiguous loss" - grieving someone still alive but not who you thought 🔍 Why she needs evidence strong enough to override 20+ years of memories 😢 Secondary victimization - becoming a "laughingstock" for crimes she didn't commit Most powerful moment: Victoria explains how love and hate can coexist. You can despise someone's actions while carrying love for who they were to you. While mom Asa remains in complete denial, Victoria shows the painful path toward acceptance - from "I looked up to him" (past tense) to believing he's "most likely guilty." This isn't just about one family's tragedy. It's about recognizing that evil doesn't announce itself. Sometimes it looks like a father who's present 90% of the time. #RexHeuermann #VictoriaHeuermann #GilgoBeachKiller #TrueCrime #TraumaRecovery #AmbiguousLoss #SerialKillerFamily #PsychologicalAnalysis #SecondaryVictims #LongIslandSerialKiller Want to comment and watch this podcast as a video?  Check out our YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/@hiddenkillerspod Instagram https://www.instagram.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Tik-Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@hiddenkillerspod X Twitter https://x.com/tonybpod Listen Ad-Free On Apple Podcasts Here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/true-crime-today-premium-plus-ad-free-advance-episode/id1705422872

26 Kesä 20min

“I Still Feel Rex Is Here” — Gilgo Killer's Wife, Asa Ellerup’s Grief and Denial, Analyzed by the FBI In Segment 3, we enter the emotional core of the Gilgo Beach case. As Asa Ellerup walks through the remnants of her raided home, she says something haunting: “I still feel Rex is here.” It’s not just grief—it’s denial, memory, and psychological trauma colliding all at once. Tony Brueski and former FBI behavioral expert Robin Dreeke examine what happens when someone’s entire identity is built around a man who may not have ever existed in the way she believed. Dreeke draws from deep behavioral analysis to explain Asa’s apparent inability to accept the allegations—even in the face of overwhelming evidence. This segment also introduces another powerful voice: Victoria Heuermann, the daughter of Rex and Asa. Caught between the loving father who built her a dollhouse and the man now accused of being a serial killer, Victoria represents a generational split in how trauma is processed. She openly admits she feels torn—stating she both loves and hates her father. We explore how denial, trauma bonding, and emotional survival play out across generations. Dreeke draws comparisons to Kerri Rawson, daughter of BTK killer Dennis Rader, and discusses how individuals come to terms—or refuse to—with the dark truths inside their families. Through Asa’s refusal to ask questions and Victoria’s cautious acceptance of reality, we see the full spectrum of psychological responses in the wake of extreme betrayal. This isn’t just about the crimes. It’s about what happens when your past is rewritten in real time—and you're left to pick up the pieces. Hashtags: #RexHeuermann #AsaEllerup #VictoriaHeuermann #GilgoBeach #TrueCrimePodcast #FBIProfiler #BTKComparison #FamilyDenial #HiddenKillers #PeacockDocumentary Want to comment and watch this podcast as a video?  Check out our YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/@hiddenkillerspod Instagram https://www.instagram.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Tik-Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@hiddenkillerspod X Twitter https://x.com/tonybpod Listen Ad-Free On Apple Podcasts Here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/true-crime-today-premium-plus-ad-free-advance-episode/id1705422872

25 Kesä 18min

Body Language Expert: Why Rex Heuermann's Wife CLOSES HER EYES When Confronted With Evidence WARNING: This footage contains the actual voice of accused serial killer Rex Heuermann calling his wife from jail. What's more disturbing than his words is what ISN'T said - and what his wife reveals about their twisted dynamic. Psychotherapist Shavaun Scott analyzes the most psychologically complex footage from the Peacock documentary, including: 🔊 THE PRISON CALL: Listen as Rex discusses dinner while charged with 7 murders Why he NEVER proclaims innocence (prosecutors are listening) Asa's physical deterioration: missing teeth, unkempt appearance How she "lights up" hearing his voice despite everything 💔 THE BIZARRE REVELATION: "Telling him I love you would HURT him" What this means psychologically Why she pays $3/minute for calls while battling cancer without insurance The "strategic" divorce that wasn't really a divorce 👨‍👩‍👧 FAMILY DYNAMICS: Victoria: "I LOOKED up to him" (past tense = psychological progress) How throwing plates became normalized Rex the "open book" who had locked rooms Hunting seasons that coincided with murders 🧠 EXPERT ANALYSIS: "Consciousness of guilt" - why silence speaks volumes Trauma bonding at its endpoint How compartmentalization allows killers to live double lives Why some family members can't see what's obvious to others Most chilling: Every murder occurred during family vacations. Asa took those trips. She enabled his alone time. Yet she still can't connect the dots. #RexHeuermann #GilgoBeachKiller #PrisonCalls #TrueCrime #AsaEllerup #TraumaBonding #SerialKillerPsychology #ConsciousnessOfGuilt #LongIslandSerialKiller #PeacockDocumentary Want to comment and watch this podcast as a video?  Check out our YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/@hiddenkillerspod Instagram https://www.instagram.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Tik-Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@hiddenkillerspod X Twitter https://x.com/tonybpod Listen Ad-Free On Apple Podcasts Here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/true-crime-today-premium-plus-ad-free-advance-episode/id1705422872

25 Kesä 24min

“He Saved Us” — Or Did He? Gilgo Killer's Wife, Asa Ellerup’s Love Story Examined by FBI Profiler In Segment 2 of our deep-dive into the Gilgo Beach case, Tony Brueski and retired FBI Special Agent Robin Dreeke turn their focus to the beginning — the origin story of Asa Ellerup and Rex Heuermann’s relationship. What started as an act of kindness during Asa’s divorce quickly evolved into a lifelong partnership built, perhaps, on imbalance. She was young, vulnerable, in need of support. He was strong, stable, and offered her something she desperately craved: a sense of family and emotional safety. But beneath that surface — according to experts and prosecutors — may have been something else entirely. Robin Dreeke examines the early dynamics of Asa and Rex’s bond, including key psychological indicators of emotional grooming, dependency, and how empathy can be weaponized by manipulators. Using real behavioral science and decades of field experience, Dreeke breaks down why Rex may have been drawn to Asa—not out of love, but for how perfectly she fit into the hidden life he needed to maintain. We also explore the concept of “lack of curiosity,” a recurring behavioral trait Dreeke believes allowed Rex to operate in plain sight. This episode dissects key parts of the Peacock documentary that showcase Asa’s perspective on her marriage, the home they shared, and the vault of secrets that sat quietly beneath their feet. If you’re interested in the psychological mechanisms predators use to stay hidden—and the painful cost to the people closest to them—this segment offers a hauntingly clear window into how it all begins.  Hashtags: #GilgoBeach #AsaEllerup #RexHeuermann #FBIProfiler #TrueCrimePodcast #RobinDreeke #EmotionalGrooming #SerialKillerPsychology #HiddenKillers #PeacockDocumentary Want to comment and watch this podcast as a video?  Check out our YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/@hiddenkillerspod Instagram https://www.instagram.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Tik-Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@hiddenkillerspod X Twitter https://x.com/tonybpod Listen Ad-Free On Apple Podcasts Here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/true-crime-today-premium-plus-ad-free-advance-episode/id1705422872

24 Kesä 23min