New Jersey Man Seeks Justice Decades After Mother’s Murder by Long Island Serial Killer
Benjamin Torres, a resident of New Jersey, has spent most of his life carrying a heavy burden of unanswered questions. When he was only six years old, his mother left him home one day and never returned. For years, Torres believed he had been abandoned, unaware of the tragic reality that awaited him decades later.
In 2020, Torres discovered the shocking truth: his mother, Valerie Mack, had been murdered. Mack, who was 24 at the time of her death, was one of eight known victims of Rex Heuermann, a Long Island man who confessed to a series of murders that spanned nearly two decades. These crimes, collectively known as the Gilgo Beach killings, involved the abduction, killing, and dismemberment of women, many of whom were young mothers or sex workers trying to support their families.
This week, as Heuermann prepared to plead guilty to multiple murders, Torres took legal action. He filed a lawsuit against Heuermann, holding him responsible for the assault, murder, and ultimate death of his mother, as well as for the emotional and psychological damage inflicted on him as her only child. The lawsuit also names Heuermann’s ex-wife and adult daughter, claiming that they knew or should have known about the crimes and that they unfairly profited from media appearances recounting the murders. Both have denied any involvement and have not faced criminal charges.
At 62, Heuermann pleaded guilty to the murder of seven women and admitted killing an eighth, bringing closure to crimes that had remained unsolved for years. He is scheduled to receive a life sentence without parole in June. The investigation revealed a horrifying pattern: Heuermann, who worked as an architect in Manhattan, often hired sex workers who later disappeared. Their remains were eventually discovered buried along isolated highways near Gilgo Beach.
Valerie Mack, born Valerie Fulton in 1976, was adopted by the Mack family in Atlantic County, New Jersey. As a young mother, she occasionally engaged in sex work under the alias Melissa Taylor to support herself and her child. Despite her absence at times, she remained Torres’ beloved mother, even having his name tattooed on her ankle. Mack was last seen in Port Republic, a small city in the Pine Barrens, in 2000. Authorities believe she was killed shortly thereafter, though her disappearance was never formally reported at the time.
Torres’ life has been profoundly affected by the absence of his mother. Struggling with substance abuse and encounters with the criminal justice system, he has faced repeated legal challenges, including arrests for violent incidents. Despite these difficulties, Torres reached a turning point in 2020 when law enforcement used DNA technology to identify his mother’s remains, previously known only as “Jane Doe No. 6.” The revelation of her fate deeply impacted him, intensifying the grief and trauma he had carried for decades.
The lawsuit Torres filed seeks accountability and compensation, not only from Heuermann but also from his family members. The suit alleges that Heuermann’s ex-wife, Asa Ellerup, and daughter, Victoria Heuermann, received financial gain from media projects, including a three-part documentary about the killings. Torres’ legal team argues that this continues to cause him emotional distress. Legal representatives for the Heuermann family have firmly denied any connection to the crimes and have stated that they intend to fight the lawsuit.
The Gilgo Beach killings are among the most notorious unsolved murder cases in recent U.S. history, capturing public attention due to their scale and brutality. The case spanned 17 years, leaving families of victims searching for answers while law enforcement struggled to piece together the pattern of disappearances and murders. Heuermann’s guilty plea marks a significant moment in closing this long-standing chapter, but the emotional toll on families like Torres’ remains immense.
Benjamin Torres’ pursuit of justice is a reminder of the lasting impact of violent crime on families and the importance of holding perpetrators accountable, even decades after the crime. His legal action emphasizes the broader consequences of these tragedies and highlights the enduring need for support, closure, and accountability for victims and their loved ones.
Sources:
- Suffolk County Police Department
- Official Court Filings, Suffolk County, New York
- Statements from Attorney Gloria Allred
