Rex Heuermann’s Jailhouse Therapist Counseled Him for 3 Years Without a License, Prosecutors Say

Alison Winter spent nearly 3 years as Rex Heuermann’s therapist inside the Suffolk County jail, meeting with him while he was jailed for the Gilgo Beach murders, a case that ended when he pleaded guilty and was sentenced to life in 2026.

A Newsday investigation and Suffolk County prosecutors now allege she was doing that work without ever holding a license. According to charging documents, Winter practiced as a clinical social worker from roughly November 2018 to May 2024, about 6 years, without the credential the position requires.

The felony counts against her include grand larceny, scheme to defraud, and unauthorized practice of a profession. Prosecutors say she submitted claims that returned about $60,000 in improper insurance reimbursements, with roughly $50,000 coming from Cigna and the rest tied to Medicare and UnitedHealthcare.

Winter has been charged, not convicted, and is entitled to the presumption of innocence. Heuermann’s conviction is settled and separate. Her case is only now beginning.

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