Jilted boyfriend charged in gruesome slaying of 26-year-old nanny, her boss – Chron
The jilted lover of an au pair stabbed her employer to death early Saturday and chased her down in the street before stabbing and killing her, according to a criminal complaint.
Joseph Porter of Elizabeth faces murder and weapons charges stemming from the attack.
Police in Maplewood, about 12 miles west of New York, said they received a 911 call at approximately 6 a.m. reporting someone being attacked in the street. They arrived to find 26-year-old Karen Bermudez-Rodriguez lying in the street with her hands bound with tape. She died later at a hospital.
Security video from the vicinity showed a man chasing Bermudez-Rodriguez down the street, police said in the complaint.
Forty-year-old David Kimowitz was found dead inside his home, also suffering from stab wounds, according to the complaint. The 27-year-old Porter was arrested at Newark Liberty International Airport early Saturday as he attempted to fly to Cancun, according to the complaint.
Police said text messages show that Bermudez-Rodriguez wanted to end her relationship with Porter and wanted him to return her house keys. Police believe Porter let himself in to Kimowitz’s house with the keys.
“The relationship went south, and he was kinda stalking her,’’ a neighbor told the New York Post. On Friday, “My neighbor called his son and told him to keep the doors locked because he didn’t like the looks of this guy.”
Kimowitz owned The Stand Restaurant and Comedy Club in New York’s Union Square. Comedian Rich Vos posted that Kimowitz was a “great guy and friend.” Aaron Berg wrote Kimowitz was “essential to New York.” Paul Virzi said it was “just sickening.”
Kimowitz’s wife and children were not home at the time of the attack.
Porter was being held in Essex County Jail pending a court appearance. It was not immediately known if he had retained an attorney.
“enjoyed being an au pair and was grateful to have such a lovely host family,” read a statement posted on a Facebook fundraiser page. “She especially cherished her time with her host family’s daughters and loved them very much. Karen had pursued the au pair program to advance her English skills and to travel, which she loved.”
The fundraiser was created to help Bermudez-Rodriguez’s family retrieve her body and bury her in Colombia. More than $28,000 has been raised.
A small vigil was held Sunday night, according to NJ.com.
“We’re sad for both families — the family who lives here and has been in the community for the last few years and of course the au pair who was working for them,” said Maplewood Mayor Victor De Luca. “It’s a very tragic domestic incident that had just a horrible, horrible result.”
Friends of Kimowitz wrote on social media they had just spoken to him about his club’s new venue.
“Just talked with him last week and Fri night. He seemed so happy, a wife, 2 kids, his new club opened. And now this horrific new . David Kimowitz you will be missed,” comedian Rich Vos tweeted.
“A devoted husband and father, sharp business partner, and caring friend. Just saw him in Montreal and told him how excited I was to see his new club, of which he was tremendously proud. We hugged. I still look forward to seeing the new Stand and thinking fondly of David,” wrote Jeff Singer on Facebook.