MAPLEWOOD, N.J. — A man has been charged in the shooting deaths of his au pair girlfriend and her employer at his suburban home in northern New Jersey.
The Essex County prosecutor’s office said 27-year-old Joseph Porter of Elizabeth is charged with two counts of murder, weapons possession charges, and criminal restraint.
Maplewood police responding to a report of a woman being assaulted shortly after 6 a.m. Saturday found an injured woman lying in the street. She was pronounced dead at Beth Israel Medical Ceneter and prosecutors identified her as 26-year-old Karen Bermudez-Rodriguez.
Sharing condolences to 9/11 paramedic, Too Soon interviewee, and The Stand partner Cris Italia, as well as the family and comedian friends of David Kimowitz.
— Too Soon Documentary (@toosoondoc) August 4, 2019
Owner of Comedy Club and Nanny Are Killed at N.J. Home https://t.co/b7QkDKAgaP
As officers canvassed the scene, the body of 40-year-old David Kimowitz was found in his home nearby. Police said the female victim was employed as an au pair for the Kimowitz family, and Porter had been dating her. Prosecutors said county sheriffs, Port Authority police, and U.S. Homeland Security investigators assisted in the investigation.
The North Jersey Record reported that Kimowitz was one of the owners of The Stand Restaurant and Comedy Club in New York City, according to neighbors and club employees. A woman who identified herself as the general manager Saturday evening declined comment “out of respect for the family.” Comedians posted condolences on Facebook.
Our hearts go out to the family & friends of David Kimowitz, owner of @TheStandNYC Sending our love to our brothers & sisters in the NY comedy community. David was a great man who created one of the best rooms in the country. Gone but not forgotten. #rip #davidkimowitz #thestand pic.twitter.com/U7Wz7uJd4P
— The Comedy Store (@TheComedyStore) August 4, 2019
Porter was taken to Essex County Correctional Facility pending an appearance in Superior Court. It’s unclear whether he has an attorney; a listed number for him could not be found Sunday.
