NJ Au Pair And Employer Killed, Au Pair's Boyfriend Facing Homicide Charges
MAPLEWOOD, N.J. (CBSNewYork) -- The boyfriend of a woman who was killed in Maplewood, New Jersey, on Saturday has been arrested.
The Essex County prosecutor's office said Sunday that 27-year-old Joseph D. Porter, of Elizabeth, New Jersey, was taken into custody and charged with two counts of murder, possession of a weapon, possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose and criminal restraint.
Maplewood police officers were sent to the area of Walton Road and Jefferson Avenue just before 6 a.m. Saturday for a report of a woman being assaulted.
At the scene, officers found 26-year-old Karen L. Bermudez-Rodriguez, of Maplewood, lying in the street. She was suffering from unspecified injuries. She was taken to a local medical center, where she was pronounced dead just after 7 a.m.
As officers were canvassing the area, they found 40-year-old David Kimowitz, of Maplewood, unresponsive inside a nearby home. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
Officials said Bermudez-Rodriguez was an au pair for the Kimowitz family.
The investigation led authorities to Porter, who officials said was dating Bermudez-Rodriguez.
Kimowitz was well known in New York City comedy circles for owning a popular stand-up club, The Stand, in Union Square, CBS2's Reena Roy reported Sunday.
Neighbors said Kimowitz was a loving father and husband. His home in Maplewood remained an active crime scene on Sunday.
For the second day in a row police scoured Walton Road in the quiet, affluent neighborhood for evidence.
"He was nice. When we ran into each other in driveway, we always said hello," neighbor Kathy Cantwell said.
Neighbors said Kimowitz moved to the area from Manhattan two years ago with his wife and young daughters.
"I feel for the mother. She's lost her husband. She's dealing with these two itty-bitty children and she'll have to explain why daddy isn't around, so that's pretty sad," Cantwell said.
It's still unclear how Bermudez-Rodriguez and Kimowitz died, but investigators said they are trying to pin down a motive.
