The East Village in the late 1980s was a world of its own—gritty, chaotic, and teeming with eccentric characters. Among them was Daniel Rakowitz, a self-proclaimed prophet who roamed the streets with his pet rooster, spouting bizarre religious doctrines. Most dismissed him as just another neighborhood oddball. But behind his rambling sermons and vacant stare lurked something far more sinister.
When his friends and acquaintances began hearing whispers of a horrific crime—one so grotesque it seemed impossible to be true—those whispers soon turned into a shocking reality.
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Sources:
Daily News, 19 September, 1989 – “Grisly Bucket Mystery”
The Arizona Republic, 20 September, 1989 – “Calm Boyfriend Leads Police”
Daily News, 20 September, 1989 – “From the Alps to the Depths”
The Times and Democrat, 21 September, 1989 – “Man Called Himself Anti Christ”
The Billings Gazette, 22 September, 1989 – “Confessed Killer Has No Remorse”
Newsday, 21 October, 1989 – “Papers Detail Gruesome Murder”
The Central New Jersey Home News, 22 August, 1990 – “Man Unfit for Murder Trial”
The Post Standard, 14 September, 1990 – “Judge to Decide”
Daily News, 4 October, 1990 – “Butcher Ruled Fit to Stand Trial”
Newsday, 8 January, 1991 – “Jury Selection”
Daily News, 10 January, 1991 – “Hideous Evidence Eyed”
Newsday, 10 January, 1991 – “Judge Delays Trial in Dancer’s Death”
Newsday, 11 January, 1991 – “Cook Denies Slaying Dancer”
Newsday, 15 January, 1991 – “Mistrial Possible”
Syracuse Herald-Journal, 18 Janaury, 1991 – “Suspect Led Police to Skull”
Newsday, 23 Janaury, 1991 – “Rakowitz Tape Tells Grisly Death Details”
Newsday, 2 February, 1991 – “Drifter Denies Role”
Newsday, 7 February, 1991 – “Bizarre Threats and Facts at Dancer Trial”
Daily News, 9 February, 1991 – “Doc Testifies”
Tarrytown Daily News, 14 February, 1991 – “Rakowitz Murder Trial”
Daily News, 14 February, 1991 – “Defence Says Devil Made Him Do It”
The Hamilton Spectator, 23 February, 1991 – “Boiling Girlfriend’s Body Draws Insanity Verdict”
Syracuse Herald Journal, 18 February, 1992 – “Paper Says Body Was Fed to The Poor”
Daily News, 21 February, 1992 – “Witness Saw Dancer’s Killing”
The Journal News, 23 February, 1992 – “Link to Occult Eyed in Dancer’s Death”
Newsday, 21 May, 1995 – “I’m Better now”
Daily News, 10 July 2004 – “Soup Ghoul’s Fuzzy Logic”
