Darryl R. Kern (alias The Bowery Stalker) was a serial killer, serial rapist, and serial kidnapper. Some of his crimes were committed along with his partner Marvin Posey.
Background[]
Kern joined the U.S. Army, believing its sole purpose was to kill people for sport. He was eventually discharged after being diagnosed with antisocial personality disorder, which came from an incident where he killed and then cooked a squirrel that his fellow soldiers liked to be greeted by through the window of their barracks. After this, Kern befriended Marvin Posey over their mutual passion for hunting, with Kern being dominant over Posey. Kern and Posey went on a murder spree in New York, kidnapping, raping, and murdering a number of people, who they held captive in a garage.
When Kern left Posey to watch a captive woman, Sarah Kimmel, while he went to his job, the woman escaped and led the police to the garage. By the time they arrived, Kern and Posey escaped but the bodies of their victims were found. Assuming only one serial killer was guilty, the moniker for the case was "The Bowery Stalker", named after where the garage was located. Sometime later, Kern murdered a companion who owned a farm near the Canadian border. He and Posey took over the farm and built a military bunker for "the upcoming racial war". Kern's journal later revealed plans to survive there and create a new generation by impregnating female sex slaves, whom they would kidnap and hold captive in the bunker.
Manhunt[]
Detectives Munch and Tutuola hunt Kern and Posey all the way from New York City up to their hideout, after a witness unsuccessfully attempts to interfere in the duo's latest kidnapping. Kern had completely shaved his head and face to throw the police off his trail. As the detectives close in on the duo, Kern grew tired with Posey's mistakes and brutally murdered him before taking off from the farm with two hostages, a mother and her daughter, and crossing the border into Canada. When the police find the farm, they also find a massive amount of bodies buried around the property. Kern would later boast that there was even more than what the police found.
Finally, the Canadian police arrest Kern for shoplifting in a supermarket with the hostages found alive and physically unharmed in his stolen vehicle. Munch interviews Kern who gloats about being able to be a step ahead of the police for over a year. Kern taunts Munch for not being able to catch him back in New York and describes how his victims died. When Munch tries to retort with Kern's future holding a death penalty, Kern blows him off, revealing that Canada does not extradite anyone on capital offenses without waiving the death penalty.
ADA Alex Cabot comes to Munch's aid. At the extradition hearing, she claims that the state of New York will try Kern for a car theft he confessed to during his interview with Munch. Despite the Canadian defense attorney's attempt to contest the extradition, the Canadian judge grants the extradition without hesitation. Later, a shocked and disillusioned Kern is brought back to a New York state facility, where he is taunted with a sarcastic welcome back by an amused Munch. Kern is later executed for the murders.
Known Victims[]
- Unknown dates: At least 18 unnamed people (all raped, tortured, mutilated, and/or murdered)
- 2000:
- Ernest Dillman (slit his throat)
- Four unnamed women (all raped, tortured, and murdered)
- Sarah Kimmel (kidnapped, raped, and tortured for two days; escaped)
- Arnold and Amanda Cokely:
- Arnold Cokely (murdered)
- Amanda Cokely (raped, tortured, and murdered after a few days of captivity)
- 2001:
- Annie Tassler (tortured and murdered)
- Jenny Michaelson and her unnamed mother (kidnapped, tied up, harassed, and intended to murder; both were rescued in Canada)
- An unnamed couple (slit their throats; their vehicle was stolen)
- Marvin Posey (his accomplice; strung up, tortured, and fatally disemboweled)