Sunny Hostin Says She Was Holdout Juror in Cannibal Killer Trial
'The View' co-host revealed she was the sole juror who prevented a conviction in the 1991 case of Daniel Rakowitz.
Sunny Hostin, co-host of "The View," disclosed on Tuesday that she was the lone holdout juror in the 1991 trial of Daniel Rakowitz, a man infamously known as the "Butcher of Tompkins Square Park." Her position as the sole dissenting juror led to Rakowitz being found not guilty by reason of insanity.
The revelation came as the panel discussed the ongoing case of Lindsay Clancy, whose defense attorney is attempting to investigate a holdout juror from Clancy's mistrial. Hostin drew a parallel to her own experience.
Rakowitz was accused of the 1989 murder of his roommate, Monika Beerle, a dance student. He reportedly dismembered her body and boasted about boiling her head for soup and consuming her brains. He was also alleged to have fed body parts to homeless individuals.
"The View" host explained that despite the gruesome nature of the case, she believed Rakowitz was not criminally responsible due to psychosis. "It was so clear to me in the jury room," Hostin stated. She recounted the pressure she faced during the nine-day sequestration, including one juror throwing a chair at her. However, she maintained her stance, systematically addressing her fellow jurors' concerns until they reached a unanimous verdict of not guilty by reason of insanity.
"Several jurors questioned afterwards said one holdout juror was principally responsible for preventing them from returning a guilty verdict," Hostin read from an old New York Times article that corroborated her account. "That was me."
Co-hosts reacted with surprise. "The guy who ate the victims?" Joy Behar interjected, confirming the identity of the defendant. Alyssa Farah Griffin expressed shock, asking, "you were on that jury?" Star Jones half-joked about moving seats, while Sara Haines appeared visibly uneasy.
Hostin emphasized her strong belief in the insanity defense, noting that Rakowitz remains in a mental institution. She also criticized the push to investigate jurors, calling it "despicable" and warning of a "chilling effect on juries."