I knew Daniel and you don't know half the story

One part struck me as telling,dont mess with crazy and dont stab crazy in the back. Because crazy is crazy.

My dad was just telling me about this last week. His friend Dave was Dan’s neighbor. Told me that the smell was unforgettable.

My mom and uncle knew him and said a lot of people knew him as The Warlock. She also said that people believed that he was behind the disappearance of several other people around the area and that he fed them to the homeless as well, but no one was ever able to prove it. Not sure if it's true but my mom swears that my uncle was one of the people who ate food from The Warlock

Sylvia didn't even go to the cops and say anything???? Unbelievable. How do you see some gruesome mess like that and not report it...yet you meet up with the killer after discovering that? People are literally walking the streets OUT OF THEIR MINDS!

The fact that Slyvia called Daniel and not the cops then proceeds to actually meet him AT NIGHT in the park after Knowing and seeing what happened is beyond my understanding. She had to be just as nuts as he was.

I would be down at the police station in a heartbeat. Sylvia is crazy to be able to live in the apartment after seeing what she saw.

I grew up on stories about this guy. My parents, who met each other when they were two young beat cops, used to encounter him frequently. Once he came into the precinct bleeding from the side of his head claiming my dad cut his ear off (which was still on his head).

As for Daniel, he is right where he belongs. Because if he's was that heartless to kill, dismember, eat and feed a dead human to other unsuspecting people, then that's definitely a criminally insane individual who should never walks amongst us again, ever.

I actually worked in an upstate Forensic Psych where Rackowitz is serving time!!. He still has that long flowing hair and is extremely mild mannered

I can’t even believe Sylvia didn’t call the police after the 1st visit.

I’m from the LES and heard about this story I was in SHOCK

Those homeless people were given a human to eat. This is TRAUMATIC. I hope they have a go at healing, seeing as society has a devaluation of them. :(

I feel for the homeless peeps who had no clue they had been made into cannibals.

I was living directly across the street from his apartment building and would run into him every now and then. He once introduced me to his rooster. He told me he would put a sock on the rooster's head and it would put it to sleep. He definitely had some very weird energy.

This is unbelievable I was living in the neighborhood at that time. Cannot believe this a crazy person do something like this.

Rare to find well voiced and written content these days. Amazing work.

I lived in 700 n remember him n the women, my grandmother would feed him constantly, we all lived in 700. Puerto Rican nature is to feed all…I remember as a kid I knew something was off…he literally sat in my grandma’s house n ate…

The most devious person in this story is Sylvia. Never underestimate a jealous woman with no moral conscience.

No more free food from anyone! Just found your channel and loved it.

There is a serious and i mean a serious lesson to be learned here and that is people don't play with anyone's feelings because if you do there's a horrendous price to pay!

Everywhere was a different world back in the eighties

That’s crazy they didn’t charge that Sylvia woman with anything. She was just as much to blame as Daniel. He had told her his plans several times, and even asked for help on the day of the murder, and she didn’t report any of that to the cops. She even kept in contact with him afterwards. What a bunch of psychos.

For somebody as myself that has only driven over the George Washington Bridge as a truck driver I appreciate the history in your videos that you give to your listeners.

I can't believe I've never heard this one. I spent so much time down there in the 80s. You're a great storyteller also. Thanks!

This whole story is pretty much true...I was working in an office near Tompkins Square & remember going out for lunch & trying to cross the park to get to a pizza joint when in my view I see some tall freak with a chicken coming towards me & I remember stopping & telling him “you come any closer I will scream like you never heard before” he looked at me & backed off & I promised myself to stay the hell out of this park even though it was a shortcut to grab a quick lunch. Later on we all got to learn what he did to this girl & then I remembered the freak in the park & felt nauseous....he was the same one who committed the murder!

In the 80' as a teenage musician and i hung out in Tompkins Square park often. Daniel would be sitting on a bench most nights, ocassionally offering soup. I never took any as he always seemed a bit crazy, had the crazy eye. Rumor is he often killed homeless people and made soup out of them aka this wasn't an isolated incident. The LES & NYHC history is a mixed bag of beauty and horror.

I used to hang out down by Tompkins during my punk and hardcore days in the mid to late 80s. I must have seen this guy walking around at some point. Only heard about this story many years later. Loved your presentation and measured tone of your voice.

Brotha I’m going to binge watch your content this week for 2 reasons. 1. It’s very well put together 2. I’m 99.999% sure you are not A.I. smh…. Keep it up fam and much success!!

I think what happened to her was horrible. Yet you have to be careful when playing with people and their emotions. Some people are really completely unhinged and playing games with them might get you killed. Planning to finesse people for money,car, and even apartments can get you eaten up out here..... literally.

She called a crazy man's hand. Wow. RIP Monica.

I lived on the LES most of my life. I was and still am a fixture at Tompkins, although now I go to the park mostly for the Free Concerts.. I remember this story very well, a buddy of mine was friends with Danny and was in the apartment and "saw blood, a lot of blood " he bounced wanting no part of what he saw. He was questioned by police though.. I just wanted to thank you for doing this story, it brings me back to a time when the LES was a rough and tumble place. I hate gentrification but change is inevitable everywhere you go. Thanks Again Eddie Mack

thank you for making these documentaries about new york, they're so well done and highly educational.

Sylvia had more to do with the murder than a lot of people sitting in jail because someone in a car they were a passenger in decided to commit a crime at that very moment. I bet Sylvia didn't even come across a charge despite knowing before, after and in-between.

I love how you incorporated the musical, political, and socio-economic history of the LES before getting into the story. This story is wild. It’s enough material to make a movie with. It’s crazy how New York City has the ability to connect strangers, yet some ignore glaring red flags. This story encompasses all of that. Let’s also talk about how dude looks like Varg Vikernes.

How's this Channel not have as Many, if Not more Subscribers as Mr Ballen?!! He's a waaaaay Better Storyteller!!

You have a great voice for storytelling.

So this woman Sylvia... she goes to the apartment, sees that horrifying scene, goes to a pay phone + instead of calling the cops she calls him?! I don't believe a word she says about anything. She was the catalyst in this as much, if not more than, Monika.

Woowww. Sylvia is crazy as hell too. Not that much fear in my heart would make me still stay in that apt

Unbelievable that Sylvia was not charged as an accessory. Instead of running to the nearest phone to call police, she calls Daniels pager?

I remember this story very well. I first came to the LES in 95. I was there off and on for 10 years. I used to be homeless and lived at 155 Ave. c. Also 177 E 9 th st ( may be off on the number) The Squat was called Dos Blocos. I hung out alot in Tompkins Square. Now I never did research on this, but I'm glad you did. I enjoyed this video. I think this honors Monica and the other woman. I'm not big on switching, but soon as she got out of the apartment, she should of gone to the police. It's good to hear the full story.

R.I.P for her. I knew a man who ended dead from his new roommate. I was beat by a roommate. Everyone protect their home. It is life since homeless is such a problem.

Man that era in NYC had some sinister crimes going on. I've been an avid follower of true crime for years but had never heard this story. You do a great job with the production and presentation.

I had a family friend that recently passed away from anorexia. She struggled with anorexia and alcoholism most of her life. Sweetest lady. I just assumed she was naturally small because she was very short, but she always wore oversized sweaters and such. She was around 70 when she passed and had been struggling for decades but she didn’t start isolating til the end. She died of starvation and they didn’t try to feed her or give her nutrition because by that point it wouldn’t save her. She had to have been a medical miracle to have survived as long as she did and somehow stayed active, working and out of hospital until the end. It haunts me every time I think about her. It’s heartbreaking but she didn’t want help. We can’t save people who do not want to be saved. We don’t have to enable them but we can still love them and be kind and offer support if/when they’re ready. Thank you for your take on Eugenia. It’s obvious she doesn’t want help and we can’t force her so all we can do is love her or leave her alone. What people often don’t realize is that even if someone with severe anorexia gets help, there’s no guarantee they’ll survive because the damage has already been done to their internal organs like their heart, stomach, etc. You can’t just force feed someone with anorexia and cure them. They can develop refeeding syndrome. I wish her the best, or at the very least, peace.

Always run from evil. Always tell the proper authorities.

I lived near the park in the late 80s thru 90s and I remember that man. People had said he.was very disturbed and "cooked" meals for the homeless. Sickening.

The moral of the story is “mind the company you keep; and the respect you give” because you never know who you’re dealing with; and what they might be going through!!! This is why respect out the gate to strangers is an absolute life skill you must learn!!! Especially in the streets! Cause there’s always someone out there with NOTHING TOO LOSE!

Just happened across your video. I must say when I heard how soothing your voice was, I remained to watch it. Great job telling Monika's story. Sylvia, now that's another thing. Continue sharing your stories with this community. 👊🏽

My heart is broken 💔😭

The evil in some people seems to have absolutely no boundaries. This is insane.

It's hard to fathom that the 80's now is half a century in the past. As a kid in the 80's, if someone said they had memories of the 30's, they were prehistoric. That was the Great Depression and the start of WWII. I wonder if kids see these stories, like Monika's, as relics of an ancient past. I remember how things were so local back then: your block, our neighborhood, your borough, your town. During the recessions, you typed out your resume and walked from one restaurant to another, asking for work. Monika was a formally trained dancer, but she needed to work a topless bar. These days, a woman could get on OF and have subscribers half-way around the world and become a millionaire.

Bless her Heart. ♥️

This was very well done, both visually and the way you weave the narrative of this woman’s with the history of the time and area for context.

I'm from New York, and I remember this horrific tragic story! This mam was Stone crazy! He desecrated her body after murdering her and disrespected her body by how he treated her remains! What a monster! 😢😢

i feel like all roommates who new what happen but didn’t report it should have been charged with something

Love the details and the backstory leading up to it. It adds so much to each story👏👏👏

Watching from Mackinac Island Michigan

Sylvia seems like kind of an instigater. The fact that she didn't immediately report what she found in the apartment seems strange to me.

Wow! I’m surprised the other lady didn’t do any time… or at least tried and an accessory…

Great presentation man, Bravo!

You are an EXCELLENT story teller !!! Love your channel !!! What a horrible story wow ! ❤❤

I loved the Lower east side in the 80's. I was there at the tomson square park riots . Different organizations would bring food to the park to feed the homeless. The homeless had set up makeshift tents In the park , most of them was on drugs, Crack primarily. The reason I said I loved L E S in the 80's is because you got the chance to see different comedy and musical acts. This is a true story because I remember reading about it in the News . I also heard many people talking about it.

R.I.P Monika Beerle 🙏🙏 This man clearly needed Help badly

Stumbled upon your video. I like your respectful coverage of this true crime case and the context you provide about setting and culture. You have a new subscriber!

I grew up in South bronx but always every day hang in both places I had friends in both places.

I am so impressed at the intro and that you mentioned punk. Thank you. I’m pretty sure I almost became a roommate at an apt at 700 e9th in the late 90’s. Fascinating story.

Moral of the story: NEVER take cooked food from strangers especially strange ones😮

Crazy asf. Stories like these has way more to it. Shit we'll never know. Good job telling the story. Perfect voice for it

Your videos are terrific. So glad I found your channel. 😊

If they're a real friend, they wouldn't put you in a position to have to keep a secret like that ,heck no I wouldn't keep that secret, I'd sing like a Canary......

As the story unfolded I kept expecting Sylvia to call or go to the police, but she kept his secret and kept on coming back. Its really sad that Monica had to die in such a gruesome way, no one should die like that. May her soul rest in eternal peace 🙏

An exciting, intriguing, and engaging video!

This story is very very well told by you n video on point.

I remember being told this story by a man sitting in Tompkins park. I was about 20. And I used to work on Avenue A and 11 street. I would walk with my boss’s dog to the park. Creepy. But now I know it’s true.

Your voice is soothing... keep on telling stories.. easy listening

As may others noted, you have a real gift for storytelling. Great voice, good music, nice edits, good imagery and an excellent gift for constructing a story!

How can that chick Sylvia not say something to the police regarding the murder and what she saw in the apartment? I mean really!?!

Rip Monika & condolences to her friends & and family.🕊🌹🕊🌹🕊🌹🕊🌹

Thank you for your coverage. I've never heard of these cases and Im a New Yorker.

Man i love ur soothing voice. Ty for ur content

Literally this story embodies the quote "I AINT NO KILLER BUT DON'T PUSH ME!!"

I have never felt the “ free love living with anyone and everyone “. Much condolences to her family 🙏🏾🙏🏾

Hey Jose, first time watching your content and I gotta say you're one of the best. Good story teller, and I enjoy the NY of old. Good stuff.

Excellent video & very well told account of what remains one of the most disturbing cases of the last century. Of all the true crime stories which emanated from NY & in particular the LES area of the state this ranks among the most memorable purely for how macabre it is. And unlike many other cases this one was solved very quickly. That may be the one positive one can draw from this case actually. Whether the murderer, mentally ill or not, had aquired a taste for killing is unclear, but the residents of the area were very lucky that he was caught & tried before any further murders could be committed.

I feel sympathy for her family, but surely the moral of this story is not to move in with a deranged, druggy hippy who walks around with a dead chicken around his neck.

I had a chance to live on Orchard Street in the early 90s. As a born and raised Bronx girl, I always wanted to live in Manhattan at least once but my job relocated to NJ and so did I. Rest in peace, Monika

What an HELL OF AN STORY!!!!

Ty for the co content… I grew up in the 70’s and 80’s around the area. The place was wild…. Anyway keep’em coming.

When I moved to the West Village in 1975, the city was a verrrry dangerous place. The LES was deadly but the funny thing was, one block would be fine and then the next block would be a war zone. That was when NYC had character! I loved living there. My band played at CB's many times and I can't recall how many times we'd pop into a cab on 6th Avenue (where I lived) and say "Bleecker and the Bowery, please!" lol We were there so many times, it was like our second home. You couldn't go outside though because droves of horrible homeless people were out there, like zombies. Inside, however, was friendly and safe. Loved CB's--even though the stage would bounce up and down the entire time we played. hahaha

This man was sick as hell!!! WTF!? 🤢🤢🤮🤮🤮🤮🤮 SN: I suffer from periodic insomnia...I have for a few years now. I came across your channel in my recommended, and after watching a few videos, you've gained a new follower. I really enjoy the way you make these cases come to life....

Great video and advice.

I worked on an ambulance in NYC in the 1980's. Your videos bring back a lot of memories.

Your respect for the victims moves me. You're a hell of a good storyteller, and that's a specific skill. Subscribed. I'm glad you told me about this, I never knew this story at all. And she deserves to be remembered. Thank you. One day, I hope someone remembers me which such compassion and honesty.

Dammit!!! What a sick individual!!! To be honest I grew up in Spanish Harlem and there is a culture of keeping your mouth shut!!! No one wants to be that person called a " snitch". But I will definitely say this: Hell no would I be able to enter that apartment again after seeing her dead dismembered body parts!!!!! Hecker to the NO!!!! Yepp I would've definitely called the police after that!!! There is no telling if he'd do that to me!!! For whatever reason especially having seen it with my own eyes and knowing it was him for a fact. I mean this guy was so SICK to a point where he literally fed her flesh to the homeless as an act of Charity??? Yeah no I would've nipped that in the laws hands immediately if not sooner. Way too much going on for me!

I hung out with that guy, Daniel Rakowitz, in Tompkin's Square Park a few times. During the late 80s/early 90s, I was living a few blocks away from the park on 13th Street, between Avenues A & B. I was always in Tompkins. I always remembered him because he looked like Jesus and was always carrying around a chicken. I thought it was his pet. But that's how I saw him. He definitely seemed a bit off, but in a totally harmless lost hippie type of way. Little did I know. I bought weed off of him and smoked some with him a few times. But that was it. We didn't have any serious conversations. So I can't say that I actually knew him except to say what's up type of thing. We didn't even know each others names as far as I remember. I was in shocked when I found out about the murder and some of the basic details. But not nearly as shocked as when I saw his picture in the paper and immediately realized who he was. As I said, he came across to me as some harmless hippie type of guy who maybe just had way too many acid trips. He's in a maximum security place for the criminally insane on Ward's Island on the East River, Kirby Forensic Psychiatric Center. It's just a coincidence that I went to Billy's Topless more than a few times. I woudn't be able to remember whether or not Monika Beerle was working there on any of those occasions, even when I saw her picture in the newspaper. Those were some of what you might call my lost years when I was in a total blackout at least 50% of the time. If I remember correctly I think that Curtis Sliwa of the Guardian Angels lived in the same building as Rakowitz and they knew each other just by passing each other in the building. I think Sliwa had the same impression of him that I did. The way you put this mini doc together and your narration is top notch. And there's a ton of info in here that I knew nothing about. If anyone ever mentions Rakowitz to me and are curious to know about the whole story with him and Monika Beerle, I'll direct them straight here. They'll learn more from this doc about the whole story than anywhere else I can think of. Oh yeah. Love the intro to your show, especially the stuff about the NYHC scene. I grew up in the NYHC scene. I started going to the CBGB's Hardcore matinees with my older brother when I was 13, which was 1983. I'm 53 now. I'm still trying to figure out if I'm old school or just an old fool.😅 Cheers bro!

You have gained a subscriber! NYC native here , the Bronx to be exact! Love your channel, your research and delivery! Keep up the good work!

Rest In Peace beautiful dancer May your family and friends find healing and peace

Holly cow this bring so many memories. My ex at the time, along with a couple other friends, all ate the stew that Danny served at Tompkins..We had no idea it was his girlfriend, until some time.later, when we learned in the news that the stew we all ate was actually Monika. My friends and I still talk about it, along with so many other crazy memories from our lives in LES back in the day. We were all squatters back then. Most of us left New York; I left in 1998, as NYC became wickid gentrified and our squats were all getting shut down (except C-Squat, as they fortunately purchased the building). Thanks for the video and your for us on Monika. This is the first time I see a video focused on this story from Monika's perspective. Danny was always kinda a weirdo, but I never imagined he would do this. Perhaps the PCP had something to do with this; only Danny knew the reason. chEErs L.E.S. pUnx

I remember this grisly case when it happened. So tragic.😢

First video that I have seen-glad your channel showed up in my feed (had not seen it before). Many of the KZfaq crime channels-the voice gets to me or many good ones run the same “in the media” cases. You can only listen to the same case so many times. I am glad you seem to cover cases that haven’t been over saturated on social media, and you have a calm voice!🩵the channel so far☺️!