Sunny Hostin Blocks Verdict, Shakes Daniel Rakowitz Cannibal Trial

**Sunny Hostin Reveals She Was Holdout Juror Who Secured Acquittal of NYC Cannibal Daniel Rakowitz**

On Tuesday, “The View” host Sunny Hostin disclosed that she was the holdout juror who helped secure the acquittal of Daniel Rakowitz, the infamous New York City cannibal known as the Butcher of Tompkins Square Park. Hostin said she shared this story live on air, revealing her in a case that had shocked the city for decades.

Hostin explained that she identified with the other 11 jurors who had believed Lindsay Clancy not criminally responsible for murder. She said she felt Rakowitz was similarly not responsible, a stance that set her apart from the rest of the jury.

She recounted the gruesome details of the 1991 case: Rakowitz killed his roommate and aspiring dancer Monika Beerle, dismembered her body, boiled her remains, ate some portions, and served the rest in soup to homeless people in Tompkins Square Park. The case culminated in a controversial acquittal.

## Background & Context

Rakowitz’s case is one of the most notorious in New York history. After killing Beerle, he dismembered her body and boiled her remains. He ate portions of her flesh and later served the rest of her body in soup to homeless patrons of Tompkins Square Park.

The case drew national attention and led to a prolonged legal battle that ultimately ended in Rakowitz’s acquittal.

During the trial, Hostin told her shocked co‑hosts, “I could clearly see that he was psychotic.” She later quoted a statement she gave to the New York Times after Rakowitz’s acquittal: “We don’t think he intended to kill her.

But once he did, he dismembered her body in an effort to commit the perfect crime.” The quote underscored Hostin’s belief that Rakowitz was not fully responsible for his actions.

Hostin described how she faced backlash from fellow jurors when she declared that she believed Rakowitz was not guilty by reason of insanity.

She recalled that one juror threw a chair at her, and others were “so angry with me.” Despite the hostility, she said, “one by one, I picked them off,” a metaphor for her influence on the jury’s decision.

## What Happens Next

Rakowitz is currently being treated at Kirby Forensic Psychiatric Center in New York, where he receives psychiatric care. The case of Lindsay Clancy ended earlier with a mistrial after another holdout juror, Michael Desronvil, convinced the court of her guilt.

Hostin’s revelation has added a new dimension to the public’s understanding of that trial.

The disclosure by Hostin has brought renewed attention to the legal and psychiatric questions surrounding Rakowitz’s case. While his treatment continues, the story underscores how individual jurors can shape the outcomes of some of the most complex criminal cases in recent history.