Comedians are mourning the owner of a New York City comedy club who was slain in his Essex County home along with his family's au pair.

Police found the body of 40-year-old David Kimowitz inside his Walton Road home in Maplewood on Saturday. His family's au pair, 26-year-old Karen Bermudez-Rodriguez, was found lying in the street. She later died at a hospital. Both had been stabbed, according to investigators.

Bermudez-Rodriguez’s boyfriend, 27-year-old Joseph Porter of Elizabeth, is charged with two counts of murder, weapons possession charges and criminal restraint.

Kimowitz owned The Stand Restaurant and Comedy Club in New York's Union Square.

Comedian Rich Vos posted that Kimowitz was a "great guy and friend." Aaron Berg wrote Kimowitz was "essential to New York." Paul Virzi said it was "just sickening."

 

Kimowitz's wife and children were not home.