Exclusive | Notorious NYC cannibal Butcher of Tompkins Square Park closer to freedom after decades in city loony bin: source

The notorious New York City cannibal known as “The Butcher of Tompkins Square Park” has been moved to a lower-security wing of the Wards Island loony bin — putting him one step closer to freedom, The Post has learned. East Village weed dealer Daniel Rakowitz became infamous for slaughtering his roommate Monkia Beerle in 1989, chopping up and cooking her, and slurping up a revolting soup of brains and fingers.He then fed it to unsuspecting hobos in Tompkins Square Park.

With or without the help of “The View” co-host Sunny Hostin — who propelled the case back into the headlines this week after saying she was the lone holdout juror in the murder trial, a claim since debunked — Rakowitz, 65, was found not guilty of murder by reason of insanity in 1991.Instead of state prison, he was sent to Kirby Forensic Psychiatric Center on Ward’s Island in the East River.Since 2020, more than 200 criminal patients were moved from the original maximum-security Kirby facility — a massive brick structure with barred windows — to one side of the nearby and more modern, state-run Manhattan Psychiatric Center.Rakowitz, 65, was quietly moved to the civilian side about two years ago, and has less security around him as a result, the source said.“They’re letting people out prematurely every day,” the source said.“He may be one of those that end up getting out.”“Ninety-nine percent of patients who are released” get moved to lower security first, the source said. Hospital employees were alarmed when the state moved Rakowitz to the less secure wing, the source said.“They kept it a soft opening, like letting people know just before they moved him,” the source said, noting that seeing Rakowitz walking around is nerve-racking.

“They’re trying to get us used to it.”Still, many staffers weren’t “on board.” “They’re basically breaking down the barriers between criminal and civil,” the source said.“Letting them out is a very bad idea.”T...