A Hamptons head caddy was found on the front porch of his co-worker’s home after being choked to death during a drunken altercation over a golf tournament.
The body of caddy master Kevin Somers, 45, was found on Saturday at the home of his colleague Marc Dern, 34, who he had worked at the exclusive Maidstone Club in East Hampton.
The pair were both drinking during a golf tournament when a violent altercation between them ensued, according to prosecutors.
During the argument, Dern was said to have punched Somers in the face before putting him into a chokehold and asphyxiating him after breaking a small bone in his throat, as noted by the Southampton Press.
Police officials also claim that Dern had left Somers on the porch for about three hours before calling emergency services.
Dern was arrested and charged on Thursday with one count of manslaughter in the first degree.
Hampton head golf caddy Kevin Somers, 45, was found on the porch of his colleague’s home on Saturday night after he had been choked to death
The caddy head’s co-worker Marc Dern, 34, was drinking and watching a golf tournament with him on Saturday night before the pair were said to have gotten in a violent altercation which had killed Somers
The pair had worked together at the exclusive Maidstone Club in East Hampton
During Dern’s arraignment, prosecutor Keliann Kelly said that the pair had been drinking and watching the tournament before his wife asked for Somers to leave so she could put the couple’s two young children to leave.
She said that following the tournament the pair had began arguing at around 7.30pm which later turned violent with Dern violently punching Somers in the face and placing him in a headlock.
Kelly added that the autopsy report revealed that Dern broke Somers’ hyoid bone in his throat which had asphyxiated him.
He also was said to have told police he felt his friend’s body go limp before he had died.
In response, Dern’s lawyer John Ray argued that Kelly had no real time frame of when the fight occurred as the altercation may have ensued closer to when the 911 call was placed at 10.40pm.
He also noted that there was no evidence to suggest that Somers had been asked to leave the home following the tournament.
In addition, one of the first responders noticed that Somers’ skin was still warm to the touch when he was found at the scene.
‘If a man was lying from 7.30 to 10.30 dead, his skin would not be warm,’ Ray noted. ‘That’s just common sense.’
Somers was then transported to Stony Brook Southampton Hospital where he had been pronounced dead.
The fight was said to have started following the tournament after Dern’s wife asked Somers to leave as the couple’s two children had to be put to bed
Somers’ body was said to be warm at the scene despite reports that his body had been laying on the porch for three hours
Kelly counteracted Ray’s statements by noting that an Uber trip to pick up Somers had been cancelled and that Dern had asked his wife to turn off the security cameras.
She also said an additional Uber was called to pick up Dern who was said to be carrying a backpack at the time.
However, Dern whispered ‘no’ to Ray when Kelly had raised the issue with the Uber.
Ray then acknowledged that he did not consider his client to be ‘an evil man’ as he had cared for his mother when she was dying of cancer and was a loving father to his two children.
He even noted that Dern was ‘close friends’ with Somers as the pair had gotten along well.
However, a $500,000 cash bail was still set for Dern by Southampton Town Justice Karen Sartain.
Ray has since requested the amount be lowered to $50,000 as he does not pose a flight risk and has been cooperative with police orders.
However, Kelly requested the bail be set at a $1 million cash bail due the violent nature of the crime.
A GoFundMe page has since been organized to create a scholarship in Somers’ honor with a goal of $50,000
A GoFundMe page has since been set up for Somers with plans to start a scholarship in his honor.
‘In honor of Kevin Somers’ life, this site has been created to continue his legacy of sporting excellence for local student-athletes,’ the page read.
‘All who knew Kevin were aware of his enthusiasm, compassion, dedication, and generosity towards family, friends, and community. In lieu of flowers, the family is suggesting a donation to The Kevin Somers Scholarship fund.’
