Who killed Kevin Somers? Caddy master choked to death by best friend over golf argument
The head caddy at an ultra-exclusive Hamptons club was reportedly choked to death by his best friend during a drunken argument over golf. Kevin Somers, 45, was found dead on the front porch of his friend and colleague Marc Dern on Saturday, February 5, following their fatal altercation. Both Somers and Dern worked at the Maidstone Club in East Hampton where the former was a caddy master.
According to reports, the duo had been watching a golf tournament together on TV while drinking alcohol, when the argument started. As things escalated, Dern punched Somers in the face and also put him in a chokehold. He ended up asphyxiating Somers and breaking a small bone in his throat, which ultimately led to his death.
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How did Kevin Somers die?
Marc Dern, who is married with two kids, was arrested on February 9 and charged with first-degree manslaughter. He reportedly left Somers' body on his porch for over three hours before calling the emergency services.
Dern happened to be a subordinate under Somers at the Hamptons club and they were also known to be close friends in personal life. According to Dern's lawyer John Ray, the unfortunate death was fuelled by a lot of alcohol and was not intentional. "These are best friends. Their families are friends. There was a lot of alcohol involved on everybody’s part. There was some kind of a tussle and this fellow has passed. It’s a calamity of the first order. Nothing that happened was intentional," Ray told New York Post.
The friends were reportedly having beers and hard liquor while enjoying the Winter Olympics and golf tournament on TV. It was a controversial shot by golfer Jordan Spieth at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am tournament that sparked a debate between Somers and Dern. Spieth had taken the shot off a cliff even after his caddie tried to dissuade him about it.
Though it is not exactly clear what led to the fatal altercation, Dern's lawyer says, "There might have been some roughhousing."
While Somers was a longtime resident at the Hamptons, Marc Dern moved to Springs only two years ago with his family. He inherited his late mother's house in the Hamptons where he is raising two sons with his wife Amanda. At present, Dern is being held on $500,000 cash bail and awaiting indictment.
More about Kevin Somers
When the ambulance arrived at Dern's home, they found Somers in a really bad shape with his face mangled and bleeding beyond recognition. According to Somers' childhood friend and town trustee Ben Dollinger, "Kevin’s face was so mangled and bleeding that the EMTs who knew him his whole life couldn’t recognize him. He lost a lot of blood."
Dollinger mourned Somers' tragic death, noting, "He’s the nicest guy in the world. He’s never touched a drug in his life. He was a solid, stand-up guy." He further added that he had caddied together with Somers at Maidstone during their high school days when the latter was also a part of the school baseball team.
Somers was the son of Maidstone groundskeeper Jack Somers. He was married to Alicia Osborne and shared a 17-year-old daughter with her.