Binghamton Convenience Store Killer Herman Neu Dies in Prison

Herman Dennis Neu, who was convicted of killing store clerks in Broome and Chenango counties, has died in prison. He was 67 years old.

Prosecutors said Neu fatally shot 22-year-old Christine Kamide during a robbery at a convenience store on Robinson Street in Binghamton in September 1982.

Kamide was killed less than a week after 19-year-old James Wilcox died during a similar heist at a store in Afton.

Authorities say Neu was pronounced dead around 5:20 a.m. February 17 in the medical unit of Mohawk Correctional Facility in Rome. He had been serving a term of 52 years to life for counts of murder, robbery and promoting prison contraband. He would have been eligible for a parole hearing in 2032.

Paul Kamide, who was Christine's husband, learned of Neu's death Monday from his son, who had been told by a relative. The cause of death has not been revealed by prison officials.

A second defendant in the Kamide and Wilcox killings, Thomas Marlowe, was sentenced to 23 years to life in prison. He is being held at the Elmira Correctional Facility.

Marlowe has unsuccessfully sought parole eight times. His next parole hearing may be held in June 2022.

Paul Kamide has continued to fight Marlowe's efforts to be released from prison.

Tuesday evening, Paul Kamide emailed this statement to WNBF News:

For almost 38 years the Wilcox and Kamide families have been waiting for justice to be served. Hermann Neu and Tom Marlowe murdered Jim Wilcox and Christine Kamide in cold blood on two separate occasions five days apart. The death of Hermann Neu on February 17th 2021 didn’t come soon enough because neither of these two monsters deserve to live. They stole Christine and Jim’s lives, turned our families’ lives upside down and inside out for a couple of hundred bucks and a good time in a bar room. These monsters never deserved to keep on living let alone spending the rest of their lives in prison. Do I sound angry and upset? You’re damn right, I am!For almost 38 years the Wilcox and Kamide families have been waiting for justice to be served. Hermann Neu and Tom Marlowe murdered Jim Wilcox and Christine Kamide in cold blood on two separate occasions five days apart. The death of Hermann Neu on February 17th 2021 didn’t come soon enough because neither of these two monsters deserve to live. They stole Christine and Jim’s lives, turned our families’ lives upside down and inside out for a couple of hundred bucks and a good time in a bar room. These monsters never deserved to keep on living let alone spending the rest of their lives in prison. Do I sound angry and upset? You’re damn right, I am!

LISTEN to the Paul Kamide and his son discuss Thomas Marlowe's 2018 parole hearing on WNBF Radio's Binghamton Now program.