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Who is David Berkowitz?
David Berkowitz, also known as the “Son of Sam,” is a notorious American serial killer responsible for the deaths of six individuals in New York City between 1976 and 1977. His violent crimes instilled widespread fear throughout the city, leading to one of the most extensive manhunts in New York’s history. Berkowitz was apprehended on August 10, 1977, just 11 days after his final murder, and was sentenced to six consecutive 25-to-life terms in prison.
Early Life
David Berkowitz was born Richard David Falco on June 1, 1953, in Brooklyn, New York, to a Jewish mother, who was unable to care for him. Shortly after his birth, he was adopted by Nathan and Pearl Berkowitz, a Jewish-American couple who owned a hardware store. While Berkowitz was described as a bright child, he displayed troubling behaviors that later contributed to his criminal tendencies. He was particularly close to his mother, and her death when he was a teenager deeply affected him.
Berkowitz enlisted in the U.S. Army at the age of 18, where he served in South Korea and demonstrated notable proficiency as a marksman. After completing his military service in 1974, Berkowitz returned to New York and took up a job as a letter sorter for the U.S. Postal Service. He settled into an apartment in Yonkers, where he was regarded as a reclusive and solitary individual by his neighbors and co-workers.
The “Son of Sam” Murders
Berkowitz’s killing spree began on July 29, 1976, when he shot two teenage girls, Jody Valenti and Donna Lauria, in the Bronx. Lauria was killed, while Valenti survived with injuries. This marked the beginning of a series of attacks on young couples sitting in parked cars. A few months later, Berkowitz targeted another couple, injuring the man severely.
In November 1976, he attacked two teenage girls walking home, leaving one of them permanently paralyzed. These incidents initially went unnoticed as being linked, but by early 1977, Berkowitz’s pattern of targeting couples in parked cars became clear. On January 13, 1977, Berkowitz murdered Christine Freund and her fiancé, using the same .44 caliber gun in each attack, a detail that helped investigators connect the crimes.
Later that year, in March, Berkowitz shot and killed college student Virginia Voskerichian. The following month, he claimed the lives of Valentina Suriani and Alexander Esau. This time, he left a letter at the scene addressed to NYPD Captain Joseph Borrelli, referring to himself as “Son of Sam” for the first time. Throughout his killing spree, Berkowitz taunted the police and the public with letters left at crime scenes, exacerbating the terror and media frenzy surrounding his actions.
Berkowitz’s final murder occurred on July 31, 1977, when he shot Stacy Moskowitz and Bobby Violante in Brooklyn. Moskowitz died from her injuries, and Violante was severely injured, losing vision in both eyes. A key witness at the scene provided crucial information that ultimately led to Berkowitz’s capture.
Following his arrest, Berkowitz was convicted and sentenced to multiple life terms, bringing an end to the reign of terror that had gripped New York City.
Arrest and Imprisonment
Following the Moskowitz-Violante shootings, a witness reported seeing a man fleeing the scene in a car that had a parking ticket. Among the few tickets issued that day, one was traced to David Berkowitz. On August 10, 1977, he was arrested. According to The New York Times, Berkowitz reportedly said, “Well, you’ve got me” when taken into custody.
‘Son of Sam’ Dog
During his interrogation, Berkowitz claimed that he was compelled to kill by his neighbor, Sam Carr, who allegedly communicated with him through a demon-possessed Labrador retriever named “Harvey.” Despite these bizarre assertions, Berkowitz underwent several psychological evaluations and was deemed competent to stand trial. In 1978, he pled guilty to six murders and nearly 1,500 arson incidents in and around New York City. He was sentenced to 25 years to life for each murder. At his sentencing hearing, Berkowitz attempted to jump out of a window in the seventh-floor courtroom upon hearing the judge’s decision.
Since his arrest, Berkowitz has recanted his “Son of Sam” narrative, calling it “a hoax, a silly hoax” in a letter to his psychiatrist, Dr. David Abrahamsen, dated March 20, 1979. He later claimed involvement in a violent cult, with members John and Michael Carr (sons of Sam Carr) assisting in the murders. Berkowitz has received substantial sums of money for sharing his story, but in response to widespread concern, laws such as the “Son of Sam” laws were enacted in multiple states, including New York, to prevent convicted criminals from profiting from media related to their crimes. Consequently, Berkowitz no longer financially benefits from any works connected to his story.
In 1996, the Yonkers Police Department reopened Berkowitz’s case to investigate his claims, but the investigation was ultimately suspended due to a lack of significant findings. Although Berkowitz has been denied parole numerous times, with his most recent hearing in 2016 and his 16th eligibility for parole in 2018, he remains incarcerated at the Shawangunk Correctional Facility in Wallkill, New York.
Books and Other Works
While incarcerated, David Berkowitz, formerly known as the “Son of Sam,” has undergone a significant transformation, embracing evangelical Christianity. He now identifies as the “Son of Hope,” a shift reflected in his book Son of Hope: The Prison Journals of David Berkowitz (2006) and on a website managed by his supporters, as he is not permitted access to the internet. Through his writings, Berkowitz expresses remorse for his past actions, offering apologies to his victims and their families. In addition to his personal reflections on faith and repentance, he contributes to educational projects, assisting students in the fields of psychology, criminology, and sociology who seek to understand the criminal mind and the justice system.
Health Issues
On December 12, 2017, prison officials confirmed that Berkowitz had been transferred from Shawangunk Correctional Facility to a nearby hospital. While specific details regarding his condition were not disclosed, reports from the New York Post and the Times-Union of Albany indicated that Berkowitz was scheduled to undergo heart surgery. In February 2018, it was further reported that Berkowitz had suffered a heart attack prior to his initial surgery in December. Following complications in January, he required additional treatment and was readmitted to the hospital.