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Son of Sam: David Berkowitz

Police officers escort American accused (and ultimately convicted) serial killer David Berkowitz (left), known as the Son of Sam, into the 84th precinct station, New York, New York, August 10, 1977. (Photo by Robert R. McElroy/Getty Images)

Further Reading For Son of Sam

Son of Sam – the .44 Caliber Killer by George Carpozi Jr.

Ultimate Evil : The Truth about the Cult Murders: Son of Sam and Beyond by Maury Terry

Love, Sex, Fear, Death: The Inside Story of The Process Church of the Final Judgment by Timothy Wyllie, Adam Parfrey

Info

New York City. The summer of 1977. David Berkowitz stalked the streets of Manhattan, The Bronx, Brooklyn, and Queens, murdering couples parked in cars at point blank range with a .44 caliber pistol. The police at first named him The .44 Caliber Killer but after a number of rambling, psychotic letters left at crime scenes addressed the details of his crimes known to the press and for the first time, referred to himself as The Son of Sam. The city was gripped with fear. Night clubs experienced drastically reduced attendance and women changed the color of their hair when a detail leaked that the killer seemed to prefer women with dark hair as victims.

When Berkowitz was finally caught, New York police detectives apprehended him in his car. He calmly asked them, “What took you so long?”

Berkowitz confessed to all the killings and attempted to mount an insanity defense in court. Among Berkowitz’s murky motivations for the killings was the claim that a neighborhood dog had channeled the voice of a demon, commanding Berkowitz to kill. Ever since his arrest, conspiracy theories have circulated that Berkowitz was one of many perpetrators and that he was part of a network of satanic killers. Like Richard Trenton Chase, Berkowitz was one of a very small number of serial killers to use a gun in his murders.

Episodes: 193 & 194

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