David Berkowist
(Killings between 1976 and 1977)
Better known as the Son of Sam or the .44 killer, David Berkowitz is a
New York City serial killer who killed six people and wounded many
others. His crimes became famous because of his letters to the media
and the police, and the reason he committed these crimes.
He was raised by middle-class parents in the Bronx, and had what seems
to have been a relatively normal childhood. He was pretty good at
baseball, but also hyperactive and, some say, something of a
neighborhood bully. His adopted mother died of breast cancer when
Berkowitz was 14, and the boy and his father moved into a new
apartment. Berkowitz joined the Army three days after graduating from
high school. He was stationed in Korea, and was honorably discharged
after three years. Acquaintances say he went in a gung ho for military
service, but came back a dove.
Returning to civilian life, he worked briefly as a security guard. Later, he shifted into an apartment but was controlled by
demons in his mind. His neighbor, Sam Carr, had a black
Labrador who Berkowitz believed was possessed and he shot the dog. That
did not provide any relief as he began believing that Sam Carr was
possessed by the biggest demon, and perhaps Satan himself. Each night
these demons told Berkowitz to kill and quench their thirst for blood. He also used to write weird letters to the police and media, with details of his killings.
"I didn't want to hurt them, I only wanted to kill them." ~David Berkowitz
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On July 29, 1976 Jody
Valenti, 19 and Donna Lauria, 18 were sitting in a car when David
approached the car and looked in. He then shot Valenti in the thigh and
Lauria in the neck. Valenti survived but Lauria did not. Thus began his
thirteen-month reign of terror over the people in New York. His victims
appeared to be random with both men and women being targets. Before being caught, he would kill six people and seriously injure seven more.
On October 23, 1976 Carl Denaro, age 18 was shot in the back of
his head while also sitting in a car. Denaro survived and his female
companion wasn't injured. He struck again on November 26, 1976 when he
shot two girls, Donna DeMasi 16 and Joanne Lomino 18 while they were
also in their car. Both survived but Lomino was paralyzed for life. On January 29, 1977 he shot and killed Christine Freund, 26,
while she sat in a car with her boyfriend. On March 8, 1977 he shot
Virginia Voskerichian, 21 who died instantly. Not receiving the type of exposure he wanted, on April 16, 1977
David shot Alexander Esau 20 and Valentina Suriani 18. They had been
necking in Esau's car when approached and each shot in the head,
killing both. David left a letter at this murder scene signing himself
as "Son of Sam."
June 25, 1977 another couple was shot. Sal Lupo who was hit in
the arm and Judy Placido, 17 who was shot in the neck, shoulder and
temple. Surprisingly they both lived. On July 30, 1977 the police finally had a clue as to the
identity of the Son of Sam. Stacy Moskowitz 20 and Robert Violante 20,
were both shot. Moskowitz was killed but Violante survived and was
permanently blinded. A witness saw the killer leave the scene and get
into a vehicle that had been given a parking ticket. Police traced the
ticket and David Berkowitz was arrested on August 10, 1977 outside his
Yonkers apartment. Police were surprised when he began confessing to
the killings immediately. Looking for an insanity plea, David told investigators about the
demons that told him to kill through the Carr's dog Harvey. In the end
the prosecution, the doctors that evaluated him nor the court believed
he was insane and sentenced him to 365 years at Attica prison where he
is now serving out his time. |
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