David BerkowitzDavid BerkowitzSerial Killer: One who has killed multiple people, one who kills with a pattern, and one who shows no remorse for actions

committed.

BackgroundBackground

Born in 1953 in the Bronx, New YorkBorn in 1953 in the Bronx, New York

Adoptive parents Nathan and Pearl BerkowitzAdoptive parents Nathan and Pearl Berkowitz– David felt like an outsider and reject due to his status as David felt like an outsider and reject due to his status as

adopted.adopted.– He was convinced that his birth mother died while giving birth to He was convinced that his birth mother died while giving birth to

him, which was the source of a lot of anger and guilt throughout him, which was the source of a lot of anger and guilt throughout his early years.his early years.

Physically bigger than most of the other children his agePhysically bigger than most of the other children his age– Had few friends growing up - often referred to as a town bully. Had few friends growing up - often referred to as a town bully.

Throughout his education, David was an average student who Throughout his education, David was an average student who showed no particular interest in any one subject.showed no particular interest in any one subject.

In 1967 David’s mother Pearl died of breast cancer. In 1967 David’s mother Pearl died of breast cancer. – After her death David became very depressed and began having After her death David became very depressed and began having

paranoid visions. paranoid visions.

David’s father and new wife move to FloridaDavid’s father and new wife move to Florida

David joins the army - 3 years… failureDavid joins the army - 3 years… failure

Later Years…Later Years…

Berkowitz reunited with birth Berkowitz reunited with birth mother and sistermother and sister– Reunion was short lived - paranoid Reunion was short lived - paranoid visions of death and isolation visions of death and isolation eventually caused him to separate eventually caused him to separate from mother and sisterfrom mother and sister

First Murders - First Murders -

Demons drive Berkowitz onto Demons drive Berkowitz onto streets with knife - streets with knife - Christmas Eve, 1975Christmas Eve, 1975– Two victims, both women. One Two victims, both women. One can’t be confirmed, other’s name can’t be confirmed, other’s name is Michelle Forman is Michelle Forman

– Victim that couldn’t be Victim that couldn’t be confirmed died, Michelle Forman confirmed died, Michelle Forman survived and was treated for six survived and was treated for six different stab woundsdifferent stab wounds

– Berkowitz not even considered a Berkowitz not even considered a suspectsuspect

Harvey and Sam CarrHarvey and Sam Carr

Neighbor Sam Carr - Neighbor Sam Carr - “possessed by Satan”“possessed by Satan”– Dog barking (Harvey’s) told Dog barking (Harvey’s) told David to commit the murders. David to commit the murders.

– David shot Harvey David shot Harvey

Later the basis of Berkowitz’s Later the basis of Berkowitz’s “Son of Sam Letters” “Son of Sam Letters”

Today, Berkowitz claims that Sam Today, Berkowitz claims that Sam Carr was part of a cult with Carr was part of a cult with him, and that Carr committed the him, and that Carr committed the murders with him. murders with him.

Shootings - Shootings -

A Pattern begins…A Pattern begins…7/29/1976 - first victim 7/29/1976 - first victim killed with 22 calibre killed with 22 calibre handgunhandgun10/23/1976 - Carl Denaro10/23/1976 - Carl Denaro11/26/1976 - Donna 11/26/1976 - Donna DeMasi/Joanne LuminoDeMasi/Joanne Lumino1/30/1977 - Christine 1/30/1977 - Christine Freund/John DielFreund/John Diel3/8/1977 - Virginia 3/8/1977 - Virginia VoskerichianVoskerichian4/17/1977 - Valentina 4/17/1977 - Valentina Suriani/Alexander EsauSuriani/Alexander Esau6/26/1977 - Judy Placido/Sal 6/26/1977 - Judy Placido/Sal LupoLupo7/31/1977 - Stacy 7/31/1977 - Stacy Mokowitz/Bobby ViolanteMokowitz/Bobby Violante8/10/1977 - Arrested and 8/10/1977 - Arrested and pleads guilty at trialpleads guilty at trial

Son of Sam is Born - Son of Sam is Born - David leaves letter to David leaves letter to police at crime scene - police at crime scene - Son of SamSon of Sam

Breslin Letter - Sent Breslin Letter - Sent to Jimmy Breslin at to Jimmy Breslin at the “New York Daily the “New York Daily News”News”– .44 Caliber shooter.44 Caliber shooter

Arrest - August 9th, Arrest - August 9th, 19771977

Witness sees Berkowitz scowling Witness sees Berkowitz scowling at people near Moskowitz crime at people near Moskowitz crime scenescene– Calls policeCalls police

Police go to interview Police go to interview

Berkowitz at his houseBerkowitz at his house– In car outside - map of city w/ crime In car outside - map of city w/ crime scenes marked, ammunition, and letter scenes marked, ammunition, and letter to Omega task force.to Omega task force.

– ““You got me. What took you so long?”You got me. What took you so long?”

TrialTrial

Within 30 minutes, Berkowitz Within 30 minutes, Berkowitz confessed to all of the murdersconfessed to all of the murders– June 12, 1978 - jury gave Berkowitz June 12, 1978 - jury gave Berkowitz

six life sentences and a maximum of six life sentences and a maximum of 365 years365 years

– During the trial, Berkowitz yelled into During the trial, Berkowitz yelled into the jury that his victims deserved to the jury that his victims deserved to die. die.

““Stacy was a whore”Stacy was a whore”

Prison Years…Prison Years…

In 1977 wrote a book called In 1977 wrote a book called Son Son of Hopeof Hope – Son of Sam Act Son of Sam Act

Today, after 30 years in Today, after 30 years in prison, David calls himself a prison, David calls himself a born again Christian. born again Christian. – Model prisonerModel prisoner

His criminal profilleHis criminal profille

Son of sam was a mission oriented Son of sam was a mission oriented type of serial killer.type of serial killer.This type of serial killer displays no This type of serial killer displays no psychohosis to the out side world psychohosis to the out side world while on the inside he wants to rid of while on the inside he wants to rid of the things that he feels are unworth the things that he feels are unworth which happened to be young women which happened to be young women in this case.in this case.

referencereference

www.wcbstv.comwww.wcbstv.com

http://www.crimelibrary.com/serial_killers/notorious/berkowitz/letter_1.htmlhttp://www.crimelibrary.com/serial_killers/notorious/berkowitz/letter_1.html http://crime.about.com/od/murder/p/sonofsam.htmhttp://crime.about.com/od/murder/p/sonofsam.htm Serialkillr.tripod.comSerialkillr.tripod.com