Son of Sam: Berkowitz's terror in NYC, .44 caliber reign

NYC's fear: Son of Sam and Berkowitz's terror (1976)

The stifling summer in New York City in 1976 marked the beginning of a series of shocking shootings that enveloped the metropolis in an eerie fog of fear. Young couples in parked cars and women walking home alone suddenly became targets for an unseen assailant. This serial killer, later infamous as Son of Sam, not only left behind dead and wounded victims; he created a collective panic that made all of New York hold its breath. Behind the ominous pseudonym hid postman David Richard Berkowitz, a man with a dark alter ego whose disturbing history includes satanic fantasies and a mind marked by mental illness.

First blood: Lauria and Valenti attacked in Bronx, July 1976

The terror truly began on the night of July 29, 1976, in the Pelham Bay neighborhood of The Bronx. Donna Lauria, 18, and Jody Valenti, 19, were talking in Valenti's car when a man approached and, without warning, fired four shots from a .44 caliber Bulldog revolver. Lauria died instantly, while Valenti, hit in the thigh, survived this first brutal shooting. The New York police initially had no motive or clear leads, aside from a single .44 caliber shell casing – evidence that would later prove crucial in the hunt for Son of Sam.

Berkowitz's childhood: Adoption to 1,400 fires in Brooklyn

David Berkowitz, born Richard David Falco on June 1, 1953, in Brooklyn, New York, had a turbulent upbringing following his adoption. His adoptive parents, Nathan and Pearl Berkowitz, struggled with his increasingly violent outbursts and depressive tendencies. The death of his adoptive mother, Pearl, in 1967, when David was just 14, significantly worsened his behavior. He began committing arson and later claimed to have started over 1,400 fires, an early indication of his destructive violence.

Return to NY (1974): Paranoia and dog "Sam" as a commander

After a period in the military, where he acquired knowledge of firearms, David Berkowitz returned to New York in 1974. His isolation intensified, and he developed a paranoid perception of reality. He began to believe that the barking of his neighbor Sam Carr's Labrador, Harvey, was demonic commands. Berkowitz claimed that this "Sam," through the dog, ordered him to commit murder and spread violence.

Bloody trail in NY: 6 killed, police frustrations 1976-1977

Over the following 13 months, David Berkowitz carried out eight separate attacks in New York City, resulting in six deaths and seven serious injuries. Each shooting by this serial killer followed a terrifying pattern: young people, often in cars or on the street, were randomly selected as victims. On October 23, 1976, Carl Denaro and Rosemary Keenan were shot in a car in Queens; Denaro miraculously survived a gunshot to the head. On November 27, 1976, Donna DeMasi and Joanne Lomino were victims of a shooting in an open street in Queens, where Lomino was paralyzed. On January 30, 1977, Christine Freund was shot and killed in a parked car in Queens, while her boyfriend, John Diel, survived. The New York police were deeply frustrated by the apparent lack of motive and the serial killer's random selection of victims, which made the investigation extremely difficult.

"I am Son of Sam": The letters that named and spread panic

The breakthrough in the case came when David Berkowitz sent his first letter to the police. It was found near the scene of a double homicide on April 17, 1977, and revealed his self-chosen pseudonym. Addressed to NYPD Captain Joseph Borrelli, the message read: "I am 'Son of Sam.' I am a little 'brat.' When father Sam gets drunk he gets mean... 'Go out and kill' commands father Sam." This first letter also contained an ominous reference to the first victim, Donna Lauria. Fear in New York escalated to panic when Berkowitz sent another taunting letter in May 1977, this time to the well-known journalist Jimmy Breslin of the New York Daily News. The letter was printed on the newspaper's front page and displayed the serial killer's perverse pride in his crimes; he wrote that he loved his "work" and that his soul "tasted of bloodshed." The intense media coverage and journalism surrounding Son of Sam exploded, and New York newspaper headlines speculated daily about the shooter's identity. The city's young women, especially those with long, dark hair, who seemed to be Son of Sam's preferred victim type, began dyeing their hair blonde or wearing wigs out of fear.

Last victim: Moskowitz's death and the parking ticket, 1977

The final brutal shooting by Son of Sam took place on July 31, 1977, in Bath Beach, Brooklyn. Stacy Moskowitz, 20, and Robert Violante, 20, were on their first date when David Berkowitz opened fire on their car. Stacy Moskowitz died from her injuries the next day, while Robert Violante survived but lost sight in one eye and suffered permanent, severe vision damage. Ironically, it was not this last attack itself, but a simple parking ticket that led to the serial killer's exposure. A ticket had been issued to his distinctive yellow Ford Galaxy near the crime scene. When New York police investigated this lead and surveilled his apartment in Yonkers on August 10, 1977, they found the notorious .44 caliber Bulldog revolver, ammunition, and another letter in which he proclaimed his intention to continue his violence. Upon arrest, David Berkowitz calmly said, "Well, you got me." This moment marked the end of one of the most intense manhunts in New York City's history, and a city could finally breathe a sigh of relief.

Trial (1978): From demonic dogs to shifting explanations

During the subsequent trial in 1978, David Berkowitz presented conflicting explanations for his actions. Initially, he claimed that neighbor Sam Carr's dog, Harvey, was possessed by an ancient demon that commanded him to commit murder. He later retracted this explanation, admitting the dog story was a lie and that his motives stemmed from pure hatred. Forensic psychiatrists examined his mental state, and the renowned psychiatrist Dr. David Abrahamsen diagnosed him with paranoid schizophrenia, a serious mental illness. Despite the diagnosis, David Berkowitz insisted on his guilt and actively rejected defense attorneys' attempts to have him declared insane at the time of the crimes, cynically stating that he would commit his crimes again if given the chance.

The "Son of Sam Law": 365 years and crime profit fight

On June 12, 1978, David Berkowitz was sentenced to a total of 365 years in prison for six murders and seven attempted murders. His case, and the enormous media attention that made him a notorious celebrity, inspired the enactment of the famous "Son of Sam Law" in New York. This legislation originally aimed to prevent convicted criminals from profiting financially from their crimes, for example, through book deals or film adaptations. After a legal challenge in the U.S. Supreme Court in 1991, the "Son of Sam Law" was revised in 2001 to better ensure that victims and their families are informed and have the opportunity for compensation if convicts receive significant sums for their stories.

From "Son of Sam" to "Son of Hope": Jail conversion story

In 1987, while serving his sentence, David Berkowitz declared a religious conversion and adopted the name "Son of Hope" instead of Son of Sam. He has since published religious writings and corresponded with evangelical leaders. However, this conversion has sparked considerable debate and skepticism about its sincerity, especially among victims' families and the public. Despite numerous parole applications, David Berkowitz has been consistently denied by the New York State Parole Board every two years since 2002, with the latest denial in May 2024.

Victims' legacy: Violante's injuries and families' grief

Behind the cold statistics and legal aftermath of the Son of Sam case lie deep personal tragedies. Robert Violante, who miraculously survived the final brutal attack, lives a life forever scarred by David Berkowitz's violence, having lost his sight and his girlfriend, Stacy Moskowitz. For the families of the murdered victims, David Berkowitz's continued existence in prison is a constant and painful reminder of their irreparable loss and the fear he spread in New York.

Summer of Sam legacy: Psychosis, evil? City's trauma endures

David Berkowitz's shocking saga, known as the Summer of Sam, remains one of the most terrifying true crime stories in American history. The case continues to raise important questions about mental health, the boundaries of mental illness, the role of the media, and the concept of justice in serial killer cases. While David Berkowitz serves his life sentence at Shawangunk Correctional Facility in New York State, the debate continues over whether his gruesome acts were primarily due to a deep psychosis or a calculated, malicious will. For New Yorkers who experienced the intense fear during the Summer of Sam in 1976-1977, the legacy is a profound trauma and an eternal warning of how a single serial killer's actions can shape an entire city's identity and collective memory. The story of Son of Sam and the shootings he committed, in an era of ever-increasing interest in true crime, reminds us of the real people behind the sensational headlines – both the victims, whose lives were brutally ended or altered, and the perpetrator, whose fate became forever intertwined with theirs in a single, unforgettable, and bloody summer in New York City.

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