‘Son of Sam’ David Berkowitz says he no longer trusts media, 50 years on
Outrage over NY bills that could free convicted murderers
Jonathan Fahey, former DHS deputy assistant secretary, weighs in on anti-ICE protests in Brooklyn that blocked hospital entrances, condemning NYC Mayor Mamdani’s response. Fahey additionally blasts proposed New York payments that would launch violent criminals, together with serial killers like David Berkowitz, the “Son of Sam,” as a result of “elder parole bill” for people aged 55+. These controversial payments elevate severe public security considerations statewide.
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“Son of Sam” David Berkowitz, New York’s notorious .44-caliber killer who taunted the general public with letters to the legendary columnist Jimmy Breslin, says he no longer trusts the media 50 years after kicking off his killing spree.
Berkowitz’s first sufferer, 18-year-old Donna Lauria, was shot and killed whereas getting out of an Oldsmobile within the Bronx on July 29, 1976.
Through an middleman, “Lighter Side of True Crime” podcaster Keith Rovere, Berkowitz declined an interview request for this story.
UNEARTHED ‘SON OF SAM’ PRISON TAPES REVEAL CHILLING DETAILS ABOUT SERIAL KILLER DAVID BERKOWITZ
Police mugshot exhibiting the entrance view and profile of convicted New York City serial killer David Berkowitz, referred to as the “Son of Sam.” (Hulton Archive/Getty Images)
“I don’t trust the media,” he wrote to Rovere in a letter shared with Fox News Digital. “They will twist and warp no matter I say. Even just lately they twisted my phrases regarding some adjustments in New York’s parole law which, on this immediate, had nothing to do with me.”
New York legislators are mulling over payments that may create an elder parole system and abolish life with out parole.
“They ridiculed a victim with a false information and a distortion, thus creating the victim needless grief and pain, and more,” he wrote. “This was not the first time. If the media wishes to know what I’ve been doing with my life, all they have to do is visit the website which has probably over a thousand pages of my prison writings and various videos, interviews and more, which viewers could easily access. Ariseandshine.org.”
Police officers escort American accused (and in the end convicted) serial killer David Berkowitz (left), referred to as the Son of Sam, into the 84th precinct station, New York, New York, Aug. 10, 1977. (Robert R. McElroy/Getty Images)
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In May, Berkowitz skipped a parole listening to and wrote in a letter to The New York Post that he wasn’t attempting to get out. “The only place I’m looking forward to going, is to heaven to be with the Lord,” the outlet quoted him as writing.
The Post requested “Son of Sam” survivor Robert Violante, 68, for a response.
“I sincerely doubt he is going to heaven,” he stated. “He is lucky he is not already in hell.”
Donna Lauria, first sufferer of David Berkowitz. (NY Daily News Archive by way of Getty Images)
Violante survived a gunshot wound to the top on July 31, 1977. His date, 20-year-old Stacy Moskowitz, didn’t. She was Berkowitz’s ultimate sufferer.
That was a 12 months and two days after the primary homicide — Lauria’s.
Her pal and the automotive’s proprietor, 19-year-old Jody Valenti, was wounded however survived.
New York City noticed a cool evening, with lows within the 60s, after clouds and rain rolled in to interrupt up scorching temperatures from the day earlier than, in keeping with to Almanac.com. The Mets misplaced in additional innings to the Pittsburgh Pirates, 2-1. The Yankees had a time without work after toppling the Boston Red Sox, 6-4.
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A police officer leans over within the entrance seat of Robert Violante’s automotive on service street of Shore Parkway throughout the road from a park between Bay 14th and sixteenth streets in Brooklyn. Violante and his date, Stacy Moskowitz, each 20, grew to become the twelfth and thirteenth victims of the “Son of Sam” as they sat in a automotive at 2:35 am Moskowitz later died from her accidents. Violante misplaced a watch however survived. (Dan Godfrey/NY Daily News Archive by way of Getty Images)
The capturing would turn out to be referred to as the primary of what police initially known as the .44-caliber killings. They terrified New Yorkers for a 12 months. Young {couples} shied away from sitting in parked automobiles. Young girls lower and dyed their hair, believing that the killer was concentrating on folks with lengthy, darkish locks.
Valenti supplied a vital description of her attacker — a White male in his 30s with curly darkish hair.
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Marielena Maddalena research a sketch of “Son of Sam” at Sheepshead photograph retailer in Brooklyn. (Charles Frattini/NY Daily News Archive by way of Getty Images)
Still, it took months earlier than police pieced collectively a sample now referred to as the “Son of Sam” murders, when ballistic proof linked the identical gun to the July capturing and 4 extra.
At that time, it was March 8, 1977, and Berkowitz had killed three and injured 4.
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In the lead-up to the one-year mark, he despatched a be aware to former New York columnist Jimmy Breslin, who he had been taunting with letters signed, “Son of Sam.”
“Tell me, Jim, what will you have for July Twenty-Ninth?” he wrote to Breslin, in keeping with one of his 1977 Daily News columns. “You can forget about me if you like because I don’t care for publicity. However, you must not forget Donna Lauria and you cannot let the people forget her, either. She was a very sweet girl but Sam’s a thirsty lad and he won’t let me stop killing until he gets his fill of blood.”
This be aware was discovered by police within the 1970 Ford Galaxy owned by David Berkowitz once they arrested him, late Aug. 10, 1977, as he sat within the automotive in entrance of his Yonkers, New York, residence. It is written within the fashion of the .44 caliber killer. (Getty Images)
He went on to warn that whereas he’d been quiet, he hadn’t been inactive.
“I am still here,” he wrote. “Like a spirit roaming in the night. Thirsty, hungry, rarely stopping to rest; anxious to please Sam. I love my work.”
Berkowitz’s letters confirmed the killer was following information protection of the case, mocked police and cemented the “Son of Sam” moniker in place of the .44-caliber killer.
“I believe Berkowitz was focused on revenge, jealousy and attention, along with the feeling of power,” stated John Kelly, a felony profiler and the president of STALK Inc. “He felt he was unlovable and acted out his rage on couples who could share a romantic emotional moment. Something he felt he could never have.”
Still crying in rage, Danny Carrique leaves court docket in Brooklyn, New York, along with his pal, Neysa Moskowitz, the mom of David Berkowitz homicide sufferer, Stacy Moskowitz, on May 23, 1978. (Dan Jacino/New York Daily News by way of Getty Images)
Though the evening of July 29 got here and went with out a new sufferer, one other capturing two days later proved key to Berkowitz’s arrest. Investigators, in search of suspicious automobiles within the space, discovered a parking ticket issued close by. That led police to his door in Yonkers. He was arrested on Aug. 10, 1977.
By then, the shootings had killed six and injured seven.
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When looking out his home, detectives discovered proof that he had been intently following different crimes as properly.
According to an FBI Publication from July 1980, Berkowitz saved notes on a whole lot of fires close to New York City within the years earlier than his arrest. Police discovered handwritten notes about 1,411 incidents, with particulars together with the climate, road title and firefighters’ response.
“He’s one of the few serial killers that I know that I believe has completely changed his ways,” stated Rovere, a former jail pastor and the host of the “Lighter Side of True Crime” podcast who has been buying and selling letters with Berkowitz for years.
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Serving a life jail sentence, Berkowitz now claims to be a born-again Christian and calls himself the “Son of Hope.” His letters are actually signed “Bro[ther] David” or, sometimes, along with his full title. Most are typed, no longer handwritten.
He spends some of his time producing illustrated non secular pamphlets and posts content material on his web site and dealing on his jail ministry.
