David Berkowitz, also known as the Son of Sam, committed a string of murders in New York City between 1976 and 1977, using a .44 Bulldog pistol. He claimed to have been influenced by his neighbor’s possessed dog and was later arrested and charged with the murders, for which he is currently serving six life sentences.
Between 1976 and 1977, a string of murders left New York City residents shaken to the point of near panic. Usually occurring at night on weekends, the Son of Sam murders were committed by David Berkowitz, a mentally unstable Yonkers resident also known as a .44 Caliber Killer. Berkowitz perpetrated several murders, consistently using a .44 Bulldog pistol and immediately fleeing the scene without any physical contact with the victim. In all, the Son of Sam Berkowitz murders claimed the lives of seven victims. Nine other victims survived their attacks, but some suffered serious or debilitating injuries.
The Son of Sam murders began in the early morning hours of July 29, 1976 with the shooting of Donna Lauria and her friend, Jody Valenti. The two friends were sitting in Valenti’s car, and when Lauria got out of the vehicle she noticed a man approaching her. The man fired three shots from her pistol, shooting Lauria in her chest and killing her instantly. Valenti was shot in the thigh but she survived her injuries. The killer fled the scene immediately. 44 caliber bullet from the scene, verifying it as the bullet from the murder weapon.
Berkowitz’s subsequent attacks took place against couples and occurred on weekends. The Son of Sam murders during this period claimed another life and caused several serious injuries. At the scene of one of the murders, the police discovered a handwritten letter from the self-proclaimed Son of Sam, which became important evidence leading to Berkowitz’s capture. The letter detailed his bizarre motives for the murders, and more letters were later sent by the killer to the police and media.
Working on a tip from a neighbor, police conducted a search of Berkowitz’s car and subsequently requested a warrant to search his apartment. Based on the evidence they found there, police arrested Berkowitz and charged him with Son of Sam’s murders, many of which Berkowitz has confessed to. Many investigators believe Berkowitz was consumed with guilt because he believed his mother had died in childbirth; his adoptive mother, Pearl Berkowitz, died in 1967 of cancer, thus compounding Berkowitz’s guilt and anger. Later in his life, Berkowitz would be reunited briefly with his birth mother, but that didn’t stem the tide of his guilt. Whether this was a sufficient reason for the murders is still up for debate.
Berkowitz claimed that his neighbor’s dog was possessed and convinced him to commit the murders. The “Sam” Berkowitz referred to in his letters was Sam Carr, Berkowitz’s former neighbor and owner of the “possessed” dog Berkowitz referred to. After his imprisonment, Berkowitz became a born-again Christian and supported his continued incarceration, once failing to appear for his parole hearing. He is currently serving six life sentences for the son of Sam Murders.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
