American society has always had a fascination with violent crime, mass murders, and serial killers. David Berkowitz, aka the self-proclaimed “Son of Sam,” has his own view on the matter, saying:
“Serial killers are very rare. All of the media attention makes them look more prevalent than they really are. In my opinion, this is part of the inner spiritual decline of western society as we slowly slide towards anarchy.”1
The “Son of Sam” terrorized the citizens of New York City during the mid-70s, during what is now known as the infamous Summer of Sam. Berkowitz and his .44-caliber revolver claimed the lives of six people, injured seven others, and left an entire city too afraid to go out and enjoy the nightlife of New York.2 Before Berkowitz discovered his lust for murder, he was feeding into his pyromaniac desires in order to cope with the stress of his everyday life.
Berkowitz served in the US Army from 1971 until his honorable discharge in 1974. After his discharge, he returned to his home state of New York, where he enrolled at Bronx Community College, and worked odd jobs in order to pay his rent and tuition.3 Having been given up for adoption at birth, he was intent on reconnecting with his family, especially after his adoptive mother passed away after losing her battle with cancer. He reconnected with his birth mother and half-sister, and would often pay them visits until he lost interest in those relationships.4 The feeling of loneliness that rapidly consumed him, paired with the stress of work and school, is where his felonious acts began.
Between the years of 1974 and 1977, Berkowitz claimed to have set more than 1,500 fires in New York City. Though the fires were relatively small, each fire that was set had been carefully detailed and thoroughly documented in his personal journals, where he refers to himself as “The Phantom of the Bronx.” FBI profiler Agent Robert K. Ressler noted that Berkowitz was a classic example of an arsonist, that by setting fires he regained a sense of control in a world where he felt like he had none.5 Even though he claims full credit, it is not clear if all 1,500 fires were set solely by Berkowitz, as the only evidence connecting him to them are the journal entries.
Looking back, Berkowitz was able to identify his arsonistic behavior as abnormal. In an interview released in 2016, Berkowitz reflected on his early life and expressed remorse that he didn’t reach out for assistance in dealing with his mental health issues. His half-sister recognized his need for medical attention and offered to accompany him on a visit to a doctor so that he wouldn’t feel alone. Though he was able to work and function in a seemingly normal way, his mental health rapidly deteriorated as he developed severe depression, paranoia, and schizophrenia.6 As his life continued to spiral out of control, he refused to ask for help.
Situations like Berkowitz’s were all too common during that time period. In a survey that included respondents from 27 countries, it was reported that 50% of adults with schizophrenia surveyed expressed discrimination in their personal relationships. In the same survey, up to 2/3 of these adults anticipated discrimination while applying for work or looking for a close relationship. Media coverage of mental illnesses has always been consistently negative and inaccurate, adding to the overall negative experience of the stigmatized person.8“There is no country, society or culture where people with mental illnesses have the same societal value as people without a mental illness.” -Wuff Rössler7
We all experience some form of stress in our lives, some more so than others. In 2014, a study done by the American Psychological Association and the American Institute of Stress found that 73% of adults regularly experience psychological symptoms caused by stress.9 While we all use different coping mechanisms for this stress, rarely does it involve taking the life of another. Much like in Berkowitz’s situation, family members would plead with an individual to seek help, but because of the stigma associated with psychiatry and mental health, an individual would rather suffer in silence than to reveal his personal struggles. The self-stigma, or the internalization of a mental illness and decrease in self-esteem, begins even before an individual is diagnosed, as he or she learns about the culturally disseminated stereotypes associated with various mental illnesses. The anti-psychiatric sentiment was all too common during the 1970s, and the general attitude toward psychiatry was that it did more harm than good.10
In 1975, Berkowitz became friends with members of a cult, who introduced him to a new world of horror. Having always had an interest in the horror genre of books and movies, it didn’t take long for Berkowitz to discover The Satanic Bible authored by the founder of the Church of Satan. Berkowitz moved to Yonkers, New York, in order to be closer to the cult he joined, the Process Church of Final Judgement, who called upon followers to start anarchy and ultimately bring about the end of the world.11
The hallucinations from the drugs and alcohol consumed during occultic rituals were just an addition to the ever growing list of his mental struggles. As the line between hallucinations and reality began to blur, Berkowitz developed an affinity for all things demonic, as his involvement in occultic rituals soared. A deity that Berkowitz paid homage to was known as Samhain, the Druid devil.12 Druids demanded a human in order for a line of communication to be opened. Berkowitz felt as though this deity was sending him messages, and he believed that he was in communication with Samhain throughout his killing spree, which is where he got the name “Son of Sam.”13
The 1970s saw a rapid rise of satanic culture in music and literature, unleashing the Satanic Panic of the twentieth century. Across the country, hundreds of accusations that suburban daycare workers were actually devil-worshiping pedophiles poured out from middle-class families. A modern day witch hunt, the panic spread like wildfire as an array of accusations were thrown about, ranging from caretakers raping the children and sacrificing babies and forcing the children to drink their blood. While no one was convicted, the lives of the accused were forever changed as they lost their jobs and their reputations.14
“Don’t think that because you haven’t heard from me for a while that I went to sleep. No, rather, I am still here. Like a spirit roaming the night … I will see you at the next job. Or, should I say you will see my handiwork at the next job?”17
It would take eleven victims, of which only six survived the attacks, for Operation Omega to come into existence. Operation Omega was a special task force assembled by Detective Timothy Dowd, and it included 300 members: 75 detectives and 225 uniformed officers.18
While the police and Berkowitz played a game of cat and mouse, the citizens of New York City were taking precautions of their own. The shootings happened at night and to females with long brown hair. So parents encouraged their daughters to dye their hair or wear it up in order to become less appealing to the elusive killer.19
Cacilia Davis was walking her dog one night when she passed by a young man who she believed was acting strange, holding his arm stiff as though he was carrying something. A few minutes after walking past, she heard gunshots. Upon learning of the double shooting, she became certain that she had encountered the Son of Sam and reached out to the police. When pressed for details of the encounter, Davis recalled seeing an officer writing a citation for an illegally parked vehicle. Berkowitz would use his own personal vehicle to travel to and from each scene and the police had stumbled upon his car; they just didn’t know it. Using the information from the plates on the car, the police tracked Berkowitz to his Yonkers apartment where they arrested the elusive killer.20 New York’s biggest police manhunt in history had finally come to a close.21 Having prowled the streets for over a year, the arrest was a relief to the city.
At the time of his arrest, the media publicized a story claiming that Berkowitz believed his neighbor’s dog was instructing him to kill people as a sacrifice.22 Berkowitz addressed this claim in an interview in 2016, where he claims that his neighbor’s dog, Harvey, had nothing to do with the crimes. He doesn’t understand where the confusion came from because he clearly labeled himself the Son of Sam, and Harvey sounds nothing like Sam.
After being sentenced to 365 years in prison for his crimes, David Berkowitz slowly adjusted to prison life.23 Berkowitz, now known by his Christian inmates as Brother David, has spent the last 40+ years in prison repenting for his sins. He renamed himself the “Son of Hope,” and he regularly attends Bible Study groups and chapel services.24 After reading the Christian Bible, Berkowitz believes he finally understands why he killed his victims all those years ago. He cites the Bible as an accurate account of what happened to him: an eternal battle between good and evil, between God and the Devil.25 “I was once an evil man. I truly believed that I was working for Satan and I embraced the mission.”26
“A short while ago I returned to my prison cell after attending this evening’s Bible study class… about twenty of us sat in a circle in the chapel, and as I scanned the faces of these men—a mix of different races, backgrounds and nationalities—I found my heart bursting with love and hope. Now this may sound foolish to many, but as I looked at this collection of convicted felons, I saw the reality of God’s grace to mankind….I saw men who’ve been rescued from the road to destruction. They’ve been redeemed by the blood of Jesus Christ, and saved from the fires of an eternal hell….Society, of course, may only see them as a group of criminals who’ve become “religious.” But I believe the Almighty God sees them as His children.“27
In 2004, Berkowitz was denied a parole hearing after he stated that he did not want one. The parole board recognized his good behavior but felt that his crimes were serious enough for him to remain imprisoned. In a letter he wrote to George Pataki, the New York Governor at the time, he detailed his coming to terms with his imprisonment. Berkowitz wrote that with God’s help, he has accepted his situation and that he has come to terms with the fact that his punishment will continue; he believes that he deserves to be imprisoned for the rest of his life.28
- Scott A. Bonn, “‘Son of Sam’ Serial Killer Explains Why He Was Once ‘Evil,'” Psychology Today, February 10, 2014, https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/wicked-deeds/201402/son-sam-serial-killer-explains-why-he-was-once-evil. ↵
- Steve Fisherman, “The Devil in David Berkowitz,” The New Yorker, 16 September 2006, 3-5. ↵
- Paul Brody, Son of Sam: A Biography Of David Berkowitz (Scotts Valley, CA: CreateSpace Publishing Company, 2012), 1974-1975. ↵
- Paul Brody, Son of Sam: A Biography Of David Berkowitz (Scotts Valley, CA: CreateSpace Publishing Company, 2012), 1974-1975. ↵
- Paul Brody, Son of Sam: A Biography Of David Berkowitz (Scotts Valley, CA: CreateSpace Publishing Company, 2012), 1974-1975. ↵
- David Berkowitz: In His Own Words, Part 3 of 9 YouTube video, 12:42, posted by “Storyteller Ministries,” October 12, 2016, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RdJJUcTGGVc. ↵
- Wulf Rössler, “The Stigma of Mental Disorders: A Millennia-long History of Social Exclusion and Prejudices” The European Molecular Biology Organization 17, no. 9 (2016): 1250-1253. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27470237. ↵
- Wulf Rössler, “The Stigma of Mental Disorders: A Millennia-long History of Social Exclusion and Prejudices” The European Molecular Biology Organization 17, no. 9 (2016): 1250-1253. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27470237. ↵
- “Paying With Our Health,” Stress in America, 2014, https://www.apa.org/news/press/releases/stress/2014/stress-report.pdf. ↵
- Wulf Rössler, “The Stigma of Mental Disorders: A Millennia-long History of Social Exclusion and Prejudices” The European Molecular Biology Organization 17, no. 9 (2016): 1250-1253. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27470237. ↵
- David Berkowitz: In His Own Words, Part 4 of 9 YouTube video, 8:42, posted by “Storyteller Ministries,” October 12, 2016, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LMF-06Fj8yg. ↵
- Steve Fisherman, “The Devil in David Berkowitz,” The New Yorker, 16 September 2006, 3-5. ↵
- David Berkowitz: In His Own Words, Part 4 of 9 YouTube video, 8:42, posted by “Storyteller Ministries,” October 12, 2016, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LMF-06Fj8yg. ↵
- Clyde Haberman, “The Trial That Unleashed Hysteria Over Child Abuse,” The New York Times, March 9, 2014, http://www.nytimes.com. ↵
- Mike Aamodt, “David Berkowitz “Son of Sam,”” Radford University Psychology Department, 2004, maamodt.asp.radford.edu/Psyc 405/serial killers/Berkowitz, David.pdf. ↵
- Mike Aamodt, “David Berkowitz “Son of Sam,”” Radford University Psychology Department, 2004, maamodt.asp.radford.edu/Psyc 405/serial killers/Berkowitz, David.pdf. ↵
- “Behavior: Son of Sam Is Not Sleeping” Time, July 11, 1977, http://content.time.com/time/subscriber/article/0,33009,919072-1,00.html. ↵
- Bruce Weber, “Timothy Dowd, Detective Whom Led Son of Sam Manhunt, Dies at 99” The New York Times, December 29, 2014. ↵
- “Behavior: Son of Sam Is Not Sleeping” Time, July 11, 1977, http://content.time.com/time/subscriber/article/0,33009,919072-1,00.html. ↵
- Lily Rothman, “How the Son of Sam Serial Killer Was Finally Caught,” Time, August 10, 2015, http://time.com/3979004/son-of-sam-caught/. ↵
- Rebekah Binger, “Prison Ain’t Hell: An Interview with the Son of Sam – David Berkowitz, and Why State-Funded Faith Based Prison Rahabilitation Programs Do No Violate the Establishment Clause,” Pace Law Review 31, no. 1 (2011): 16-18. ↵
- David Abrahamsen, “Unmasking ‘Son of Sam’s’ Demons,” The New York Times, July 3, 1979. ↵
- Steve Fisherman, “The Devil in David Berkowitz,” The New Yorker, 16 September 2006, 3-5. ↵
- Steve Fisherman, “The Devil in David Berkowitz,” The New Yorker, 16 September 2006, 3-5. ↵
- Steve Fisherman, “The Devil in David Berkowitz,” The New Yorker, 16 September 2006, 3-5. ↵
- Scott A. Bonn, “‘Son of Sam’ Serial Killer Explains Why He Was Once ‘Evil,'” Psychology Today, February 10, 2014, https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/wicked-deeds/201402/son-sam-serial-killer-explains-why-he-was-once-evil. ↵
- Rebekah Binger, “Prison Ain’t Hell: An Interview with the Son of Sam – David Berkowitz, and Why State-Funded Faith Based Prison Rahabilitation Programs Do No Violate the Establishment Clause,” Pace Law Review 31, no. 1 (2011): 16-18. ↵
- Rebekah Binger, “Prison Ain’t Hell: An Interview with the Son of Sam – David Berkowitz, and Why State-Funded Faith Based Prison Rahabilitation Programs Do No Violate the Establishment Clause,” Pace Law Review 31, no. 1 (2011): 16-18. ↵
This Post Has 71 Comments
David Berkowitz’s story is a tragedy. He obviously needed help for his mental health. I understand the stigma that was present during that time, and even still today, prevented him from seeking the help he needed. He spiraled, and it led to the death and/or injury of many. I am glad to see that he has seen the error of his ways and accepted that he should remain imprisoned as a debt to society.
I had never heard “son of Sam” before. However, I had head about the real man in question here, Burkowski. This is infact a very strange story when compared to other serial killers. He was a changed man after he went to prison and it also involved heavy outside influence from a satanic cult. I also wonder why it took soo many kills for the police department to launch a manhunt.
I found this article extremely interesting as I have never heard of “son of Sam before. While reading the article I found that “Son of Sam” shared a lot in common with that of “The Birdman of Alcatraz”. Both seemed to do well in prison and seemed to act normal while in prison but denied the chance of parole because they knew themselves to not be deserving of it or possible not being able to control themselves. Overall, stories about serial killers are always interesting and this article did a good job of explaining the life of “Son of Sam”.
Along with other readers this was my first time hearing about “Son of Sam.” Its amazing how he started off worshipping the devil in prison not doing the best in life and then changing his mental spiritual life around when he started praying to Jesus. It says that he had some mental illnesses and that can partially explain all the serial killings.
I had heard of the “Son of Sam” before, usually in the same breath as the Zodiac Killer. Although Berkowitz turned to religion when he was imprisoned, I don’t know if I were a victim of his if I would forgive him. I am very glad that he denied his parole and even said that he has made peace that he will remain imprisoned for the rest of his life.
Even though Berkowitz had fallen into his murder spree because he was not of sound mind, the lack of medical attention, and the negative stigma around psychiatrics at the time, he had claimed the reason he went after his victims was because his neighbor’s dog was telling him to. I remember reading something online on how his neighbors were messing around with him, by pretending to be their dog and telling Berkowitz to go after people, and that when he revealed that as the reason in court, his neighbor was also in the court room as well and had told the room in disbelief that it was a prank. I do not know if that was true, but if I was his neighbor, I could not helping thinking that I had somehow pushed Berkowitz into doing what he did.
I’ve heard of the term “Son of Sam” before but I never understood where it came from. I thought maybe it was a bible story, so to find out its true origins is surprising, to say the least. Towards the end when Burkowski turned towards God, I thought it was once again just, as he said himself, a “criminal” who “became religious” but on a different side of the spectrum. However after reading about Burkowski believing he didn’t deserve parole for his crimes, it was very humanizing to think that people once so disturbed and angry could turn themselves into truly conscientious people who accept their consequences and let that make them brighter rather than more bitter.
This is the first time I have ever heard about “Son of Sam.” I am interested in true crime, but I had never heard about this. I find it so interesting that a man who followed Satan, killed and injured multiple people, and was part of a cult did a full 180 and gave his life to Jesus. I think it was odd that he publicly talked about his neighbor’s dog Harvey to address his name. This was a very interesting article to read and I was very surprised to hear about the things this man did and the reasons behind why he did them.
I’ve heard about the “Son of Sam” and what he’s done but I’ve never have heard it to this extent. It shows that people with mental illnesses like schizophrenia and paranoia are real serious illnesses that need to checked out, maybe if he had gotten help with this he wouldn’t have started his spree. Its kind of crazy that the only way they caught him was from a parking ticket and none from the evidence of the crime scenes. It shows that even though he had a mental illness he was smart enough to evade the cops and send them taunting letters about his killings.
This was my first time hearing about “Son of Sam” but I found it really interesting how we went from worshiping the devil to doing a 180 once he was in prison and went on to following God and the bible (or at least he claims to at least). I haven’t heard about any other serial killers have a turn out such as his but I found it very interesting.