David Berkowitz Serial Killer: One who has killed multipl

1
David Berkowitz
Serial Killer One who has killed multiple
people, one who kills with a pattern, and one
who shows no remorse for actions committed.
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Background

• Born in 1953 in the Bronx, New York
• Adoptive parents Nathan and Pearl Berkowitz
• David felt like an outsider and reject due to his
  status as adopted.
• 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 his early
  years.
• Physically bigger than most of the other children
  his age
• Had few friends growing up - often referred to as
  a town bully.
• Throughout his education, David was an average
  student who showed no particular interest in any
  one subject.
• In 1967 Davids mother Pearl died of breast
  cancer.
• After her death David became severely depressed
  and began having paranoid visions.
• Davids father and new wife move to Florida
• David joins the army - 3 years failure

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Later Years

• Berkowitz reunited with birth mother and sister
• Reunion was shortlived - paranoid visions of
  death and isolation eventually caused him to
  separate from mother and sister

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First Murders -

• Demons drive Berkowitz onto streets with knife -
  Christmas Eve, 1975
• Two victims, both women. One cant be confirmed,
  others name is Michelle Forman
• Victim that couldnt be confirmed died, Michelle
  Forman survived and was treated for six different
  stab wounds
• Berkowitz not even considered a suspect

5
Harvey and Sam Carr

• Neighbor Sam Carr - possessed by Satan
• Dog barking (Harveys) told David to commit the
  murders.
• David shot Harvey
• Later the basis of Berkowitzs Son of Sam
  Letters
• Today, Berkowitz claims that Sam Carr was part of
  a cult with him, and that Carr committed the
  murders with him.

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Shootings -

• A Pattern begins
• 7/29/1976 - first victim killed with 22 calibre
  handgun
• 10/23/1976 - Carl Denaro
• 11/26/1976 - Donna DeMasi/Joanne Lumino
• 1/30/1977 - Christine Freund/John Diel
• 3/8/1977 - Virginia Voskerichian
• 4/17/1977 - Valentina Suriani/Alexander Esau
• 6/26/1977 - Judy Placido/Sal Lupo
• 7/31/1977 - Stacy Mokowitz/Bobby Violante
• 8/10/1977 - Arrested and pleads guilty at trial

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Son of Sam is Born -

• David leaves letter to police at crime scene -
  Son of Sam
• Breslin Letter - Sent to Jimmy Breslin at the
  New York Daily News
• .44 Caliber shooter
• Police/Public response

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Arrest - August 9th, 1977

• Witness sees Berkowitz scowling at people near
  Moskowitz crime scene
• Calls police
• Police go to interview
• Berkowitz at his house
• In car outside - map of city w/ crime scenes
  marked, ammunition, and letter to Omega task
  force.
• You got me. What took you so long?

9
Trial

• Within 30 minutes, Berkowitz confessed to all of
  the murders
• June 12, 1978 - jury gave Berkowitz six life
  sentences and a maximum of 365 years
• During the trial, Berkowitz yelled into the jury
  that his victims deserved to die.
• Stacy was a whore

10
Prison Years

• In 1977 wrote a book called Son of Hope
• Son of Sam Act
• Today, after 30 years in prison, David calls
  himself a born again Christian.
• Model prisoner

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Bibliography

• www.wcbstv.com
• http//www.crimelibrary.com/serial_killers/notorio
  us/berkowitz/letter_1.html
• http//crime.about.com/od/murder/p/sonofsam.htm
• http//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Berkowitz