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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. David Berkowitz. Background. Born in 1953 in the Bronx, New York Adoptive parents Nathan and Pearl Berkowitz

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David Berkowitz

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

  2. 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 David’s mother Pearl died of breast cancer. • After her death David became severely depressed and began having paranoid visions. • David’s father and new wife move to Florida • David joins the army - 3 years… failure

  3. 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

  4. First Murders - • Demons drive Berkowitz onto streets with knife - Christmas Eve, 1975 • Two victims, both women. One can’t be confirmed, other’s name is Michelle Forman • Victim that couldn’t 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 (Harvey’s) told David to commit the murders. • David shot Harvey Later the basis of Berkowitz’s “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.

  6. 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

  7. 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

  8. 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

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

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