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DAVID BERKOWITZ- NATURE OF OFFENSE
Ally Simpson
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David Berkowitz's mugshot Photo: Hulton Archive/Getty Images
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Quick Facts
Timeline : July 29 th , 1976- July 31 st , 1977 Modus Operandi : Berkowitz approached unsuspecting people late at night, pulled out his 44. Caliber revolver from a brown paper bag and shot them at point blank range. Most of his victims were couples in their cars or sitting in parks late at night Method : Shooting, 44. Caliber revolver Victimology : Couples and young women between the ages of 15-22
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Rejection Motif + Neighbor Influence
Adopted Lied to by adoptive parents about birth mother Adoptive mother dies of cancer Rejected by birth mother once found Underlying Motif of Rejection Neighbors had dogs that Berkowitz believed to be possessed by demons – told him to commit murder Shot and injured neighborhood dogs Neighbor, Sam, believed by David to be possessed by demon as well, urging him to murder, which made Berkowitz coin the moniker “Son of Sam” for himself Self isolation led to worsening mental illness and stability Moved to Yonkers
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The Victims of the Son of Sam
1975 Christmas Eve, 1975 – Stabbed Unknown Female (Survived, unreported) 29 July 1976 Donna Lauria, 18 (Fatally wounded) and Jody Valenti, 19 (Wounded, survived) 23 Oct. 1976 Carl Denaro, 20 (Critically wounded, survived) and Rosemary Keenan,17 (Uninjured) 27 Nov. 1976 Donna DeMasi, 16 (Wounded, survived) and Joanne Lomino, 18 (Critically wounded, survived) 30 Jan. 1977 Christine Freund, 26 (Fatally wounded)
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Carl Denaro
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Christine Freund
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The Victims of the Son of Sam cont’d
8 Mar. 1977 Virginia Voskerichian, 19 (Fatally wounded) 17 Apr. 1977 Valentina Suriani, 18, and Alexander Esau, 20 (Both fatally wounded) 25 June 1977 Salvatore Lupo, 20, and Judy Placido, 17 (Both wounded, survived) 31 July 1977 Bobby Violante, 20 (Wounded) and Stacy Moskowitz, 20 (Fatally wounded)
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Valentina Suriani + Alexander Esau
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Stacy Moskowitz
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Apprehension of David Berkowitz
After the shooting of Bobby Violante and Stacy Moskowitz, eye-witness comes forward leading to first police sketch of Son of Sam Same eye-witness also noticed Berkowitz’ car getting parking ticket Escalating campaign of harassment against his neighbors leads to Berkowitz as main suspect in killings Berkowitz arrested on August 10 th , 1976 – He admits to being Son of Sam and the 44. Caliber revolver is found on his person
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Trial and Sentencing of David Berkowitz
Berkowitz diagnosed with Schizophrenia Drops insanity plea and pleads guilty to 6 counts of 2 nd degree murder Is given 25-year sentence, has yet to be granted parole Remains in the Sullivan Corrections Facility in upstate New York where he has converted to Christianity
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Fear Of Rejection
Birth mother putting him up for adoption Product of an affair Reaching out to birth mother then not getting good response Stated he targets women so they do not have unwanted children
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Abuse
Enlisted in army at 18 74% of serial killers suffer from psychological abuse Parents lying about birth mother Feelings of betrayal
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Bullying / Trauma
Socially awkward as a child Trouble making friends Mother died at 14 Father remarried Feelings of abandonment from women Due to bullying, many serial killers begin harbouring aggressive thoughts
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Mental Illness
Underlying mental health issues Diagnosed with schizophrenia Had to cope with his mother’s death at a young age Did not get along with father’s new wife causing him to be upset
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References- Ashleigh
Worthen, M. (2020, September 08). David Berkowitz. Retrieved from https://www.biography.com/crime-figure/david-berkowitz Hayden, A. V. (2020, May 08). What Was Son Of Sam's Calling Card? David Berkowitz Said He Was 'Programmed' To Kill. Retrieved from https://www.oxygen.com/mark-of-a-killer/crime-news/why-son-of-sam-kill-david-berkowitz-programmed-kill Admin. (2020, March 31). The Shocking Reason Serial Killer David Berkowitz Targeted Women. Retrieved from https://www.aetv.com/real-crime/the-shocking-reason-serial-killer-david-berkowitz-targeted-women (n.d.). Retrieved from http://web.lemoyne.edu/~Freemams/index_files/psych_serial.htm (2020, January 25). Retrieved March 25, 2021, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZatEG03Y6Zg Google images retrieved from: https://filmdaily.co/obsessions/david-berkowitz/ https://www.gettyimages.co.nz/photos/david-berkowitz?family=editorial&phrase=david%20berkowitz&sort=mostpopular https://boredomtherapy.com/s/david-berkowitz-killer?as=799&asv=1&bdk=0 https://www.buzzfuse.net/5-1/50-famous-serial-killer-quotes-that-will-creep-inside-your-brain/
Worthen, M. (2020, September 08). David Berkowitz. Retrieved from https://www.biography.com/crime-figure/david-berkowitz Hayden, A. V. (2020, May 08). What Was Son Of Sam's Calling Card? David Berkowitz Said He Was 'Programmed' To Kill. Retrieved from https://www.oxygen.com/mark-of-a-killer/crime-news/why-son-of-sam-kill-david-berkowitz-programmed-kill Admin. (2020, March 31). The Shocking Reason Serial Killer David Berkowitz Targeted Women. Retrieved from https://www.aetv.com/real-crime/the-shocking-reason-serial-killer-david-berkowitz-targeted-women (n.d.). Retrieved from http://web.lemoyne.edu/~Freemams/index_files/psych_serial.htm (2020, January 25). Retrieved March 25, 2021, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZatEG03Y6Zg Google images retrieved from: https://filmdaily.co/obsessions/david-berkowitz/ https://www.gettyimages.co.nz/photos/david-berkowitz?family=editorial&phrase=david%20berkowitz&sort=mostpopular https://boredomtherapy.com/s/david-berkowitz-killer?as=799&asv=1&bdk=0 https://www.buzzfuse.net/5-1/50-famous-serial-killer-quotes-that-will-creep-inside-your-brain/
References - Allison
David Richard Berkowitz-Victims. Retrieved March 21, 2021. Murderpedia. Retrieved from: https://murderpedia.org/male.B/b/berkowitz-victims.htm Editors, Biography.com. (2014, April 2). David berkowitz biography. A&E Televison Networks. Retrieved from: https://www.biography.com/crime-figure/david-berkowitz Editors, History.com. (2010, February 9). On this day in history: Son of sam serial killer is arrested. History. Retrieved from: https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/son-of-sam-arrested Simth, J. (2019). The son of sam: The life of serial killer david berkowitz. Maplewood Publishing. ISBN: 9781095578254 Images of victims retrieved from: https://murderpedia.org/male.B/b/berkowitz-victims.htm Google images retrieved from: https://gothamist.com/news/david-berkowitz-son-of-sam-was-arrested-35-years-ago-today https://www.aetv.com/tags/son-of-sam https://www.biography.com/crime-figure/david-berkowitz
David Richard Berkowitz-Victims. Retrieved March 21, 2021. Murderpedia. Retrieved from: https://murderpedia.org/male.B/b/berkowitz-victims.htm Editors, Biography.com. (2014, April 2). David berkowitz biography. A&E Televison Networks. Retrieved from: https://www.biography.com/crime-figure/david-berkowitz Editors, History.com. (2010, February 9). On this day in history: Son of sam serial killer is arrested. History. Retrieved from: https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/son-of-sam-arrested Simth, J. (2019). The son of sam: The life of serial killer david berkowitz. Maplewood Publishing. ISBN: 9781095578254 Images of victims retrieved from: https://murderpedia.org/male.B/b/berkowitz-victims.htm Google images retrieved from: https://gothamist.com/news/david-berkowitz-son-of-sam-was-arrested-35-years-ago-today https://www.aetv.com/tags/son-of-sam https://www.biography.com/crime-figure/david-berkowitz