Who is David Berkowitz and where is he now?

A NETFLIX documentary sheds a new light on the murders of the infamous American serial killer known as the “Son of Sam”.

The streaming giant’s latest true crime fixture uses case files and interviews with investigators and journalists who followed the gruesome story and looks at evidence suggesting that David Berkowitz may not have acted alone.

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Who is ‘The Son of Sam’ David Berkowitz? 

David Berkowitz murdered six people in New York between July 29, 1976, and July 31, 1977, shooting them with his .44 revolver.

His self-appointed moniker “Son of Sam” comes from Berkowitz’s claim that he had received  orders from a demon-possessed black labrador owned by a neighbour.

Berkowitz selected his victims randomly, plunging the city into panic and launching one of the biggest manhunts in New York history.

Police and the media initially christened him the “.44-caliber killer, but he gave himself the nickname “Son of Sam” in a letter he left for cops to find.

It read:  “I am deeply hurt by your calling me a wemon [sic] hater. I am not. But I am a monster. I am the ‘Son of Sam’.

“Sam loves to drink blood. ‘Go out and kill’ commands father Sam.”

What did David Berkowitz do? 

Berkowitz murdered six people and wounded many others over the course of his killing spree.

The first of his victims were teenagers Donna Lauria and Jody Valenti, a pair of friends who were in Valenti’s car in Pelham Bay when they were attacked on July 29, 1976.

Lauria was killed, while Valenti was injured.

Some months later, he shot at a couple, Carl Denaro, 20  and Rosemary Keenan, 18, in another parked car. The man suffered a massive skull injury. 

That November, Berkowitz also shot at two teen girls walking home together, leaving one a paraplegic.

In January 1977, he attacked another couple in a parked car. 

Berkowitz shot twice at Christine Freund and her fiancé, striking Freund’s head, which later proved to be fatal.

That March, Berkowitz murdered college student Virginia Voskerichian as she was walking home from a class. 

In February, Berkowitz shot at another couple, Valentina Surinam and Alexander Esau, in their car, but this time, he left a letter nearby addressed to NYPD Captain Joseph Borrelli, calling himself “Son of Sam” for the first time.

Berkowitz’s final shooting happened on July 31, 1977, in Brooklyn, when he shot Stacy Moskowitz and Bobby Violante. 

Moskowitz later died, and Violante was blinded in one eye and lost most of the vision in the other from his injuries.

Berkowitz was arrested on August 10, 1977.

Did David Berkowitz act alone?

During questioning, Berkowitz said that the dog belonging to his neighbour Sam Carr sent messages to Berkowitz to carry out the killings.

He underwent numerous psychological evaluations but was declared “competent” to stand trial.

In 1978 he pleaded guilty and received six 25-years-to-life sentences for his crimes. 

In a letter to his psychiatrist Berkowitz retracted his possessed dog “Son of Sam” story claiming it was a “silly hoax”.

He is the only person charged with the shootings, although some investigators believe that there may have been other gunmen involved in some of the crimes.

One claim, by NBC journalist John Hockenberry, suggests that he was part of a group of satanists.

Berkowitz names two suspects – brothers John and Michael Carr – however both are deceased.

Where is David Berkowitz now?  

Berkowitz is now 67 years old and is serving his time in Shawangunk Correctional Facility in Wallkill, New York.

He became eligible for parole 25 years after he was sentenced but each time it has been denied.

The Sons of Sam will be available to stream on Netflix from May 5, 2021.