2. Berkowitz's Childhood
David Broder was born on
David Berkowitz
1 June 1953, was put for
adoption
As a teen, he was a
loner and isolated from
his peers
Tended to display an
aggressive, violent
streak and often bullied
other children
3. A Bitter Scene
One event that disturbed
It was after Pearl’s death
him, and caused him to that Berkowitz became
be bitter about life, was more mentally unstable
losing his adoptive
Stayed with Sam Carr,
mother to cancer where he got his name
Pearl Berkowitz, passed “Son of Sam”
away in 1967 when
He said the dogs were
David was still a teen possessed and that their
demons would tell him to
kill
4. To the Army
In the summer of 1971 he joined the army where he
excelled as a proficient marksman
It was this kind of disturbing skill that was to be his tool
for killing in such a cold manner later on the streets of
Queens and Brooklyn
5. Berkowitz's Crime Spree
November 26, 1976 –
July 29, 1976 – Jody Donna DeMasi and Joanne
Valenti and Donna Lauria October 23, 1976 – Carl Lomino were walking near
were shot as they sat Denaro and Rosemary Joanne’s home. Berkowitz
talking in a parked car Keenan were shot while followed them briefly, then
outside Donna’s apartment. sitting in Denaro’s parked shot them. Donna survived
Lauria died instantly from a car. Both survived, but Carl without suffering permanent
gunshot wound to her neck. was struck in the head by physical harm, but Joanne
Valenti survived the attack one of the bullets was paralyzed for life
January 30, 1977 – March 8, 1977 – Virginia April 17, 1977 – Valentina
Christine Freund and her Voskerichian, a Barnard Suriani and her boyfriend
fiance John Diel were shot College honor student was Alexander Esau, were both
as they sat in a parked car. shot and killed while shot twice. Both died as a
Christine died. John Diel walking home from class result of gunshot wounds.
survived the attack Berkowitz left a letter at the
scene, signed “Son of Sam”
6. Berkowitz's Crime Spree
June 26, 1977 – Judy July 31, 1977 – Bobby
Placido and Sal Lupu Violante and Stacy
were shot while leaving a Moskowitz were shot in the
disco. Both survived car while parked at a lover’s
although Judy was shot lane. Stacy died from a
three times gunshot wound to her head
and Bobby lost vision in one
eye and partial vision in the
other eye
7. “Someone's Got a Ticket”
Berkowitz was eventually
caught after receiving a
parking ticket at the time
and near the place of a
murdered victim, later
known that he was the
killer
''Evidence:letters he wrote
to an old friend, his military
background, his
appearance, and an arson
incident''(crime.about.com)
8. The Conclusion of Things
Berkowitz admitted that he invented the “Son of Sam” stories
so that if caught he could convince the court that he was
insane. He said the real reason he killed was because he felt
resentment toward his mother and his failures with women.
He found killing the women to be sexually arousing
He was sentenced on June 12, 1978 to six life
sentences in prison for the killings; 365 years
Today Berkowitz is a born-again Christian and,
ironically, described as a model prisoner
