| David Berkowitz, America's notorious serial | | | | This was when the cops woke up and found a |
| killer called himself 'Son of Sam'. He | | | | pattern in the killings. The target had been |
| confessed to six killings and wounding many | | | | women with long brown hair or couples in a |
| others but police estimate his killings to be | | | | car in car parks. Another girl, Virginia, was |
| much more than six. He was born to Betty | | | | killed point blank on the road in Queens. |
| Broder and Joseph Klienman, with whom she had | | | | |
| an affair while married to Tony Falco. David | | | | The police took all the murders together and |
| Berkowitz's original name was Richard David | | | | "Operation Omega" was launched to find |
| Falco. | | | | Berkowitz. Around 300 cops were involved in |
| | | | this operation. |
| He was born in Brooklyn, New York in 1953. | | | | |
| Joseph refused to accept the child and so | | | | Finally David was arrested in front of his |
| Betty gave him the name of her husband, | | | | house on August 10th 1977 in New York. It is |
| Falco. As soon as he was born he was given in | | | | understood that his first words to the police |
| adoption to a Jewish couple who changed his | | | | were "what took you so long"? His thirst for |
| name to David Berkowitz. | | | | blood and his adopted mother's death, which |
| | | | he felt was a master plot to destroy him, |
| As a child David never had any interest in | | | | turned him into a serial killer. |
| studies. But he was a good basket ball player | | | | |
| and was a bully in his neighborhood. His | | | | On arrest, he pleaded guilty and wanted to |
| adopted father remarried after his first wife | | | | avoid death penalty. He is a reformed |
| died, but David who was devastated by his | | | | Christian today and prefers to remain in |
| mother's death, never liked his father's | | | | prison for his entire life. How he gave |
| second wife. Due to this, his relationship | | | | himself the name 'Son of Sam' is a bit weird |
| with his father also got strained. David | | | | and this made the police suspect that he was |
| joined the US Army in 1971 and went to South | | | | mentally disturbed. Sam was the name of his |
| Korea. He later took to Christianity and | | | | neighbor, Sam Carr, who had a black Labrador, |
| claimed himself to be born again. | | | | which David thought was possessed by an |
| | | | ancient demon. He felt that the dog ordered |
| His first attack was on two women, out of | | | | him to kill. |
| which one survived in 1975. His shooting | | | | |
| spree began in the summer of 1976. In New | | | | He believed that when he tried to kill the |
| York, he shot two women at point blank range | | | | dog he missed the target because of super |
| while they were sitting inside a car in a car | | | | natural intervention. His statements clearly |
| park. In October 1976, another victim, a | | | | proved his mental state and he was sentenced |
| young 19 year old, was shot at in a car park | | | | to 365 years in jail in 1978. |
| in Queens. A month later, he shot two other | | | | |
| women who were walking home after a movie in | | | | David's life story has inspired many film |
| Queens. Though both survived the attack, one | | | | directors to make movies on him. "I am deeply |
| was paralyzed waist down. | | | | hurt by your calling me a women hater. I am |
| | | | not. But I am a monster. I am the 'Son of |
| The new year of 1977 brought more killings in | | | | Sam.' I am a little brat." These are the |
| New York. The modus operandi was the same as | | | | opening sentences of his letter to Captain |
| others. Christine and John were sitting in | | | | Joseph Borelli, where he calls himself a |
| their car in a car park. Though John | | | | demon who is called from above to "kill". |
| survived, Christine succumbed to bullet | | | | Today, David Berkowitz is a born-again |
| injuries. | | | | Christian who is described as a model |
| | | | prisoner. |