Essay Son of Sam

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David Berkowitz ‘Son of Sam’

1. Childhood

Born Richard David Falco, he was adopted by Nathan and Pearl Berkowitz when he was only a few days old. David Berkowitz was an intelligent but troubled child growing up. He had a close relationship with his mother, he suffered from depression after her death when he was a teenager. When Berkowitz turned 18, he joined the U.S. Army. In 1974, Berkowitz left the Army and returned home to New York. He got a job at the post office and moved into an apartment in Yonkers, Neighbours and co-workers considered him to be a quiet loner.

2. Reign of terror

Berkowitz was arrested on August 10, 1977, 11 days after his last murder, and was sentenced to 365 years in prison. His killing spree began on July 29, 1976, he shot two teenage women outside an apartment building in the Bronx. Berkowitz shot the two women sitting in Valenti’s parked car, killing Lauria and injuring Valenti. Three months

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later, Berkowitz killed again. He shot at another couple sitting in a parked car, one of which died again. Later that year, he attacked two teenage girls walking home. He shot both girls, leaving one of them a paraplegic and the other deceased. At the time, the police did not think these shootings were related. Before long, the police would nickname him the .44-caliber killer.

Later that year in March, Berkowitz claimed another victim, a college student,Virginia Voskerichian. He killed her as she was walking home from classes. The next month Berkowitz killed a couple, Valentina Suriani and Alexander Esau, in their parked car. The killer began taunting the police, he left a letter for a police captain near the scene. In his note, Berkowitz called himself the ‘Son of Sam’. Berkowitz's final attack was on July 31, 1977. He shot another couple, in Brooklyn. Fortunately for the police, a witness noticed saw a man getting away in a car that had a parking ticket on it. The police traced it back to David Berkowitz and arrested him on August 10, 1977, only hours after his final attack.

3. Explinations

Berkowitz explained to police investigators that he his neighbour Sam Carr was commanding his to kill by sending messages trough his dog, he said "He told me to kill. Sam is the devil" For many months Berkowitz underwent numerous psychological evaluations. In August 1978, Berkowitz pled guilty to the six killings. He later received 25 years to life for each murder which added to a total of 365 years in prison. To this day Berkowitz is serving a life sentence at Sullivan Correctional Facility in Fallsburg, New

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York. Previously rejected for parole, Berkowitz has said that he will not seek release at his
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