Where is David Berkowitz Now? Who is David Berkowitz?
by Kavitha
Updated Feb 02, 2024
Who is David Berkowitz?
David Richard Berkowitz, born as Richard David Falco on June 1, 1953, is an American serial killer known by the infamous aliases "Son of Sam" and the ".44 Caliber Killer." He gained notoriety for a series of shootings that began in New York City on July 29, 1976. Berkowitz grew up in New York and served in the United States Army.
Using a .44 Special caliber Bulldog revolver, Berkowitz committed a total of eight shootings, resulting in the deaths of six people and injuries to seven others by July 1977. His crimes created widespread terror in New York City, and he managed to evade the city's largest police manhunt while taunting law enforcement with letters promising further violence.
Berkowitz was finally apprehended on August 10, 1977. He confessed to all the shootings, initially claiming he was following orders from a demon that manifested as a black dog belonging to his neighbor, "Sam."
After being deemed mentally competent to stand trial, he pleaded guilty to second-degree murder. Berkowitz received six consecutive life sentences in state prison, with the possibility of parole after 25 years. He later admitted that his story about the demonic dog was a hoax.
The intense media coverage surrounding Berkowitz gave him a sort of celebrity status, which he seemingly enjoyed. New York enacted "Son of Sam laws" to prevent criminals from profiting financially from the publicity of their crimes. In the mid-1990s, Berkowitz, now professing to be a converted evangelical Christian, altered his confession, claiming involvement in a violent Satanic cult orchestrating the murders as ritual acts.
A new investigation in 1996 yielded inconclusive findings and was indefinitely suspended. Berkowitz remains incarcerated at the Shawangunk Correctional Facility in New York.
Full Name
David Richard Berkowitz
Birth Date
June 1, 1953
Age
70 years
Birth Place
Brooklyn, New York, U.S.
Adoption
Adopted by Pearl and Nathan Berkowitz
Education
Attended Bronx Community College
Where is David Berkowitz Now?
David Berkowitz, infamously known as the Son of Sam, is currently 70 years old and serving time at the Shawangunk Correctional Facility in New York. Convicted of eight shootings in New York City in 1976, he targeted young women during a killing spree that began in December 1975. Berkowitz's crimes involved a series of attacks on individuals, and he expressed pleasure in the acts, often returning to the crime scenes.
Following a string of murders and injuries, Berkowitz was found competent to stand trial after three independent mental health examinations. Despite claiming insanity and initially jumping out of a window during his sentencing, he eventually pleaded guilty to all crimes, receiving six consecutive life sentences with the possibility of parole.
Berkowitz, in a letter left at a crime scene, coined the moniker "Son of Sam." He attributed his actions to a belief that a demon possessed his neighbor Sam Carr, instructing him through Sam's dog, Harvey. Although investigators initially explored the possibility of a larger group of killers, Berkowitz almost immediately confessed upon his arrest.
Having expressed disinterest in parole hearings, Berkowitz stated that he had come to terms with his actions and deserved the punishment. Now, four decades later, he remains incarcerated, serving his life sentences at the Shawangunk Correctional Facility. The docuseries "Sons of Sam: A Descent into Darkness," currently streaming on Netflix, delves into the murders committed by Berkowitz and explores potential connections to a larger cult.
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David Berkowitz Childhood
David Berkowitz, originally named Richard David Falco, was born on June 1, 1953, in Brooklyn, New York. His biological mother, Elizabeth Broder, gave him up for adoption shortly after his birth due to personal challenges. He was adopted by Pearl and Nathan Berkowitz of the Bronx, a middle-aged couple who ran a hardware store.
Berkowitz's childhood was somewhat troubled. Despite being of above-average intelligence, he lost interest in education early on and developed an inclination towards petty theft and starting fires. He experienced head injuries during his childhood, and neighbors and relatives described him as difficult, spoiled, and a bully. Although his adoptive parents sought the help of a psychotherapist due to his misconduct, there were no legal interventions or serious issues in his school records.
Living in Co-op City, Berkowitz faced challenges after his adoptive mother's death from breast cancer when he was 14. His relationship with his adoptive father's second wife was strained. Berkowitz attended Christopher Columbus High School, graduating in 1971, and later joined the United States Army at the age of 17, serving at Fort Knox and in South Korea.
After an honorable discharge in 1974, Berkowitz sought out his birth mother, Betty. The revelation of his birth details, including the absence of a stable father figure, became a significant crisis in his life, affecting his sense of identity. Although his communication with his birth mother later waned, he remained in contact with his adoptive sister, Roslyn.
Berkowitz attended Bronx Community College for a year in 1975 and worked various non-professional jobs, including driving for the Co-Op City Taxi Company and sorting letters for the United States Postal Service at the time of his arrest in 1977. His troubled childhood and the challenges he faced contributed to the complex background of the man who would later become infamously known as the Son of Sam.
David Berkowitz Mindhunter
David Berkowitz, also known as the "Son of Sam," is portrayed in Netflix's "Mindhunter" by actor Oliver Cooper. The series features Berkowitz in the second season, where FBI agents Holden Ford and Bill Tench interview him. Berkowitz, who pleaded guilty to eight shootings in New York City, is depicted as claiming to follow orders from a demonic presence manifested through his neighbor's dog.
The real-life Berkowitz used a .44 caliber Bulldog revolver to commit his crimes, targeting women in the summer of 1976. His first victim was stabbed, and over nearly a year, he killed six people and wounded seven others. While "Mindhunter" explores Berkowitz's initial claims of demonic influence, he later retracted them. Currently serving time in prison, Berkowitz is portrayed as a complex figure in the series, offering insights into his crimes and psyche.
Where is David Berkowitz Now - FAQs
David Berkowitz, also known as Son of Sam, is a convicted serial killer responsible for a series of shootings in New York City in 1976.
Berkowitz committed a total of eight shootings, resulting in six murders and injuries to seven others.
Berkowitz referred to himself as Son of Sam in a letter left at a crime scene, claiming a demonic influence through his neighbor's dog named Sam.
Berkowitz pleaded guilty and received six consecutive life sentences in prison.
Berkowitz, now 70, is currently serving his sentence at the Shawangunk Correctional Facility in New York.