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David Berkowitz is still in prison, and has been housed at the New York Shawangunk Correction Facility, since 2016. |
David Berkowitz in 2024
at 71 Years Old (on June 1st) |
While David remains behind bars, he continues to do a lot of work outside prison walls (see Updates). |
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This page provides answers to questions about David Berkowitz's childhood, his birth parents, Betty Broder and Joseph Kleinman, as well as his relationship with his adoptive parents, Pearl and Nathan Berkowitz. David shares more details about his young adult life, and his life today, as he tries to sort out what led to that pull down a very dark path. He will also explain more about the "barking dog," where the moniker "Son of Sam" came from, and what prison life is really like, in a 9 part video series called, In His Own Words.
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Additional links are included in the content below for more information.
Please note that David takes full responsibility for his crimes (see David Berkowitz's Apology).
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David Berkowitz *was a serial killer known as the Son of Sam, or the 44 caliber killer, who terrorized New York City for a full year before he was arrested on August 10th, 1977. Some of the demonic entities David claimed he was serving were Samhain, the Duke of Death, and Wicked King Wicker. David would kill 6 innocent young people and seriously wound 7 others before being taken into custody.
Watch a short film about some of the devastation he caused: Son of Sam/Son of Hope - Part 1 (watch Parts 1-3) On May 8,1978, David Berkowitz pleaded guilty and began serving 6 consecutive life sentences without parole. He would be transferred to different prisons over the years, but Attica was his first. Attica The Arrival Getting Adjusted Learn more about: David Berkowitz's Life in Prison |
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Why did David Berkowitz start killing? What happened to him?
Childhood:
Richard David Berkowitz was born on June 1st, 1953, in Brooklyn, New York, to Betty (Rebecca) Broder. David would later learn that he was the result of an extra marital affair between his mother and a businessman, named Joseph Kleinman. Though Betty wanted to keep her baby, Joe did not. There were many arguments between them over the pregnancy, but David would be given up for adoption shortly after his birth.
Richard David Berkowitz was born on June 1st, 1953, in Brooklyn, New York, to Betty (Rebecca) Broder. David would later learn that he was the result of an extra marital affair between his mother and a businessman, named Joseph Kleinman. Though Betty wanted to keep her baby, Joe did not. There were many arguments between them over the pregnancy, but David would be given up for adoption shortly after his birth.
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Nathan and Pearl Berkowitz lived in The Bronx, where they also owned a hardware store. They were a religious Jewish couple (as were David's birth parents). Being unable to have children of their own, they decided to adopt David. The Berkowitzes were in their 40s at that time and were able to provide him with a good and loving home. |
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At the age of 4 or 5, Nathan and Pearl decided to tell David he was adopted. They were advised by "experts" to tell young David that his mother died at birth, so that he would not feel unwanted. The Berkowitzes also told him that his dad was not able to take care of him, so they made the arrangements to adopt him, because they wanted him. Rather than comforting their little boy, by being honest and telling them about their love for him, this new information brought emotional torment to David. From that moment on, he felt responsible for his birth mother's death, even imagining how much his birth father must hate him. |
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Early on, David suffered from depression and had many emotional problems, even thoughts of suicide. He remembers having, what he called, "seizures," which looked more like tantrums, where he felt out of control. David has shared how he was always drawn to darkness, and that he would have urges to jump in front of cars, or off a bridge. He would climb out his window, 6 stories up, and down the fire escape to walk the streets in the middle of the night, while his parents slept. Because he was a difficult child, David would remain in constant trouble at school, which led to him having to attend counseling for 2 years.
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Even though David was a handful, he was very close to his mother, Pearl. Unfortunately, she was diagnosed with cancer, and died not very long after. So, at 14 years old, with his dad having to work long hours to run his own business, and relatives not living in the area, David would have to learn to manage himself, alone. A Pearl of Great Price Mom |
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After high school, in 1971, David enlisted in the Army and would serve for 3 years. After his term of enlistment was completed, in 1974, he returned to The Bronx. David's dad had since remarried and moved to Florida. Most of his friends had moved on as well. David was alone at that time, and lonely. He would then begin the search for his birth parents, through ALMA, the Adoptees' Liberty Movement Association. |
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For more details:
Welcomed Into the World
In His Own Words - See Parts 1 & 2 (emotional childhood story leading up to meeting his birth mother and family)
Profiles in Faith - See Parts 2 & 3
Son of Sam/Son of Hope - See Part 1
Welcomed Into the World
In His Own Words - See Parts 1 & 2 (emotional childhood story leading up to meeting his birth mother and family)
Profiles in Faith - See Parts 2 & 3
Son of Sam/Son of Hope - See Part 1
For more understanding about what happened to David Berkowitz:
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Dr. Mike Caparrelli is a sought-after speaker for churches of all denominations, prisons, universities, men's conferences, workshops, radio shows, and Teen Challenge events. |
Click Image to View Back Cover
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Monster Mirror is now available at Amazon.com in English, and Spanish. More details All proceeds will go to UnMuted, a non-profit organization that gives victims of trauma their voices back. |
Note: David does not receive any monetary gain from the sale of this book.
Satanism:
Because of David's loneliness, emotional problems, and because he was still searching for something, he was vulnerable.
One night, he was invited to a party. This would be the event where he would meet others who were involved in the occult and witchcraft.
In His Own Words - See Part 3
Profiles in Faith - See Part 2
Son of Sam/Son of Hope - See Parts 1 & 2
Satan's Bible
A Letter to a Satanist
Santeria & Gangs
Breaking the Chains
Because of David's loneliness, emotional problems, and because he was still searching for something, he was vulnerable.
One night, he was invited to a party. This would be the event where he would meet others who were involved in the occult and witchcraft.
In His Own Words - See Part 3
Profiles in Faith - See Part 2
Son of Sam/Son of Hope - See Parts 1 & 2
Satan's Bible
A Letter to a Satanist
Santeria & Gangs
Breaking the Chains
What about the barking dog? What does "Son of Sam" mean?
David explains "the barking dog," and "Samhain," where the moniker, Son of Sam, came from:
In His Own Words - See Part 4
False Narratives
Foolish Things
Santeria & Gangs
In His Own Words - See Part 4
False Narratives
Foolish Things
Santeria & Gangs
What about David Berkowitz's victims?
David continually prays for his victims and their families:
David Berkowitz's Apology
An Unwelcome Anniversary
David's Broken Life
A Day to Forget - 8/10/77
In 2001, he was given the opportunity to speak with the mother of Stacey Moskowitz, the last victim of the Son of Sam shootings:
In His Own Words - See Part 8 (letters from Neysa Moskowitz)
Neysa Has Died
David Berkowitz's Apology
An Unwelcome Anniversary
David's Broken Life
A Day to Forget - 8/10/77
In 2001, he was given the opportunity to speak with the mother of Stacey Moskowitz, the last victim of the Son of Sam shootings:
In His Own Words - See Part 8 (letters from Neysa Moskowitz)
Neysa Has Died
Is David Berkowitz eligible for parole?
David explains why his 6 consecutive life sentences were consolidated into one 25 years to life sentence, and the possibility of parole:
In His Own Words - See Part 6
In His Own Words - See Part 6
What is David Berkowitz's Prison Life Really Like?
In 1979, an inmate slashed David's throat:
In His Own Words - See Part 7
Living in Prison
Aging in Prison
Profiles in Faith - See Part 2 (a prison guard shares what David was like when he first came to prison)
What is Prison All About
Michael Love Shares What David Was Like in Prison
Learn more about: David Berkowitz's Life in Prison
In His Own Words - See Part 7
Living in Prison
Aging in Prison
Profiles in Faith - See Part 2 (a prison guard shares what David was like when he first came to prison)
What is Prison All About
Michael Love Shares What David Was Like in Prison
Learn more about: David Berkowitz's Life in Prison
What is David Berkowitz like today?
David continues to state that he believes the SOS crimes were demonically driven, and that he was under a strong degree of demonic control at the time. David went through periods of denial regarding this, but today, more than forty years later, he now fully understands the dark forces which worked to mold and shape him, leading him down a path he will forever regret.
*When David received Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior, his sins were forgiven. David is now a new creation, in Christ Jesus. Old things have passed, and new things have come (2 Corinthians 5:17). David despises the Son of Sam moniker and now wishes to be known as the Son of Hope.
Breaking the Chains
Man of Torment
Am I a Criminal?
Life Goes On
What If They Don't Believe
David Berkowitz's original Testimony