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Photo: Vernun Argus press photographer. 10 August 1977 · Public domain

Born in United States · Nationality American — Crime / mafias / terrorism / criminal cases

David Berkowitz

Violent crime and serial killers

Documented profile covering 21 controversies, including “2026: Berkowitz declines to participate in his thirteenth parole hearing” and “2002–2024: repeated parole denials, twelfth denial in May 2024”.

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Profile No. 2555 · Updated on 12 October 2026

21Documented controversies

10Sources

1 followed by a conviction

§ Legal statuses reflect the documented sources as of the date shown; they replace neither court decisions nor the presumption of innocence. Counts are not a rating. Methodology

I. Documented controversies

Case · 14 documented stages

2026: Berkowitz declines to participate in his thirteenth parole hearing

Conviction

01

May 2026

2026: Berkowitz declines to participate in his thirteenth parole hearing

Conviction

Berkowitz chose not to participate in the parole hearing scheduled for May 2026, explaining that he was not seeking release from prison and considered his religious work among inmates to be his calling.

State of the evidence: Documented
Attribution: Directly implicated

Sources · 1

[1]
A&E Crime + InvestigationWhy ‘Son of Sam’ David Berkowitz Skipped His Last Parole HearingPressHigh reliability

Last verified: 15 September 2026

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02

2002–14 May 2024

2002–2024: repeated parole denials, twelfth denial in May 2024

Conviction

Eligible for parole since 2002, Berkowitz has repeatedly been denied release. His twelfth application was rejected following the hearing of 14 May 2024; he remained incarcerated at Shawangunk Correctional Facility.

State of the evidence: Documented
Attribution: Directly implicated

Sources · 2

[1]
Associated Press'Son of Sam' killer Berkowitz denied parole in 12th attemptNews agencyHigh reliability
[2]
A&E Crime + InvestigationWhy ‘Son of Sam’ David Berkowitz Skipped His Last Parole HearingPressHigh reliability

Last verified: 15 September 2026

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06

1977–8 May 1978

1977–May 1978: debate over mental competence followed by guilty pleas to six murders

Conviction

Berkowitz's bizarre statements prompted psychiatric assessments and debate over his fitness to stand trial. Ultimately found competent, he pleaded guilty in May 1978 to the six murders, against his lawyers' recommendation to continue with an insanity defence.

State of the evidence: Established by a court
Attribution: Directly implicated

Sources · 2

[1]
The Washington PostBerkowitz Pleads Guilty In 'Son of Sam' MurdersPressHigh reliability
[2]
A&E Crime + InvestigationWhy ‘Son of Sam’ David Berkowitz Skipped His Last Parole HearingPressHigh reliability

Last verified: 15 September 2026

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07

22 May 1978

22 May 1978: violent outburst and provocative remarks — sentencing hearing interrupted and further psychiatric assessment

Conviction

During the initial sentencing hearing, Berkowitz behaved violently towards officers and made particularly provocative remarks about the victims, leading to the hearing's postponement and a further assessment.

State of the evidence: Documented
Attribution: Directly implicated

Sources · 2

[1]
The Washington PostYelling, 'I'd Kill Them All Again,' Berkowitz Derails SentencingPressHigh reliability
[2]
The Washington PostBerkowitz Given Maximum 25-Years-to-Life SentencesPressHigh reliability

Last verified: 15 September 2026

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08

12 June 1978

12 June 1978: maximum sentences of 25 years to life for each of the six murders

Conviction

Three judges imposed the maximum sentences available for the murders on Berkowitz, namely 25 years to life for each. Modern summaries describe the overall sentence as six consecutive terms, alongside sentences for attempted murder.

Attribution: Directly implicated

Sources · 2

[1]
The Washington PostBerkowitz Given Maximum 25-Years-to-Life SentencesPressHigh reliability
[2]
A&E Crime + InvestigationWhy ‘Son of Sam’ David Berkowitz Skipped His Last Parole HearingPressHigh reliability

Last verified: 15 September 2026

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10

30 January 1977

30 January 1977: Christine Freund killed, John Diel survives

Conviction

Christine Freund was fatally shot while her companion John Diel survived the attack in their car.

State of the evidence: Established by a court
Attribution: Directly implicated

Sources · 2

[1]
Crime+Investigation UKDavid Berkowitz (Son of Sam) — TimelinePressMedium reliability
[2]
HistorySon of Sam serial killer is arrestedPressMedium reliability

Last verified: 15 September 2026

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11

8 March 1977

8 March 1977: Virginia Voskerichian killed — ballistics help link the attacks

Conviction

Virginia Voskerichian was killed while walking home. A recovered bullet helped investigators link her murder to the same killer's series of attacks.

State of the evidence: Established by a court
Attribution: Directly implicated

Sources · 2

[1]
Crime+Investigation UKDavid Berkowitz (Son of Sam) — TimelinePressMedium reliability
[2]
HistorySon of Sam serial killer is arrestedPressMedium reliability

Last verified: 15 September 2026

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12

17 April 1977

17 April 1977: Valentina Suriani and Alexander Esau killed in their car

Conviction

Valentina Suriani and Alexander Esau were killed while sitting in a car near Hutchinson River Parkway.

State of the evidence: Established by a court
Attribution: Directly implicated

Sources · 3

[1]
Crime+Investigation UKDavid Berkowitz (Son of Sam) — TimelinePressMedium reliability
[2]
HistorySon of Sam serial killer is arrestedPressMedium reliability
[3]
The Washington PostBerkowitz Pleads Guilty In 'Son of Sam' MurdersPressHigh reliability

Last verified: 15 September 2026

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14

26 June 1977

26 June 1977: Judy Placido and Sal Lupo wounded but survive

Conviction

Judy Placido and Sal Lupo were targeted in another night-time attack and survived.

Attribution: Directly implicated

Sources · 1

[1]
Crime+Investigation UKDavid Berkowitz (Son of Sam) — TimelinePressMedium reliability

Last verified: 15 September 2026

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15

31 July 1977

31 July 1977: Stacy Moskowitz killed, Robert Violante seriously wounded and nearly blinded

Conviction

In the final attack of the series, Stacy Moskowitz was killed and Robert Violante seriously wounded, losing most of his sight.

State of the evidence: Established by a court
Attribution: Directly implicated

Sources · 2

[1]
Crime+Investigation UKDavid Berkowitz (Son of Sam) — TimelinePressMedium reliability
[2]
The Washington PostBerkowitz Pleads Guilty In 'Son of Sam' MurdersPressHigh reliability

Last verified: 15 September 2026

Add to this entry

16

10–11 August 1977

10 August 1977: arrest following a parking ticket lead and swift confession

Conviction

Police traced a parking ticket issued near the final crime scene to Berkowitz's vehicle. He was arrested outside his home in Yonkers and quickly admitted to the crimes, initially offering an account involving demonic commands associated with a neighbour's dog.

Attribution: Directly implicated

Sources · 2

[1]
A&E Crime + InvestigationWhy ‘Son of Sam’ David Berkowitz Skipped His Last Parole HearingPressHigh reliability
[2]
Associated Press'Son of Sam' killer Berkowitz denied parole in 12th attemptNews agencyHigh reliability

Last verified: 15 September 2026

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18

29 July 1976

29 July 1976: Donna Lauria killed, Jody Valenti wounded — first homicide in the “Son of Sam” series

Conviction

Donna Lauria was killed and Jody Valenti wounded when Berkowitz shot them as they sat in a car in the Bronx. This was the first murder in the series brought to trial.

State of the evidence: Established by a court
Attribution: Directly implicated

Sources · 3

[1]
Crime+Investigation UKDavid Berkowitz (Son of Sam) — TimelinePressMedium reliability
[2]
A&E Crime + InvestigationWhy ‘Son of Sam’ David Berkowitz Skipped His Last Parole HearingPressHigh reliability
[3]
The Washington PostBerkowitz Pleads Guilty In 'Son of Sam' MurdersPressHigh reliability

Last verified: 15 September 2026

Add to this entry

19

23 October 1976

23 October 1976: Carl Denaro seriously wounded in the second shooting of the series

Conviction

Carl Denaro was seriously wounded by gunfire while sitting in a car with Rosemary Keenan. The attack was subsequently linked to the same series involving a .44-calibre revolver.

Attribution: Directly implicated

Sources · 1

[1]
Crime+Investigation UKDavid Berkowitz (Son of Sam) — TimelinePressMedium reliability

Last verified: 15 September 2026

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20

26 November 1976

26 November 1976: Donna DeMasi and Joanne Lomino wounded, with Lomino left paralysed

Conviction

Donna DeMasi and Joanne Lomino were struck by shots fired by Berkowitz. Both survived, but Lomino was left paraplegic.

Attribution: Directly implicated

Sources · 1

[1]
Crime+Investigation UKDavid Berkowitz (Son of Sam) — TimelinePressMedium reliability

Last verified: 15 September 2026

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03

1977–10 December 1991

1977–1991: his case inspires the “Son of Sam law”, subsequently struck down by the Supreme Court for violating the First Amendment

Civil / administrative proceedings

The prospect of Berkowitz profiting from accounts of his crimes directly prompted New York's so-called “Son of Sam” law. In 1991, the United States Supreme Court struck down that version of the law as an excessively broad content-based restriction under the First Amendment.

State of the evidence: Documented

Sources · 1

[1]
Supreme Court of the United States / Cornell LIISimon & Schuster, Inc. v. Members of the New York State Crime Victims BoardCourt decisionVery high reliability

Last verified: 15 September 2026

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04

September 1987

1987: more than 118,000 dollars from books and films awarded to victims and families

Civil / administrative proceedings

A judge ordered that more than 118,000 dollars from book and film contracts linked to Berkowitz be distributed to eight victims or victims' families.

State of the evidence: Documented
Attribution: Directly implicated

Sources · 1

[1]
The Washington PostVictims to Get 'Son of Sam' ProfitsPressHigh reliability

Last verified: 15 September 2026

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05

10 July 1979

1979: throat slashed by fellow inmate at Attica — Berkowitz refuses to identify attacker

Protagonist is the victim

Protagonist is the victim — these proceedings are not counted in their formal charges or convictions.

A fellow inmate slashed Berkowitz's throat at Attica, requiring dozens of stitches. Berkowitz refused to cooperate in identifying the attacker, which prevented prosecution according to the authorities.

State of the evidence: Documented
Role of the person profiled: Protagonist is the victim

Sources · 1

[1]
The Washington Post'Son of Sam' Killer Has Throat Slashed by a Fellow InmatePressHigh reliability

Last verified: 15 September 2026

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09

1974–1977

1974–1977: fire-setting diaries attributed to the “Phantom of the Bronx” — activity largely not prosecuted

Conviction — against a third party

Protagonist not prosecuted — these proceedings are not counted in their formal charges or convictions.

During his 1978 guilty plea proceedings, prosecutors revealed notebooks in which Berkowitz recorded fires and fire alarms he had allegedly set or triggered under the nickname “Phantom of the Bronx”, referring to as many as approximately 2,000 fires requiring verification.

Attribution: Directly implicated
Role of the person profiled: Protagonist not prosecuted

Sources · 2

[1]
The Washington PostBerkowitz Pleads Guilty In 'Son of Sam' MurdersPressHigh reliability
[2]
A&E Crime + InvestigationWhy ‘Son of Sam’ David Berkowitz Skipped His Last Parole HearingPressHigh reliability

Last verified: 15 September 2026

Add to this entry

13

April–May 1977

April–May 1977: “Son of Sam” letters to police and columnist Jimmy Breslin

No legal proceedings

Following the double killing of Suriani and Esau, letters signed “Son of Sam” helped turn the case into a public panic. Berkowitz also wrote to columnist Jimmy Breslin, fuelling media coverage and challenging investigators.

Attribution: Directly implicated

Sources · 1

[1]
A&E Crime + InvestigationWhy ‘Son of Sam’ David Berkowitz Skipped His Last Parole HearingPressHigh reliability

Last verified: 15 September 2026

Add to this entry

17

April 1976

April 1976: Wendy Savino wounded by five gunshots — survives but loses an eye

No legal proceedings

The attack on Wendy Savino is attributed to Berkowitz. She was shot several times while sitting in her car; she survived but lost the use of her right eye.

Attribution: Directly implicated

Sources · 1

[1]
A&E Crime + InvestigationWhy ‘Son of Sam’ David Berkowitz Skipped His Last Parole HearingPressHigh reliability

Last verified: 15 September 2026

Add to this entry

21

December 1975

December 1975: knife attacks on two women before the revolver shootings

No legal proceedings

Retrospective sources attribute two knife attacks against women in late 1975 to Berkowitz, preceding the .44-calibre revolver attacks.

State of the evidence: Documented

Sources · 2

[1]
Crime+Investigation UKDavid Berkowitz (Son of Sam) — TimelinePressMedium reliability
[2]
A&E Crime + InvestigationWhy ‘Son of Sam’ David Berkowitz Skipped His Last Parole HearingPressHigh reliability

Last verified: 15 September 2026

Add to this entry

II. Constellation of documented links

No documented link with another published profile for now.

Two profiles are linked when a documented controversy of one names the other. The link points to that controversy and its sources; it does not indicate a personal relationship.

III. Has something changed?

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