I am the Son of Sam, part one: David Richard Berkowitz, The notorious serial killer who turned to Jesus

Introduction

“I am the Son of Sam,” were the words written by the infamous serial killer, David Richard Berkowitz, which he would leave on the bodies of his victims. Investigations and media reports indicate that Berkowitz murdered six people and wounded seven others. But who was Berkowitz? Where was he born? What drove him to commit such heinous acts? And why are we discussing him on a Christian platform today?

The Birth of Berkowitz

In the 1970s, New York City was a place of fear, infamous for its high crime rate. Aside from the crimes committed by gangs, there were also notorious individuals known as serial killers.

One of these fearsome young men, who called himself the “Son of Sam,” seemed to take pleasure in shedding blood, but how did it all begin? Berkowitz was born on June 1, 1953, but his birth was unplanned (readers, take note of this). His mother and father had a brief encounter (they had a one-night stand), which resulted in an unplanned pregnancy. His mother was Italian, and his father was Jewish, both of whom had come to America seeking a better life. After his birth, Berkowitz did not live with his biological mother but was instead adopted by a kind family who gave him the name Berkowitz, as his original name was Falco. Berkowitz grew up feeling isolated, ashamed, and struggled to form connections with others.

He never had a close female friend, and in elementary school, he was known for his anger and aggressive behavior toward other children, which led to him being referred to a psychotherapist. Things worsened when his adoptive mother passed away, and the man who raised him remarried. The new woman treated him poorly, fueling his hatred for women. At the age of 18, he joined the military and served for a year. Afterward, he moved to Virginia, where he attended a Baptist church, but he didn’t stay long and eventually returned to New York. He later reconnected with his biological mother, but they didn’t have much to talk about as he was overwhelmed by sadness, anger, and confusion over his origins.

Learning that he was an unplanned child who had been abandoned by his parents led him to develop a deep hatred for people in romantic relationships (those with a background in psychology will understand this). He particularly targeted Italian and Jewish women, and he killed young women with beautiful faces and flowing hair, like his mother.

The “Son of Sam” continued his killing spree, and witnesses provided the police with descriptions of a man who fit his profile. They also identified the type of car he drove, and upon investigation, the car was traced back to David Berkowitz.

On the morning of August 10, 1977, Berkowitz walked out of a building, unaware that the police were watching him. He opened his car door, and officers John and Ed approached him, saying, “Raise your hands, don’t move or do anything.” When Berkowitz saw them, he raised his hands and said, “You’ve got me. You found me. It’s over.” The officers asked, “Who are you?” and he replied, “I am the Son of Sam.”

Why Am I Bringing This Story to a Christian Platform?

You might wonder: Did this writer run out of Bible stories to share, leading him to present this tale on a Christian platform? Using Scripture, I’ll explain my reasoning.

“I looked, and I considered it well; I saw it and learned from it” (Proverbs 24:32, Holy Bible).

“I reflected upon it, thought deeply, and derived a lesson” (Proverbs 24:32, Catholic Bible).

What King Solomon, the author, highlights is that after observing something, he took the time to reflect on it, carefully considered it, and learned a lesson that would benefit his life. Similarly, as the Church, we should not ignore what we see but instead draw spiritual lessons from it.

After hearing Berkowitz’s story, I spent time reading more about it on various platforms and thought deeply about it. I felt compelled to share what I learned with the Church. The lessons and what God wants from us will be covered in the second part of this story.