Son of Sam murders,

He is one of America's most notorious criminals - a cold-bloodied serial killer who brought terror to the streets of New York.

Now, 35 years since the first of the so-called Son of Sam murders, the man sentenced to 300 years in prison is asking for forgiveness.

Between 1976 and 1977 David Berkowitz turned New York into his own personal hunting ground.

He murdered six women with no apparent motive, sending letters to police and newspapers stating: 'I am the Son of Sam. I love to hunt, prowling the streets looking for fair game.'


The smiling killer: Like a paranoid mad man, David Berkowitz, aka Son of Sam, smiled his way through court appearances after his capture

The smiling killer: Like a paranoid mad man, David Berkowitz, aka Son of Sam, smiled his way through court appearances after his capture


Remorse: Berkowitz talks in prison about his religious transformation

All police knew was that they were looking for a man armed with a .44 caliber handgun whose cryptic letters gave him a thrill.

He spent a year evading the authorities, and causing widespread panic in New York. Berkowitz targeted young women with long brown hair, forcing many to dye their hair blonde or cutting it short in a bid to stay safe.

The terror began in the early hours of July 29, 1976.

Eighteen-year-old Donna Loria, who lived in the Bronx with her family, was sitting outside in a parked car talking with a friend when she noticed a man standing nearby.

Without a word the shadowy figure pulled out a handgun from a brown paper bag and opened fire.
grief
Donna Loria

Grief, anger and fear: Relatives mourn first victim, Bronx resident Donna Loria

Donna was killed instantly, her friend survived. Police thought it was a one-off shooting, but it was the just the beginning.

Over the next 13 months five more lives were to be cut down, while six others escaped injured.

New York was on edge and the headlines ran with stories of the unknown gunman terrorising the neighbourhoods.

Berkowitz never robbed or raped, he just killed at random in cold blood, and then sent his chilling messages.
Taunting the police: The bizarre notes he would leave behind at some of his murders


Shot at close range: Some of Berkowitz's victims that were slain in the 13 months following the first killing. Berkowitz was driven by his hatred of women

The manhunt eventually led to a 24-year-old postal worker Berkowitz, who later claimed he was controlled by a demon-possessed dog called Sam.

With the help of a palm print, a parking ticket and a ballistics match he was arrested outside his home.

Berkowitz greeted the police saying, 'You got me. What took you so long?'

Police found that Berkowitz got a ticket around the time of the final killing, and went to his house hoping to find a witness. Instead they saw a machine gun in his car.

Retired homicide detective Joe Coffee led the search for the Son of Sam and it was Mr Coffee who was one of the first to interrogate him.
A city in panic: The lack of a motive only fuelled the fear that was gripping New York

A city in panic: The lack of a motive only fuelled the fear that was gripping New York

Mr Coffee said: 'He didn't blink for three hours and he had a constant smile on his face sitting there.'

He said the motive was born out of the death of Berkowitz's adopted mother and his hatred of women.

He targeted young women with long brown hair, forcing many to dye their hair blonde and having it cut short in a bid to stay safe.

After his arrest, he claimed that demons and a black labrador called Sam, which belonged to his neighbour, ordered him to carry out the killings.

'Only God knows how much I regret what had happened in 1976-1977. I too am in anguish over it, and I wish I could go back in time to have prevented it.'

- David Berkowitz

Berkowitz, traumatised after the death of his adoptive mother in 1967, became increasingly paranoid, setting off hundreds of fires in New York, before eventually hearing voices that tormented him and ordered him to commit the killings.

Eventually, a breakthrough came when a witness claimed she saw a man in her street carrying a gun before one of the killings. She also reminded police that parking tickets were being issued that night in the street. A police search turned up a ticket issued to Berkowitz's car.

He pleaded guilty to the killings and was sentenced to 300 years.

Now 35 years he has claimed he is 'in anguish' over the killings and wishes he could take it back.

Berkowitz says he has undergone a religious transformation, becoming born again.

In an interview with msnbc.com, he said: 'I'd like to be remembered as a person who's sorry for what happened and is doing everything in his power to try this ... to make amends to society in any way possible.'

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2021183/Serial-killer-David-Berkowitz-aka-Son-Sam-tells-remorse-35-years-later.html#ixzz1U0XVTi7D