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New York · 1976–1977

David Berkowitz

David Berkowitz
David BerkowitzMount Vernon Argus press photographer, 1977 / Wikimedia Commons · Public domain (U.S.)

Photographs are cropped to fit. Photo dates and original images are available through the source credits.

Multiple & serial murders

Also known in coverage as: Son of Sam

David Berkowitz killed six people and wounded others in shootings that frightened New York in 1976 and 1977. Letters using the name Son of Sam intensified the coverage. He pleaded guilty after his arrest; later media theories about accomplices go beyond those convictions.

Content note: violence, abuse, or loss. Linked material may contain graphic descriptions. Screen dramatizations may change events and dialogue.

Roads Traveled

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New York. The map provides regional context; individually verified historical places are listed below.

Map sources checked September 14, 2026. 8 individual Odd Stops location pages matched this case.

See this case’s source review
Odd Stops
Location pages found · 8 location pages. Source imagery is linked; only separately licensed photos are reproduced.
MurderData
No verified match found.
ArcGIS essay
Not included in this essay.
Reddit map
Reviewed as a general resource. Its coordinates and victim counts were not adopted as case evidence.

“No verified match” describes the accessible material found in this review, not proof that a source has never covered the case. MAP’s anonymous records were not individually matched to people.

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Berkowitz's former Pine Street building

Private property

Historical 35 Pine Street, Yonkers, New York; later numbered 42

Berkowitz lived in this apartment building before his 1977 arrest. It remains a residential historical reference, not a public attraction.

Historical reference only. No tour or public entry has been verified; respect residents and do not contact occupants.

Location history, maps & imagery at Odd Stops ↗

Berkowitz's childhood home

Private property

1105 Stratford Avenue, Bronx, New York

This building is connected with Berkowitz's childhood. A childhood address does not establish a crime scene.

Historical reference only. No tour or public entry has been verified; respect residents and do not contact occupants.

Location history, maps & imagery at Odd Stops ↗

Berkowitz's former Co-op City home

Private property

170 Dreiser Loop, Bronx, New York

Berkowitz lived in this apartment complex from 1968 to 1971. The connection is biographical.

Historical reference only. No tour or public entry has been verified; respect residents and do not contact occupants.

Location history, maps & imagery at Odd Stops ↗

Carl Denaro shooting area

Roadside historical reference

159th Street near 33rd Avenue, Queens, New York

Denaro survived a shooting in October 1976. Odd Stops discusses conflicting street names in historical reporting and places the attack on 159th Street.

No visitor facilities, legal stopping place, or access beyond public roads have been verified. Respect traffic rules and surrounding property.

Location history, maps & imagery at Odd Stops ↗

Moskowitz–Violante shooting area

Roadside historical reference

Shore Parkway near Bath Beach Park, Brooklyn, New York

Stacy Moskowitz and Robert Violante were shot here in 1977. Moskowitz died; Violante survived with lasting injuries.

No visitor facilities, legal stopping place, or access beyond public roads have been verified. Respect traffic rules and surrounding property.

Location history, maps & imagery at Odd Stops ↗

Lomino–DeMasi shooting location

Private property

83-31 262nd Street, Queens, New York

Joanne Lomino and Donna DeMasi survived a shooting outside this home in November 1976. Odd Stops notes conflicting street names in older reports.

Historical reference only. No tour or public entry has been verified; respect residents and do not contact occupants.

Location history, maps & imagery at Odd Stops ↗

Esau–Suriani shooting area

Roadside historical reference

Hutchinson River Parkway service road, Bronx, New York

Alexander Esau and Valentina Suriani were shot while sitting in a parked car in April 1977. The historical scene was the roadway, not a nearby residence.

No visitor facilities, legal stopping place, or access beyond public roads have been verified. Respect traffic rules and surrounding property.

Location history, maps & imagery at Odd Stops ↗

Christine Freund shooting area

Roadside historical reference

Station Square, Queens, New York

Freund was fatally shot in a parked car at Station Square in January 1977. The page distinguishes this location from nearby Continental Avenue.

No visitor facilities, legal stopping place, or access beyond public roads have been verified. Respect traffic rules and surrounding property.

Location history, maps & imagery at Odd Stops ↗

Explore outside maps & location guides →

Fiction Work

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Scripted stories and fictional inspirations. Scenes, characters, and dialogue can differ from the record.

No verified fictional adaptation or inspiration has been identified in this collection. Nonfiction coverage is listed in the other media sections.

01Books

1 items

Lawrence Klausner

Son of Sam

Book-length account or personal perspective. This link provides bibliographic details; compare the author’s account with reporting and records.

Explore this book

02Movies

0 items

Watch links, previews, and historical title listings are identified below. Availability varies by service and region; rentals or subscriptions may be required.

A verified movie listing has not been added yet.

New material will appear here after editorial review.

03TV & documentaries

2 items

Watch links, previews, and historical title listings are identified below. Availability varies by service and region; rentals or subscriptions may be required.

Netflix

The Sons of Sam: A Descent into Darkness

Nonfiction screen coverage of this case. The linked page identifies the program or episode; playback, subscriptions, and regional availability vary.

Viewing options & episode details

IMDb · Screen title

Conversations with a Killer: The Son of Sam Tapes (2025)

IMDb title reference connected to the David Berkowitz case. Listed release: 2025. Cast, credits, and title information; viewing availability is separate.

Credits & title details on IMDb

04Newspaper clippings

2 items

Original newspaper coverage, hosted by Newspapers.com. Read each article in the context of its publication date; later findings may differ. Full-page access may require sign-in.

Featured newspaper clipping

Read a featured clipping here, then explore more reporting in the newspaper archive.

The Journal News · 1977-08-12 · Page 1

Berkowitz arrest prompts a front-page profile

The newspaper reports the developing investigation and interviews about Berkowitz’s background.

Early coverage before his guilty pleas; includes other front-page material.

Open full clipping at Newspapers.com

More from the newspaper archive

Continue with these dated reports on Newspapers.com.

Daily News · 1978-05-09 · Page 242

Berkowitz competency hearing examined

Reporting and hearing excerpts discuss Berkowitz’s competency and decision to plead guilty.

Statements about beliefs and mental state are attributed hearing accounts.

Read this article on Newspapers.com

Keep following the newspaper trail.

Search original reporting, follow the trial, and compare how newspapers covered the case over time.

Explore more on Newspapers.com

Newspapers.com controls access to its archive. A subscription may be required; existing subscribers can sign in.

05News & reporting

1 items

TIME

Reporting on David Berkowitz

Linked reporting or commentary. Read the source date for its historical context; access may require a subscription.

Read source

06Podcasts

15 items

Direct links open the selected episode in Apple Podcasts or on its publisher’s site. Some editions may require a subscription.

Apple Podcasts

Heroes Behind Headlines — Getting to Know the Son of Sam

Direct episode page for this case or its screen adaptation. Open it for listening options and the publisher’s episode notes.

Listen to the episode

Killer Psyche

David Berkowitz: The Son of Sam

Podcast coverage of the David Berkowitz case. Released July 22, 2025. About 48 minutes.

Listen to the episode

Lights Out

Son Of Sam Part I: David Berkowitz The .44 Caliber Killer

Podcast coverage of the David Berkowitz case. Released May 28, 2021. About 57 minutes.

Listen to the episode

48 Hours

"Son of Sam" Serial Killer Speaks

Podcast coverage of the David Berkowitz case. Released August 5, 2025. About 42 minutes.

Listen to the episode

Last Podcast On The Left

Episode 193: Son of Sam Part I - Kill For My Master

Podcast coverage of the David Berkowitz case. Released September 23, 2015. About 67 minutes.

Listen to the episode

Crime House 24/7

True Crime This Week: Media Murders

Podcast coverage of the David Berkowitz case. Released September 14, 2025. About 50 minutes.

Listen to the episode

Criminology

Son of Sam Part1

Podcast coverage of the David Berkowitz case. Released August 10, 2019. About 65 minutes.

Listen to the episode

Criminology

Son of Sam Part3

Podcast coverage of the David Berkowitz case. Released August 24, 2019. About 70 minutes.

Listen to the episode

UNMARKED: A True Crime Podcast

Son of Sam: Did David Berkowitz Act Alone?

Podcast coverage of the David Berkowitz case. Released June 24, 2026. About 51 minutes.

Listen to the episode

Cult Liter with Spencer Henry

David Berkowitz

Podcast coverage of the David Berkowitz case. Released May 30, 2019. About 25 minutes.

Listen to the episode

What Makes a Killer

S5 Ep1: David Berkowitz, the Son of Sam

Podcast coverage of the David Berkowitz case. Released August 3, 2023. About 45 minutes.

Listen to the episode

True Crimecast

Son of Sam - David Berkowitz

Podcast coverage of the David Berkowitz case. Released February 23, 2021. About 44 minutes.

Listen to the episode

FOX Nation Investigates Podcast

David Berkowitz: Son of Sam

Podcast coverage of the David Berkowitz case. Released April 7, 2026. About 32 minutes.

Listen to the episode

Where The Bodies Are Buried

David Berkowitz - "The Son Of Sam" or "The Son Of Hope"

Podcast coverage of the David Berkowitz case. Released March 22, 2023. About 42 minutes.

Listen to the episode

The First Degree

Episode 403: Sons Of Sam, Part 1

Podcast coverage of the David Berkowitz case. Released May 20, 2026. About 35 minutes.

Listen to the episode

07Social Media

6 items

Case videos, posts, family pages, and creator communities. Creator channels and groups cover multiple cases; each includes a link to the relevant episode. Facebook or TikTok may require sign-in, and groups may require membership approval. Community opinions are separate from verified reporting.

Absolute Crime

The Son Of Sam Killer's Descent Into Darkness | David Berkowitz: Born To Kill? | Absolute Crime

Video from Absolute Crime covering the David Berkowitz case. Length: 44:52.

Watch on YouTube

FilmRise True Crime

World's Most Evil Killers - Season 4, Episode 4 - Son of Sam (David Berkowitz) - Full Episode

Full episode or film as labeled by the publisher from FilmRise True Crime covering the David Berkowitz case. Length: 44:04.

Watch on YouTube

Absolute Crime

How David Berkowitz Triggered New York's Largest Manhunt Ever | Most Evil Killers | Absolute Crime

Video from Absolute Crime covering the David Berkowitz case. Length: 44:20.

Watch on YouTube

A&E

Infamous Killers: David Berkowitz, the Son of Sam | A&E

Video from A&E covering the David Berkowitz case. Length: 5:37.

Watch on YouTube

Real Crime

Terror In NY: The Son Of Sam Killings | World’s Most Evil Killers | Real Crime

Video from Real Crime covering the David Berkowitz case. Length: 43:34.

Watch on YouTube

True Crime News

Were there multiple shooters in ‘Son of Sam’ serial spree?

Video from True Crime News covering the David Berkowitz case. Length: 7:17.

Watch on YouTube

08Blogs & essays

0 items

Outside blogs, personal essays, and creator write-ups. These reflect each author’s perspective. Check publication dates and compare claims with reporting and court records.

This section is awaiting its first entry.

New material will appear here after editorial review.

09Internet Archive

3 items

Individual records from Internet Archive: library books, historical broadcasts, and preserved web pages. A catalog listing does not guarantee free reading or full playback. Access, previews, and borrowing are controlled by Internet Archive.

Internet Archive · TV News Archive

Tonight From Washington : CSPAN : November 2, 2009 8:00pm-11:00pm EST

The archive indexes this broadcast under David Berkowitz. It may contain several stories; use any available captions or previews to locate the relevant segment. Full playback may be restricted.

Explore the archived broadcast

Internet Archive · TV News Archive

American Morning : CNN : April 15, 2011 6:00am-9:00am EDT

The archive indexes this broadcast under David Berkowitz. It may contain several stories; use any available captions or previews to locate the relevant segment. Full playback may be restricted.

Explore the archived broadcast

Internet Archive · TV News Archive

NBC Nightly News : WRC : July 30, 2011 6:30pm-7:00pm EDT

The archive indexes this broadcast under David Berkowitz. It may contain several stories; use any available captions or previews to locate the relevant segment. Full playback may be restricted.

Explore the archived broadcast

10From the journal

0 articles

This section is awaiting its first entry.

New material will appear here after editorial review.

11Court records & documents

1 items

Court opinions, filings, transcripts, and dockets, alongside clearly labeled parole records, released investigative files, and courtroom recordings. Each item identifies its source and scope. Allegations in filings are not findings of guilt. These selections are not complete case files. Where an online document could not be verified, a separate guide identifies the records office or archive to contact.

Pretrial access rulingArchive copy

People v. Berkowitz — access to the competency hearing

Ruling on whether David Berkowitz’s competency hearing should be open to the press and public. It describes the competing fair-trial and access arguments.

Court / agency
New York Supreme Court, Criminal Term, Kings County
Document date
1978
Case / citation
93 Misc. 2d 873
Hosted by
OpenJurist

12Nicknames & media names

1 items

Apple Podcasts

Son of Sam

A name used in the linked media coverage. Media labels do not resolve disputed allegations or identify an unknown offender.

Read source

13Where are they now?

0 items

The latest information verified for this collection is listed below. Each source has its own date; these are not live custody records.

A current-status update has not been verified for this case yet.

New material will appear here after editorial review.

14Positive Outcome

0 items

Documented laws, advocacy, and reforms connected to this case. Changes do not undo the harm, and listing a law does not claim that it is effective or universally supported.

No case-specific law, reform, or advocacy initiative has been verified for this collection yet. This does not mean that none exists.

New material will appear here after editorial review.