The life of David Berkowitz
a serial killer,
also known as The Son of Sam, has been exceedingly strange since the day
of his birth. And the strangeness continues, and undoubtedly will
continue until the day he dies...
On July 29, 1976 the Son of Sam saga began.
Donna Lauria (18) and Jody Valenti (19) were sitting innocently in their
car outside Lauria's Bronx apartment when Donna noticed a man peering into
the window. "Who is this guy? What does he want?"
Donna never lived to hear her questions answered. David Berkowitz
pulled his .44 caliber Charter Arms Bulldog out of a paper bag and fired 5
times into the car. Donna died immediately. Laurie survived
the attack and was able to give the first vague description of a man that
was soon to be known as the .44 caliber killer. Police surmised that
the attack was a mob attack or possibly a simple case of mistaken
identity.
On October 23, 1976 Carl Denaro (20),
Rosemary Keenan had just returned from a party and were parked near
Rosemary's home , talking in Carl's red Volkswagen Beatle. David
approached the car, again from the passenger's side, and fired 5 shots
into the vehicle. Rosemary died instantly, Carl survived, recovering
from a bullet wound to his head. At this point, a pattern had
already begun to emerge. David Berkowitz struck out at women, most
with long, flowing hair.
One month later, on November 26, 1976,
Donna DeMasi (16) and Joanne Lomino (18) had just returned home in a bus
after watching a move at a local theatre. They left the bus within a
few blocks of Joanne's house and began to walk the remaining distance
home. One of them noticed a strange man following them but tried to
pay him no attention. David finally closed the gap between him and
the two woman and briefly addressed them with "Do you know
where...." - he quickly pulled the .44 from underneath his jacket and
fired several shots at the two women. In a strange aftermath, David
emptied the remaining shots into a nearby house. Both women survived
the attack, Donna being struck by a bullet that barely missed her spine.
Joanne was not as lucky and unfortunately became a paraplegic from a
bullet wound to her spine.
At this point, only a single bullet had
been recovered so no link was made between the 3 incidents. Police
had theorized a relationship but quietly dismissed the idea due to varying
descriptions in he assailant.
On January 30, 1977 (conflicting sources
place the event on 01/29) Christine Freund (26) and John Diel were sitting
in John's car (a Pontiac Firebird) after a night out at a bar. David
fired 2 shots through the front windshield of the car. Christine
died immediately. John survived and was able to offer police a
description of the attacker.
