Son of Sam

David Berkowitz, known as the "Son of Sam," conducted a shooting spree across New York City between July 1976 and July 1977 that killed six people and wounded seven others, triggering one of the most intensive manhunts in New York City history. He targeted young couples and women sitting in parked cars, firing a .44 caliber Bulldog revolver and leaving no apparent motive connecting his victims. The city was gripped by fear, with nightlife noticeably declining as residents feared becoming the next target. Berkowitz compounded the terror by writing taunting letters to police and to New York Daily News columnist Jimmy Breslin, signing them "Son of Sam." In the letters he described hearing voices commanding him to kill and spoke of demonic dogs belonging to his neighbor — a claim he later admitted was fabricated to support an insanity defense. The letters generated enormous press coverage and turned the case into a national obsession. He was caught in August 1977 through methodical police work: a parking ticket placed near the scene of his final shooting was traced back to him. Officers conducting surveillance arrested him outside his Yonkers apartment building. At the time of arrest he was calm, apparently expecting to be caught. He pleaded guilty to six murders and was sentenced to six consecutive life terms with no possibility of parole. In prison, Berkowitz claimed he had converted to Christianity and became a born-again Christian, co-authoring a book and participating in victim-awareness programs. He has consistently been denied parole, which he himself has reportedly supported. His case changed New York law — "Son of Sam laws," which prevent criminals from profiting from their notoriety through books or media deals, were enacted in direct response to his case and later adopted across the United States.