File, The Associated PressIn this Aug. 11, 1977 file photo, David Berkowitz, center, the tabloid-loving, police-taunting "Son of Sam" killer, is in the custody of police after his arrest, in New York. Thursday, Aug. 10, 2017 is the 40th anniversary of Berkowitz's capture.
The Associated PressThis Aug. 11, 1977 file photo, shows the front page headlines of the New York Post and the Daily News the day after police arrested David Berkowitz, the tabloid-loving, police-taunting "Son of Sam" killer, in New York. Thursday, Aug. 10, 2017 is the 40th anniversary of Berkowitz's capture.- Carlos Rene Perez, Associated Press fileIn this Aug. 11, 1977 file photo, police escort David Berkowitz, center, through a crowd of media after the suspect in the the "Son of Sam," case was taken into custody in New York. Thursday, Aug. 10, 2017 is the 40th anniversary of Berkowitz's capture.
- Ira Schwarz, The Associated PressIn this Aug. 11, 1977 file photo, New York City police officer Edward Zigo displays a .44-caliber Charter Arms Bulldog revolver at a news conference, early in the morning after the arrest of David Berkowitz. Thursday, Aug. 10, 2017 is the 40th anniversary of the arrest of the tabloid-loving, police-taunting "Son of Sam" killer whose prolonged shooting spree terrorized New York.
- The Associated PressNew York police detective Joseph Borelli exhibited this expression, Thursday, Aug. 11, 1977 as he talked about the manhunt that ended with the arrest of 24-year-old David Berkowitz of Yonkers, New York, as the suspected "Son of Sam" slayer. Borelli was part of a special police task-force working to crack the case.
- The Associated PressThis is part of a letter written by David Berkowitz, the man suspected of being Son of Sam, published in the New York daily news, Monday, Aug. 15, 1977. The letter, written while Berkowitz was in the army, stationed in Korea in 1972, was addressed to a teenaged sweetheart, Iris Gerhardt, since married to another man.
- Dave Pickoff, The Associated PressNeysa Moskowitz mother of .44 caliber killer victim Stacy Moskowitz at her home in Brooklyn after hearing of the capture of Son of Sam, Aug. 11, 1977.
- Ray Howard, The Associated PressJohn Keenan, chief of detectives, speaks at a press conference at New York City Police headquarters after two new sketches of the .44 Caliber Killer were unveiled at right, Aug. 9, 1977. Police said the killer, also know as "Son of Sam", who has slain six person and wounded seven during the past year, is 25 to 32 years old, white, 5 feet 8 to 5 feet 9 inches tall and weighs 165 to 175 pounds.
- The Associated PressIn this July 31, 1977 file photo, Robert Violante is removed from an ambulance by hospital attendants in New York after Violante, 20, and his girlfriend Stacy Moskowitz were attacked by the "Son of Sam" killer, David Berkowitz. Violante was shot in the eye, which was permanently blinded, and his date, Stacy Moskowitz, was killed. Thursday, Aug. 10, 2017 is the 40th anniversary of the capture of the tabloid-loving, police-taunting Berkowitz.
- Ira Schwarz, The Associated PressNew York City police officer John Flynn takes a call at the 105th Precinct in the Flushing, Queens section of New York City, Aug. 6, 1977. The precinct has special phone lines to take calls with information or leads on the "Son of Sam" killer. On the desk is a police sketch of the killer.
- The Associated PressIn this July 31, 1977 file photo, police rope off the area around a car as they search for evidence in the early morning hours after a young couple was shot while parked in a secluded lovers' lane in the Gravesend section of the Brooklyn borough of New York. Robert Violante was shot in the eye, which was permanently blinded, and his date, Stacy Moskowitz, was killed , both victims of "Son of Sam" killer David Berkowitz.
- The Associated PressStacy Moskowitz, 20-years old, died as a result of her wounds following the attack by the .44-caliber killer "Son of Sam" on Saturday night, July 30,1977. Ms. Moskowitz's boyfriend Robert Violante was critically injured during the shooting. The couple was sitting in a parked car on a Brooklyn lovers' lane when the slayer struck.
- The Associated PressPolice found this note in the car of David Berkowitz, 24, who police believe is the "Son of Sam" killer, Aug. 11, 1977. Berkowitz was arrested late Wednesday night in his Yonkers, N.Y., apartment. Police also found a submachine gun in the car. Police said Berkowitz would be arraigned on Thursday in Brooklyn Criminal Court.
- Richard Drew, Associated Press fileIn this July 19, 1977 file photo, New York City police are seen at work on the "Son of Sam" serial killer case at Police Headquarters in New York. Thursday, Aug. 10, 2017 is the 40th anniversary of the arrest of David Berkowitz, the tabloid-loving, police-taunting killer.
- Dan Goodrich, The Associated PressUnidentified officers of the 84th Precinct in Brooklyn read news of the capture of the .44 Caliber Killer, David Berkowitz, Aug. 11, 1977.
- Ken Murray, The Associated PressAlleged "Son of Sam" killer David Berkowitz enters a car in the basement of police headquarters as he is taken for booking at the 84th Precinct in the Brooklyn borough of New York, Aug. 12, 1977.
- The Associated PressNew York Police hustle David Berkowitz, into police station, Thursday, Aug. 12, 1977 after the chubby, 24 year old solitary creature was located. Berkowitz smiled at being caught, as if that were the object of the whole thing. There was no hint of regret in the six dead.
- Ray Stubblebine, The Associated PressSome of an estimated 75 relatives and friends of victims of the "Son of Sam" killer hold signs echoing their sentiments, Sept. 21, 1977, as they march outside the Kings County Psychiatric Center in the Brooklyn borough of New York, where David Berkowitz, the accused killer, is undergoing psychiatric tests.
- Marty Lederhandler, The Associated PressNeysa Moskowitz, whose daughter Stacy was among the victims slain by the so-called "Son of Sam," killer, answers questions at news conference in office of her lawyer, as her husband Jerry, right, listens, May 8, 1978. Moments later, emotion proved too much and Mr. Moskowitz broke down. They were among the relatives of victims who crowded into a packed court in New York in the day to hear David Berkowitz plead guilty to all six "Son of Sam" slayings including that of Stacy.
- Jack Kanthal, Associated Press fileIn this Aug. 3, 1977 file photo, Neysa Moskowitz touches the coffin of her slain daughter Stacy at King Solomon Cemetery in Clifton, N.J. Stacy Moskowitz, died and her date Robert Violante survived but was blinded, when they were shot by "Son of Sam" killer David Berkowitz while parked in a secluded lovers' lane in the Gravesend section of the Brooklyn borough of New York. Thursday, Aug. 10, 2017 is the 40th anniversary of Berkowitz's capture.
- The Associated PressDavid Berkowitz, known as Son of Sam, is seen during an interview at Attica prison in New York on Feb. 22, 1979. David Berkowitz killed six people and wounded seven others in New York City in 1976 and '77, and came to be known as "Son of Sam." Berkowitz said it was because of an "unknown urge to kill."
- Bebeto Matthews, The Associated PressQueens District Attorney Richard A. Brown, who in 1977 was the supervising Brooklyn judge in the arraignment of the "Son of Sam" serial killer David Berkowitz, shows a court document recommending his release, during an interview in his office, Wednesday Aug. 9, 2017, in New York. Forty years ago city officials actually recommended Berkowitz be free on bail, but Brown disagreed and held him for killing six and wounding seven,primarily young women sitting in cars.
- The Associated PressThis is one of eight previous unpublished letters shown June 11, 1978 written by Son of Sam Killer, David Berkowitz, to a west coast woman who calls herself a counselor in demonology. The letters portray Berkowitz as a man who sees himself at once, as both "a child of Satan" and a Christian. Berkowitz will be sentenced in the son of Sam Murders on Monday June 12, 1978 in New York.
- Schwarz, The Associated PressAn armored van carrying convicted "Son of Sam" killer David Berkowitz leaves Brooklyn superior court in New York, Monday, June 12, 1978 after Berkowitz was sentenced for six murders and 7 woundings. He was given a total of 315 years but under state law, is eligible for parole in 30 years.
- Dave Pickoff, The Associated PressNew York Police officers Jeffrey Logan and Michael Cataneo, left, at New York city news conference, Thursday, Aug. 12, 1977 at which the mayor thanked them. Their ticketing of a car parked too close to a hydrant in Brooklyn on July 31, led ultimately to the arrest of David Berkowitz as the suspected "Son of Sam" slayer.
- The Associated PressThese handwritten messages were found on the wall in the apartment of .44-caliber "Son of Sam" shooting suspect David Berkowitz in Yonkers, New York, Thursday, Aug. 12, 1977. The suspect is undergoing psychiatric questioning on Friday to determine if he is fit to stand trial.
- Phil Sandlin, The Associated PressMrs. Julia Berkowitz, stepmother of David Berkowitz leaves her apartment in Boynton, Florida on Thursday, Aug. 11, 1977 after New York police arrested David Berkowitz, accusing him of the slaying of the latest "Son of Sam" victim in New York. Mrs. Berkowitz sped away from her apartment complex refusing to talk with reporters.
- Carlos Rene Perez, The Associated PressPolice Officer Edward Zigo displays a Thompson submachine gun in New York, Aug. 11, 1977 which police say they found in the car of David Berkowitz, 24, who was arrested on Wednesday night and police believe is the "Son of Sam" killer. Police said they found a fully loaded .44-caliber gun and the submachine gun in Berkowitz car and a shotgun at his apartment where he was arrested.
- The Associated PressDetective examine Berkowitz's car in Brooklyn, Thursday, Aug. 11, 1977.
- The Associated PressThe saga of the "Son of Sam" killer ended, Wednesday, Aug. 11, 1977 when police arrested a man identified as David Berkowitz, 24, who they believe is the .44-caliber killer who took six lives in New York City in more than a year.
- The Associated PressDavid Berkowitz, the accused "Son of Sam" killer, sits on a bunk in his isolation cell at Kings County Hospital, 1977.
- Mike Groll, The Associated PressIn this May 29, 2009 photo, David Berkowitz poses during an interview at Sullivan Correction Facility in Fallsburg, N.Y. In the mid-1970s, Berkowitz as the "Son of Sam" carried out a murderous 13-month rampage through the streets of New York during which he killed six women and wounded seven others before being captured. From his cell in upstate New York, the serial killer has become a key soldier in a battle against the sale of "murderabilia."
File, The Associated Press
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In this Aug. 11, 1977 file photo, David Berkowitz, center, the tabloid-loving, police-taunting "Son of Sam" killer, is in the custody of police after his arrest, in New York. Thursday, Aug. 10, 2017 is the 40th anniversary of Berkowitz's capture.
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By Glen Barber | The Denver Post
PUBLISHED: | UPDATED:
Getting your player ready...
NEW YORK — For a year, David Berkowitz terrorized New York. The papers called him the “.44 Caliber Killer.” In taunting notes to police and a journalist, he called himself “Mr. Monster,” the “Son of Sam.”
When the police finally got him, 40 years ago Thursday, August 10, 1977 the man behind the killings was unmasked as a schlubby civil servant with a boyish face and a dopey smile.
Judge Richard A. Brown recalls that when Berkowitz first walked into a Brooklyn courtroom, it was silent but for the wail of a victim’s mother.