David Berkowitz: The Son Of Sam Killer

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According to the Psychopathy Checklist Revised by Robert Hare, a psychopath is a mentally unstable individual that typically displays insensitive behavior and demonstrates a strong lack of empathy towards others. Psychopaths are described as emotionally shallow and exhibits abnormally violent social behavior. Furthermore, David Berkowitz accurately fits this criterion and is described to be a true psychopath. Berkowitz, recognized as the Son of Sam killer, relentlessly tormented the citizens of New York City for over a year. Throughout his killing spree, Berkowitz murdered six people and injured seven more, amounting to thirteen shootings overall. Consequently, many theories have surfaced in regard to why David Berkowitz murdered his victims, including theories of a possessed canine and a brutal satanic cult. Although theories exist about the Son of Sam killer, evidence shows that David Berkowitz murdered because of psychopathic issues and mental instability. David Berkowitz, originally born …show more content…

On a lonely street in the Bronx, Berkowitz approached a couple sitting in a parked car. He then proceeded to shoot Valentina Suriani and Alexander Esau twice, killing Suriani instantly. Esau was rushed to the hospital, but later died from extensive injuries to the head (Grieg 22). Afterwards at the crime scene, near the victims’ bodies, police recovered a letter addressed to Joseph Borelli, the captain of the NYPD (Biography). In the letter, Berkowitz states, “I love to hunt. Prowling the streets looking for fair game – tasty meat. The wemon of Queens are z prettyist of all. I must be the water they drink. I live for the hunt – my life. Blood for Papa.” (qtd. in Grieg 22). As Berkowitz committed his murders, many callous letters were located near the victims’ bodies, taunting the police and eluding capture (Biography). This behavior conveys that David Berkowitz is a true

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