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Son of Sam: David Berkowitz

Son of Sam: David Berkowitz is the definitive true crime podcast exploring one of America's most notorious serial killers — the .44 Caliber Killer who terrorized New York City in 1976 and 1977. This series goes beyond the headlines to uncover the full story of David Berkowitz: his troubled origins, the psychology behind his crimes, the citywide panic he ignited, and the massive police manhunt that ultimately brought him to justice. Each episode draws on court records, archival news coverage, firsthand accounts, and expert analysis to deliver a deeply researched, narrative-driven investigation into the man, the murders, and the era. Whether you're a longtime true crime listener or discovering this case for the first time, you'll gain a richer, more nuanced understanding of how an ordinary young man from the Bronx became one of the most feared criminals in American history. From Berkowitz's turbulent childhood and military service to the infamous "Son of Sam" letters taunting police and the press, no detail is left unexplored. This podcast is for listeners who want more than surface-level crime recaps — it's for those who demand context, depth, and compelling storytelling. Subscribe now and follow the case that changed New York City forever.

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12 episodes · Verified by YesOui

Episodes

Latest episodes

10 Oct 2026 · 12 min

Summer of Fear: How NYC's .44 Caliber Killer Rewrote a City's Psyche

David Berkowitz, the .44 Caliber Killer, turned New York City's already-fractured summer of 1977 into a year of collective terror — reshaping behavior, tabloid culture, and criminal profiling forever. From the first shot in the Bronx to the parking ticket that brought him down, this is how Son of Sam hunted a city.
9 Oct 2026 · 12 min

The Weight That Stays: Survivors, Families, and the Aftermath of the .44

The Son of Sam spree left six dead and seven wounded — but the damage didn't stop when the handcuffs closed. This episode follows the survivors, the bereaved families, and the city's women who lived inside the fear for thirteen months.
8 Oct 2026 · 12 min

Brother Dave and the Weight of Refused Freedom: Life After the .44

David Berkowitz — the .44 Caliber Killer who murdered six New Yorkers in 1977 — has served nearly fifty years and keeps refusing parole. This episode examines what that choice reveals about guilt, faith, and whether redemption behind bars can ever be real.
7 Oct 2026 · 13 min

Brother Dave: The Long Invisible Life After the Sentence

David Berkowitz survived prison attacks, found religion, and repeatedly refused parole — but what does transformation really mean for a man who murdered six people? This chapter tracks the decades-long life inside Sullivan Correctional that the headlines never covered.
6 Oct 2026 · 12 min

The Demon Dog Confession: Berkowitz Speaks and a City Exhales

David Berkowitz walked out of his Yonkers apartment on August 10, 1977, saw the detectives, smiled, and asked why it took them so long — and what came next was even stranger. This chapter unpacks the arrest, the demonic dog confession, and the psychiatric battle that would define the Son of Sam case.
5 Oct 2026 · 13 min

365 Years, One Parking Ticket: The Arrest That Ended NYC's Terror

The .44 caliber killer terrorized New York City for thirteen months — and was brought down by a single parking ticket and one witness who almost didn't come forward. This chapter traces how ordinary bureaucracy accomplished what one of the city's largest task forces could not.
4 Oct 2026 · 12 min

A Thousand Fires: The Escalating Path That Led to the .44 Killings

Before David Berkowitz became the .44 caliber killer, he spent years setting fires, stalking neighbors, and stabbing strangers — a hidden escalation no one connected in time. This chapter traces the behavioral trail that built the Son of Sam.
3 Oct 2026 · 12 min

Caught by a Parking Ticket: The Night NYC's Terror Ended

The .44 Caliber Killer terrorized New York City for thirteen months — until a parking ticket and a witness brought it all crashing down. This chapter traces Berkowitz's invisible double life, the Breslin letter, and the August 1977 arrest that stunned a city.
2 Oct 2026 · 14 min

Son of Sam Speaks: The Breslin Letter and the Media Strategy Behind the Murders

David Berkowitz didn't just kill — he performed. This episode examines the letters, the self-naming, and how the .44 caliber killer weaponised the New York press to terrorise an entire city. A calculated media strategy hiding inside apparent madness.
1 Oct 2026 · 11 min

A Parking Ticket, a Guilty Plea, and the Stories Berkowitz Told

The .44 caliber killer smiled at his arresting officers and asked why it took so long — then spent decades rewriting the story of why he killed. This episode untangles the demonic possession claim, the Satanic cult theory, and the born-again transformation that replaced them both.
30 Sep 2026 · 13 min

One Gun, Thirteen Months: The Weapon That Revealed Berkowitz's Intent

The .44 caliber killer never switched weapons — the same Charter Arms Bulldog revolver was used in every attack across thirteen months of terror. What that single choice reveals about David Berkowitz's planning, psychology, and the collapse of his "Son of Sam" defence is more disturbing than any letter he ever sent.
29 Sep 2026 · 13 min

The .44 Killer's Origin: Berkowitz Before the Shootings

Before David Berkowitz became the .44 Caliber Killer, there was a boy shaped by adoption secrets, a mother's death, and a father who left. This episode traces the roots of Son of Sam — the childhood, the Army years, and the Yonkers postal worker nobody noticed.