Son of Sam Tapes: 10 Shocking Reveals From Netflix's Conversations With a Killer

#10: Berkowitzs Moniker Was His Own Invention

Many believe that the media appointed David Berkowitz with his sinister Jack the Ripper-esque nickname, Son of Sam. But this couldnt be further from the truth. Berkowitz was thrilled with the publicity his crimes afforded him, taunting police with menacing letters in which he referred to himself as the Son of Sam. Initially, investigators were puzzled. Officers thought it could be an allusion to Uncle Sam or the archangel Samael. But it was a reference to his neighbor Sam, who owned a black dog that pestered Berkowitz with its barking. He saw this disturbance to his peace as just another case of the world trying to drive him crazy, and began to harass his neighboreven shooting and injuring the dog. In the letters, Berkowitz switches between wanting to stop killing and affirming he cant, as if hes shifting in and out of a personality known as Sam.

#9: Berkowitz Was a Copycat Killer

The Son of Sam holds his own weight in serial killer history, standing out as a terrifyingly memorable boogey-man. But he actually admits to taking inspiration from infamous slashers whod come before him, right down to their own menacing letters he read about. Berkowitz was an avid consumer of true crime, and while most view it as a ghastly form of entertainment, Berkowitz was actually developing a blueprint from those whod worn the blood-treaded boots before him. Notorious serial killers became paragons whod made the brave choice to act out their fury, rather than letting it eat at them. Its impossible to truly blame violent media for causing crime. Though in Berkowitzs case, he found comfort with the darker sides of the world, and used the horrors already out there to justify a temperamental deviance that sought to become a horror too.

#8: Berkowitz Wasnt Insane

Anyone familiar with the case knows the eerie story of Berkowitz being instructed to kill by the voices of demons coming through his neighbor Sams dog. This chilling tale was recounted by Berkowitz numerous times after arrest, bolstering the popular theory that he was crazy. However, Berkowitz didnt ultimately seek an insanity plea, instead admitting his guilt on the stand. In reality, this was his way of taking credit for the horrific crimes that provided him international notoriety. To be written off as unstable would be a disservice to his work, so he ultimately fessed up on tape. Effectively, Berkowitz was writing his own serial killer noir, fabricating legends of demons to add more terror and fantastical elements to the story. This served to keep the focus off of his true self, which was a shell of a human lacking all basic empathy and remorse. Many would argue that someone has to be insane to carry out a string of murders, whether or not a barking dog told them to. But from a legal standpoint, Berkowitz was fit to stand trial because he wasnt clinically insane, or out of touch with reality. He knew right from wrong, and was fully aware of every sick decision he madeincluding the creation of his own serial killer persona.

#7: Berkowitz Actually Had a Good Childhood

Its a common misconception that all serial killers commit murder simply because of a traumatic childhood. There are plenty of cases where prolific murderers endured neglect or abuse that can be linked to sprees later in life. But Berkowitzs origins are nothing of the sort. He was raised in a middle-class family by loving adoptive parents. However, when he was told that his biological mother died during childbirth, something shifted deep within him. Berkowitz claims that this internalized lack of belonging caused him to act out, even against his adoring adoptive mom.

This marked the beginning of his delinquent, antisocial behavior. Because crime is a multicausal phenomenon, and each killers background is so nuanced, the force that nudged Berkowitz off the deep end is far more complex than one would think.

#6: Berkowitz Was The Original Incel

Incel is a modern internet term used to describe angry young men who blame the world for their misfortunes. Ironically, Berkowitz can actually be viewed as the model for this type of bitter, perverse male rage wherein women are the enemy. Jones, who spent days upon days speaking intimately with Berkowitz, details how the killer desperately wanted to have a woman to love. In the documentary, Berkowitz recalls a particularly bad breakup after catching his girl with another man. Trademark incel tellsigns are an exaggerated sense of self, lack of accountability, and internalized angst that boils over into violence. Berkowitz checks every box.

#5: Mommy Issues Led To His MO

Its been well established that Berkowitz harbors a deep-seated hatred for women. But to make matters worse, he later discovered his birth mother was actually alive, and she didnt match his expectations. Learning that hed been conceived out of wedlock reaffirmed his belief that women are floozies, so he developed a disgust for the missing piece hed been searching for. Berkowitz blames that descent into darkness on his rage against a world that supposedly discarded him. But behind this is a jealousy of those whod gotten more out of life, including loving relationships. He didnt want to see other men happy with women, or couples potentially conceiving children they didnt want, like himself. And so, his modus operandi was born.

#4: The First Victims Boyfriend Was a Prime Suspect

In the late 70s, when Berkowitzs killing spree started, NYC was a grimy and crime-ridden hellscape dubbed Fear City. The NYPD was bogged down with reports of homicide and armed robbery. With increasing police layoffs, it was difficult to devote the necessary resources to properly investigate each case. On the evening of July 29, 1976, Berkowitz fatally shot and killed his first victim, Donna Lauria. Because there was no pattern yet, police initially questioned Laurias boyfriend. In fact, he became the prime suspect for months on end. Ultimately, a clearcut alibi exonerated him and the case went cold. Donna Laurias murder became another statistic, and Berkowitz was free to prowl the streets, committing at least another seven shootings.

#3: Berkowitz Wanted To Be a Hero

Its hard to imagine someone so cold-blooded could actually aspire to be a hero. In his youth, Berkowitz tapped into emergency scanners, and showed up to fire and police scenes to assist in rescues. He enlisted in the Army, but regretted that he never got to participate in combat, and left. Once he abandoned these dreams, Berkowitz claims he could only commit murder against total strangersrecalling a time he decided not to murder two people who asked him for help with their car. For a fleeting moment, this opportunity for heroism overrode his penchant for villainy. However, its hard to find too much credibility in Berkowitzs words, considering he was content resuming his spree soon after. Plus, Jones mentions that Berkowitz had a firm agenda to prop himself up as a good guy throughout the interviews. He struggled to see himself as truly evil because he blamed the world for creating the monster. In his eyes, he could have been a great person if things turned out differently, and as a master of deception he led Jones to believe he still was decent.

#2: Berkowitz Alleged the Media Collaborated With Him

Years into his sentence, Berkowitz gave a number of interviews where he claimed to be a part of a cult that participated in the killings with him. The idea that he wasnt a lone gunman wasnt a new conspiracy, so it caught on. Although an investigation ensued, Berkowitz never offered any names. Given that the killings stopped after he was locked up, it was eventually dismissed as another hoax hed contrived. But recently, Berkowitz came forward to claim that members of the press had suggested he peddle this tall tale about a cult the news called The 22 Disciples of Hell. Perhaps these journalists motivation was to drum up more interest in the media, and feed the global satanic panic coverage that sold so well. However, given Berkowitz's track record of lies, its impossible to know what to truly believe.

#1: Berkowitzs Victims Are Still Coming Forward

Even decades after his arrest and incarceration, those who believe hes responsible for their unsolved shootings are still speaking out. Wendy Savino claims that Berkowitz shot her in 1976, but was never tried for it. The attack mirrored his exact pattern of killing, except for the model of the gun used. When confronted with this evidence, as recently as 2024, Berkowitz denied all accountability. As a born again Christian, admitting to yet another violent act likely goes against his newly developed character. This raises the question of just how many unsolved murder attempts were never properly attributed to him. And sadly, if there are more, a confession will likely never come.

Which reveal from the documentary did you find the most unsettling? Share your thoughts in the comments.