Latest news with #Satanic
The Irish Sun
6 days ago
- The Irish Sun
Who is David Berkowitz, where is the Son of Sam serial killer now and what do we know about his victims?
A NEW Netflix documentary claims to offer new insights into the investigation and the enduring impact of David Berkowitz's infamous murder spree in bustling 1970s New York. One of America's most infamous serial killers, 2 Police mug shot of David Berkowitz, who killed six people and wounded seven Who is David Berkowitz and why was he called the Son of Sam? Gunman David Berkowitz carried out a killing spree that terrorised New Yorkers for 12 months, killing six and wounding seven, sparking the biggest manhunt in the city's history before he was finally arrested in 1977. Before being identified, the '.44 Caliber Killer' was also known as the 'Son of Sam' for the signature he left on letters at crime scenes and sent to media outlets. After a year-long reign of terror which left six dead and seven more wounded, cops were relieved to have brought down the gunman. After David Berkowitz was apprehended and put on trial, he claimed that his neighbour's dog, named Sam, was possessed by a demon and commanded him to kill. With Berkowitz behind bars, the Son of Sam case was closed — until a bizarre theory about a Satanic cult threw new light on the killings. Not everyone is convinced Berkowitz had acted alone, while some fear that others involved in the spree could still be out there. In 1993, Berkowitz gave a series of shocking TV interviews to Inside Edition in which he claimed that he had not acted alone during his 1970s bloodbath. Who were David Berkowitz's victims? Donna Lauria and Jody Valenti shooting (July 1976) The first shooting attributed to the Son of Sam occurred in the Pelham Bay area of the Bronx. Most read in The US Sun At about 1.10am on July 29, 1976, Donna Lauria, an emergency medical technician, 18, and her friend Jody Valenti, a nurse, 19, were sitting in Valenti's double-parked Oldsmobile, discussing their evening at Peachtree's, a New Rochelle disco. Lauria opened the car door to leave and noticed a man quickly approaching the car, he produced a pistol from the paper bag and aimed his weapon with both hands, and fired. Lauria was struck by one bullet that killed her instantly. Valenti was shot in her thigh and survived her injury. 2 Oliver Cooper playing David Berkowitz in Mindhunter Carl Denaro and Rosemary Keenan shooting (October 1976) Most of Berkowitz's activity was in Queens, though he lived farther north in Yonkers. On October 23, 1976, a similar shooting occurred in a secluded residential area of Flushing, Queens, next to Bowne Park. Carl Denaro, a Citibank security guard, 20, and Rosemary Keenan, a Queens College student, 18, were sitting in Keenan's parked car when the windows suddenly shattered. Keenan quickly started the car and sped away for help. The panicked couple did not realise that someone had been shooting at them, even though Denaro was bleeding from a bullet wound to his head. Keenan had only superficial injuries from the broken glass, but Denaro eventually needed a metal plate to replace a portion of his skull. Donna DeMasi and Joanne Lomino shooting (November 1976) High school student Donna DeMasi, 16, and Joanne Lomino, a student at Martin Van Buren High School, 18, walked home from a movie soon after midnight on November 27, 1976. They were chatting on the porch of Joanne's home in Floral Park, when a man dressed in military fatigues who seemed to be in his early 20s approached them and began to ask directions. He quickly produced a revolver and he shot each of the victims once and, as they fell to the ground injured, he fired several more times. DeMasi had been shot in the neck, but the wound was not life-threatening. Lomino was hit in the back and hospitalized in a serious condition. She was ultimately rendered paraplegic. Christine Freund and John Diel shooting (January 1977) At about 12.40am on January 30, 1977, Christine Freund, a secretary, 26, and her fiancé John Diel, a bartender, 30, were sitting in Diel's car near the Forest Hills LIRR station in Queens, preparing to drive to a dance hall after having seen the movie Rocky. Three gunshots penetrated the car and in a panic, Diel drove away for help. He suffered minor superficial injuries, but Freund was shot twice and died several hours later at the hospital. Virginia Voskerichian shooting (March 1977) At about 7.30pm on March 8, 1977, Columbia University student Virginia Voskerichian, 19, was walking home from school when she was confronted by an armed man. She lived about a block from where Christine Freund had been shot. In a desperate move to defend herself, Voskerichian lifted her textbooks between herself and her killer, but the makeshift shield was penetrated, the bullet striking her head and killing her. Alexander Esau and Valentina Suriani shooting (April 1977) At about 3am on April 17, 1977, Alexander Esau, a tow truck operator, 20, and Valentina Suriani, an aspiring actress and model, 18, were sitting in Suriani's car near her home in the Bronx, only a few blocks from the scene of the Lauria–Valenti shooting, when each was shot twice. Suriani died at the scene, and Esau died in the hospital several hours later without being able to describe his attacker. Sal Lupo and Judy Placido shooting (June 1977) On June 26, 1977, there was another shooting. Sal Lupo, a mechanic's helper, 20, and Judy Placido, a recent high school graduate, 17, had left the Elephas disco in Bayside, Queens, and were sitting in Sal's parked car at about 3am, when three gunshots blasted through the vehicle. Sal was wounded in the right forearm, while Judy was shot in the right temple, shoulder, and back of the neck, but both victims survived their injuries. Sal told police that the young couple had been discussing the Son of Sam case only moments before the shooting. Stacy Moskowitz and Robert Violante shooting (July 1977) Berkowitz's final killing happened in Brooklyn. Early on July 31, 1977, Stacy Moskowitz, a secretary, and Robert Violante, a clothing store salesman, both 20, were in Robert's car, which was parked under a streetlight near a city park in the neighbourhood of Bath Beach, on their first date. They were kissing when a man approached within three feet of the passenger side of Robert's car and fired four rounds into the car, striking both victims in the head before he escaped into the park. Robert lost his left eye but Stacy died from her injuries. Netflix drops trailer for harrowing new true crime doc The Sons of Sam: A Descent Into Darkness Where is David Berkowitz now? In 1978, Berkowitz was convicted of the murders of two men and four women, ranging in age from 18 to 25, and sentenced to six consecutive life sentences in prison, which he is still serving. How was David Berkowitz caught? Berkowitz grew up as a difficult child with occasional bouts of violence but his real troubles began after the death of his adoptive mother in 1967. His adoptive father remarried in 1971 and moved to Florida without him, forcing him to join the army. Claiming to be pushed to kill by demons, Berkowitz attempted to murder a woman in December 1975, but she survived with several stab wounds, beginning his year-long killing spree. He named himself Son of Sam, a reference to a demon he believed lived inside the black labrador owned by his neighbour, Sam Carr. David Berkowitz was caught when a young woman named Cacilia Davis unwittingly walked past his crime scene, and past Berkowitz himself in his car. Davis tipped off the police and the officer who had been ticketing cars in the area that night, including Berkowitz's. He was arrested on August 10, and in his car they found a rifle, a bag of ammunition, maps of the crime scene and further threatening letters. Then, the police uncovered the .44 gun. What did David Berkowitz say after being caught? During his arrest, Berkowitz said with a smile on his face: 'Well, you got me.' He confessed to all his crimes while in police custody, changing his story several times, claiming to be part of a cult and falsely confessing to the murder of a young woman in New York. In the new series, viewers are given an insight into his state of mind at the time. Ahead of one court appearance, Berkowitz told prison guards: 'I guess the press is waiting with their cameras … can you comb my hair?' About Netflix's The Son of Sam Tapes The three-part series delves into the mind and troubled past of Berkowitz, featuring newly unearthed audio interviews recorded with him by reporter Jack Jones in 1980 at Attica Correctional Facility in Wyoming County, New York. Alongside interviews with detectives, journalists, and survivors of Berkowitz's attacks, it claims to offer new insights into the investigation and the enduring impact of Berkowitz's crimes on the local community. The series is directed and produced by Emmy-winning and Academy Award-nominated director Joe Berlinger (Cold Case: Jon Benet Ramsey, Crime Scene: The Texas Killing Fields, and Hitler and the Nazis: Evil on Trial). Berlinger told Netflix: 'With The Son of Sam Tapes, we delve into the world of David Berkowitz and his chilling influence on 1970s New York City. 'These rare tapes reveal unnerving insights into his psyche, shedding light on the intricate details of the case and the pervasive fear that gripped the city. Read more on the Irish Sun 'Through these tapes, we hope to not only revisit history, but to bring clarity and depth to a narrative that has long intrigued and unsettled the public.' The Son of Sam Tapes airs on Netflix on July 30.
Scottish Sun
6 days ago
- Scottish Sun
Who is David Berkowitz, where is the Son of Sam serial killer now and what do we know about his victims?
A three-part Netflix series delves into impact of murder spree in New York STREETS OF TERROR Who is David Berkowitz, where is the Son of Sam serial killer now and what do we know about his victims? Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) A NEW Netflix documentary claims to offer new insights into the investigation and the enduring impact of David Berkowitz's infamous murder spree in bustling 1970s New York. One of America's most infamous serial killers, Berkowitz was known as the 'Son of Sam' before he was identified and arrested in 1977. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 2 Police mug shot of David Berkowitz, who killed six people and wounded seven Who is David Berkowitz and why was he called the Son of Sam? Gunman David Berkowitz carried out a killing spree that terrorised New Yorkers for 12 months, killing six and wounding seven, sparking the biggest manhunt in the city's history before he was finally arrested in 1977. Before being identified, the '.44 Caliber Killer' was also known as the 'Son of Sam' for the signature he left on letters at crime scenes and sent to media outlets. After a year-long reign of terror which left six dead and seven more wounded, cops were relieved to have brought down the gunman. After David Berkowitz was apprehended and put on trial, he claimed that his neighbour's dog, named Sam, was possessed by a demon and commanded him to kill. With Berkowitz behind bars, the Son of Sam case was closed — until a bizarre theory about a Satanic cult threw new light on the killings. Not everyone is convinced Berkowitz had acted alone, while some fear that others involved in the spree could still be out there. In 1993, Berkowitz gave a series of shocking TV interviews to Inside Edition in which he claimed that he had not acted alone during his 1970s bloodbath. Who were David Berkowitz's victims? Donna Lauria and Jody Valenti shooting (July 1976) The first shooting attributed to the Son of Sam occurred in the Pelham Bay area of the Bronx. At about 1.10am on July 29, 1976, Donna Lauria, an emergency medical technician, 18, and her friend Jody Valenti, a nurse, 19, were sitting in Valenti's double-parked Oldsmobile, discussing their evening at Peachtree's, a New Rochelle disco. Lauria opened the car door to leave and noticed a man quickly approaching the car, he produced a pistol from the paper bag and aimed his weapon with both hands, and fired. Lauria was struck by one bullet that killed her instantly. Valenti was shot in her thigh and survived her injury. 2 Oliver Cooper playing David Berkowitz in Mindhunter Carl Denaro and Rosemary Keenan shooting (October 1976) Most of Berkowitz's activity was in Queens, though he lived farther north in Yonkers. On October 23, 1976, a similar shooting occurred in a secluded residential area of Flushing, Queens, next to Bowne Park. Carl Denaro, a Citibank security guard, 20, and Rosemary Keenan, a Queens College student, 18, were sitting in Keenan's parked car when the windows suddenly shattered. Keenan quickly started the car and sped away for help. The panicked couple did not realise that someone had been shooting at them, even though Denaro was bleeding from a bullet wound to his head. Keenan had only superficial injuries from the broken glass, but Denaro eventually needed a metal plate to replace a portion of his skull. Donna DeMasi and Joanne Lomino shooting (November 1976) High school student Donna DeMasi, 16, and Joanne Lomino, a student at Martin Van Buren High School, 18, walked home from a movie soon after midnight on November 27, 1976. They were chatting on the porch of Joanne's home in Floral Park, when a man dressed in military fatigues who seemed to be in his early 20s approached them and began to ask directions. He quickly produced a revolver and he shot each of the victims once and, as they fell to the ground injured, he fired several more times. DeMasi had been shot in the neck, but the wound was not life-threatening. Lomino was hit in the back and hospitalized in a serious condition. She was ultimately rendered paraplegic. Christine Freund and John Diel shooting (January 1977) At about 12.40am on January 30, 1977, Christine Freund, a secretary, 26, and her fiancé John Diel, a bartender, 30, were sitting in Diel's car near the Forest Hills LIRR station in Queens, preparing to drive to a dance hall after having seen the movie Rocky. Three gunshots penetrated the car and in a panic, Diel drove away for help. He suffered minor superficial injuries, but Freund was shot twice and died several hours later at the hospital. Virginia Voskerichian shooting (March 1977) At about 7.30pm on March 8, 1977, Columbia University student Virginia Voskerichian, 19, was walking home from school when she was confronted by an armed man. She lived about a block from where Christine Freund had been shot. In a desperate move to defend herself, Voskerichian lifted her textbooks between herself and her killer, but the makeshift shield was penetrated, the bullet striking her head and killing her. Alexander Esau and Valentina Suriani shooting (April 1977) At about 3am on April 17, 1977, Alexander Esau, a tow truck operator, 20, and Valentina Suriani, an aspiring actress and model, 18, were sitting in Suriani's car near her home in the Bronx, only a few blocks from the scene of the Lauria–Valenti shooting, when each was shot twice. Suriani died at the scene, and Esau died in the hospital several hours later without being able to describe his attacker. Sal Lupo and Judy Placido shooting (June 1977) On June 26, 1977, there was another shooting. Sal Lupo, a mechanic's helper, 20, and Judy Placido, a recent high school graduate, 17, had left the Elephas disco in Bayside, Queens, and were sitting in Sal's parked car at about 3am, when three gunshots blasted through the vehicle. Sal was wounded in the right forearm, while Judy was shot in the right temple, shoulder, and back of the neck, but both victims survived their injuries. Sal told police that the young couple had been discussing the Son of Sam case only moments before the shooting. Stacy Moskowitz and Robert Violante shooting (July 1977) Berkowitz's final killing happened in Brooklyn. Early on July 31, 1977, Stacy Moskowitz, a secretary, and Robert Violante, a clothing store salesman, both 20, were in Robert's car, which was parked under a streetlight near a city park in the neighbourhood of Bath Beach, on their first date. They were kissing when a man approached within three feet of the passenger side of Robert's car and fired four rounds into the car, striking both victims in the head before he escaped into the park. Robert lost his left eye but Stacy died from her injuries. Netflix drops trailer for harrowing new true crime doc The Sons of Sam: A Descent Into Darkness Where is David Berkowitz now? In 1978, Berkowitz was convicted of the murders of two men and four women, ranging in age from 18 to 25, and sentenced to six consecutive life sentences in prison, which he is still serving. How was David Berkowitz caught? Berkowitz grew up as a difficult child with occasional bouts of violence but his real troubles began after the death of his adoptive mother in 1967. His adoptive father remarried in 1971 and moved to Florida without him, forcing him to join the army. Claiming to be pushed to kill by demons, Berkowitz attempted to murder a woman in December 1975, but she survived with several stab wounds, beginning his year-long killing spree. He named himself Son of Sam, a reference to a demon he believed lived inside the black labrador owned by his neighbour, Sam Carr. David Berkowitz was caught when a young woman named Cacilia Davis unwittingly walked past his crime scene, and past Berkowitz himself in his car. Davis tipped off the police and the officer who had been ticketing cars in the area that night, including Berkowitz's. He was arrested on August 10, and in his car they found a rifle, a bag of ammunition, maps of the crime scene and further threatening letters. Then, the police uncovered the .44 gun. What did David Berkowitz say after being caught? During his arrest, Berkowitz said with a smile on his face: 'Well, you got me.' He confessed to all his crimes while in police custody, changing his story several times, claiming to be part of a cult and falsely confessing to the murder of a young woman in New York. In the new series, viewers are given an insight into his state of mind at the time. Ahead of one court appearance, Berkowitz told prison guards: 'I guess the press is waiting with their cameras … can you comb my hair?' About Netflix's The Son of Sam Tapes The three-part series delves into the mind and troubled past of Berkowitz, featuring newly unearthed audio interviews recorded with him by reporter Jack Jones in 1980 at Attica Correctional Facility in Wyoming County, New York. Alongside interviews with detectives, journalists, and survivors of Berkowitz's attacks, it claims to offer new insights into the investigation and the enduring impact of Berkowitz's crimes on the local community. The series is directed and produced by Emmy-winning and Academy Award-nominated director Joe Berlinger (Cold Case: Jon Benet Ramsey, Crime Scene: The Texas Killing Fields, and Hitler and the Nazis: Evil on Trial). Berlinger told Netflix: 'With The Son of Sam Tapes, we delve into the world of David Berkowitz and his chilling influence on 1970s New York City. 'These rare tapes reveal unnerving insights into his psyche, shedding light on the intricate details of the case and the pervasive fear that gripped the city. 'Through these tapes, we hope to not only revisit history, but to bring clarity and depth to a narrative that has long intrigued and unsettled the public.' The Son of Sam Tapes airs on Netflix on July 30.
The Hill
11-07-2025
- Politics
- The Hill
With ‘Epstein list,' Trump is hoist by his own conspiracy-theory petard
If you live by the sword, you die by the sword — and if you live by conspiracy theories, you'll probably choke on them. So it should come as no surprise that President Trump and his administration now find themselves in the awkward position of having to play the grown-ups and talk their own base down from the ledge. Judging by his sour tone, it's a role that Trump loathes. At a Cabinet meeting Tuesday, a reporter asked Attorney General Pam Bondi about the Justice Department's claim that Jeffrey Epstein died by suicide and, inconveniently, left no 'client list.' Trump, clearly annoyed, cut in: 'Are you still talking about Jeffrey Epstein? This guy's been talked about for years. You're asking — we have [deadly flooding in] Texas. We have this. We have all of the things. And are people still talking about this guy, this creep?' Ah, yes. The man who built an entire political career out of winking at every fever dream about elites drinking baby blood now wants us to stop asking all those pesky questions so he can focus on serious matters. You don't have to be a genius to savor the irony, nor a sadist to enjoy the spectacle of MAGA-world being hoist by its own petard over the mythical 'Epstein list.' From the beginning, Trump's rise was powered by weaponized paranoia. His entry ticket into presidential politics was the racist birther lie about former President Barack Obama. Later, he gladly rode the wave of QAnon — a movement obsessed with Satanic pedophile rings and sex-trafficking cabals — and happily soaked up the support of every tinfoil-hatter who would have him. Naturally, these same people became convinced that the release of Epstein's 'list' would finally unmask the sinister elite cabal that has secretly ruled the planet since the dawn of time — with the added benefit of humiliating Trump's enemies. The fantasy went something like this: The Deep State was hiding the truth, but Trump (their glorious truth-teller) would win in 2024, root the traitors out of big government and jail the globalist cosmopolitan elites preying on our children. Instead? We got Bondi — who once boasted she had the files 'sitting on my desk right now' — suffering a sudden case of amnesia. Which raises some questions. Which Bondi was lying? Fox News Bondi, who claimed to have the goods? Or Cabinet room Bondi, who claims she's never seen such a list? Then there's Elon Musk — the richest man on earth and erstwhile Trump superfan — who not long ago tweeted angrily that Trump was on Epstein's client list, only to delete the post later. Was Musk lying? Is Trump really on the list? These questions aren't difficult to ask, although they are apparently difficult for Trump's supporters to answer. Either Bondi and Musk are outrageous liars (and should be fired or shamed out of polite society), or Trump is actually guilty of heinous crimes. It's not a logical leap to put these things together, so why do the MAGA faithful — who can somehow find hidden codes in the words 'cheese pizza' — now seem incapable of seeing the obvious contradictions? At some point, Democrats may need to get better at helping people connect the dots. Not that serious Democratic leaders should go full Q, but it wouldn't hurt to have a few shameless surrogates 'just asking questions' — like so many of Trump's MAGA influencers. After all, there are plenty of pictures of Trump and Epstein together looking chummy, and Trump himself once called Epstein a 'terrific guy' who 'likes beautiful women as much as I do, and many of them are on the younger side.' How hard could this be? Then again, most of the Americans open to conspiracy theories have sorted into the Republican Party, and there's not much hope of turning them against Dear Leader. Indeed, many of the same Republicans who screamed about Epstein when they thought the matter would take down former President Bill Clinton have now gone curiously silent. To be fair, a few conspiracy diehards — Alex Jones among them — have grumbled that Trump is hiding the truth. But most have simply invented elaborate rationalizations claiming that Trump is somehow both personally innocent and covering for others. In a sane world, such a cover-up would be outrageous, explosive and disqualifying. But we're not in a sane world. We're in a world where the same people who recently claimed Trump was about to start World War III when he bombed Iran are still making excuses for him. Whether Trump's name is on 'the list' — which likely doesn't even exist — is beside the point. What has been established, and what the Trump White House desperately wants you to ignore, is that once again the powerful are lying to you. Again. As always. Matt K. Lewis is a columnist, podcaster and author of the books 'Too Dumb to Fail' and 'Filthy Rich Politicians.'
Irish Daily Mirror
08-07-2025
- Irish Daily Mirror
Boy, 6, castrated and left for dead in ditch in 'Satanic ritual'
A six year old boy was discovered in a ditch, drenched in his own blood, after being subjected to a horrific assault in which he was restrained, pepper-sprayed, and castrated. Speculation has circulated the incident may be connected to voodoo or Satanic practices. Upon finding the child in the scrubland, local people were met with the gruesome sight of him bleeding profusely, crying out for help, and covered in his own blood. Initially, his rescuers suspected he might have been stabbed, but they soon made the appalling discovery that he had been castrated. The incident occurred near a gold mine in the Blue Skye informal settlement, and the child was on the brink of death due to blood loss when he was discovered, as reported by The Mail Online. The community in Boksburg, Gauteng Province, was shocked and disturbed by the news, with parents expressing concern for their children's safety. One local resident, who wished to remain anonymous due to fear of repercussions, stated: "Who would do such a thing to such a little boy – it really is the cruellest of the cruel. To pepper spray the little boy is bad enough but to cut off his genitals is just barbaric and that kid will have mental issues for the rest of his life." Another resident added: "The rumours are it is Satanism or taking body parts for a voodoo ritual but this little boy will now not be able to have children ever.", reports the Mirror US. Resident Chantel Naude expressed her fears, saying: "I am considering moving out of the area as we feel unsafe as I have boys as well and don't want them attacked as well. I know the boy and he is often around looking for a bit of food or a bit of loose change and he gets by and is always smiling and is always polite." She added: "He was found out in an overgrown field with his genitals missing and unable to see properly due to the pepper spray which is dreadfully painful on its own." It's yet to be confirmed by the emergency service whether both his penis and testes were taken. Boksburg South African Police station boss Colonel Matshedeso Mbele verified that an inquiry into attempted murder was underway. Choosing not to discuss the extent of the savagery due to their sensitive nature, she couldn't say whether it was adults or older youths who perpetrated the attack. On the incident occurring on 1 March, Colonel Mbele noted that paramedics had quickly transported the injured party to the hospital, stating reassuringly that the lad is now in stable nick, thankfully.
Cedar News
30-06-2025
- Cedar News
New Photos Emerge of Wess Roley, Alleged Idaho Arsonist and Shooter
More photos of the alleged Arsonist/Sh00ter, Wess Roley, who ambushed firefighters yesterday in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho have surfaced onlie. In one of the photos he is seen wearing a t-shirt with a Satanic symbol on it. In another photo he holds an AR-15. PHOTOS: New Photos Emerge of Wess Roley, Alleged Idaho Arsonist and Shooter — Cedar News (@cedar_news) June 30, 2025
