Infamous killer David Berkowitz, also known as Son of Sam, murdered six people in New York City in the 1970s.
Born to a Jewish mother, Berkowitz was adopted by Jewish-American parents when he was only a few days old. His adopted mother, Pearl Berkowitz, died when he was a teenager and her passing deeply affected him. He later searched for his birth mother. Eventually he found her—a woman named Betty Falco—but he didn’t receive the warm welcome he expected.
Soon after his birth mother’s rejection, Berkowitz began his string of murders. Most of his victims were women.
After his arrest Berkowiz said he wasn’t a woman-hater, but later admitted he targeted women so they wouldn’t have children who were unwanted, like he was.
Read more about David Berkowitz and whether he acted alone.
