How to Profile a Serial Killer
David Berkowitz was an infamous serial killer of the 1970s. He is also known as the “Son of Sam.” Berkowitz was a sociopathic, satanic serial killer. Serial killers must commit two or more murders in repeated incidents. He received commands from Satan to target single women and couples. Although he was adopted at birth, he believes he killed his mother and is carrying out these deeds by Satan as a punishment for killing his mother.
David Berkowitz acted alone within his killings physically, but mentally he worked with Satan. He believed he was the “Devil’s Advocate.”
David Berkowitz was born Richard David Falco. His adoptive parents, Nathan and Pearl Berkowitz, changed his name to David Berkowitz after adopting him. Berkowitz grew up in a household of adoptive parents. He was adopted at his time of birth. He had believed that his biological mother passed away while she was giving birth to him. Therefore, Berkowitz believed his mother died because he was born. He always had an immense source of guilt and large amount of anger built up inside of him. “Some believe it was the reason for his anti-social and aggressive behavior as a child,” (About News 2014). Berkowitz was raised from birth by his adoptive parents. He was brought up in the Bronx of New York. Although being angry about “killing” his mother, he used this anger towards others. Berkowitz was known as the neighborhood bully. So it has been known, Berkowitz was an intelligent, but troubled child. His adoptive parents were Jewish. Berkowitz did not want to follow the same faith as his family, the Jewish faith. Berkowitz always had rebellious tendencies. Berkowitz disagreed with his parents’ beliefs. He was close to his adoptive mother. The death of her affected him pretty harshly. He also started to fail in school after his adoptive mother’s death. From thinking he murdered his biological mother to being a childhood bully, he kept heading toward a downward spiral. David Berkowitz joined the army at eighteen years old. He was discharged from the army in 1974. After his discharge, he moved back to New York. “He eventually got himself a job at the post office and settled into an apartment in Yonkers. Neighbors and co-workers thought of him as a quiet loner, but they had no idea how lethal he was,” (Biography 2016). There was not history of criminal involvement. The only triggers that something bad could have happened in his life were the fact that in his childhood was that he was a bully. Berkowitz’s environment was not hostile. Although being adopted in an unstable environment would put most over the edge. Also, with Berkowitz being in the army, it had provided him with the proper knowledge on weapons and how they operate. He learned how to shoot guns, which was good at the time, but bad for his psychotic break by becoming Satan’s advocate. He carried out Satan’s duties, and proceeded to commit heinous crimes as an act of Satan. Berkowitz followed and was influenced by Satan. He did not approve of his parents believing in Judaism so he took it upon himself to follow Satan’s orders that were sent to him. Instead of having a sign from God, he had a sign from Satan. Berkowitz did not believe he did anything wrong by following the order of Satan. He murdered those people as he was only following …show more content…
As the advancement in technology increases and the increasing amount of laws put in place, it has put the United States on the top of the list with the most known serial killers. The media plays a dominantly influential part in today’s society. With more access to the media and seeing what goes on in the world, people are seeing the world as a more corrupt place than ever. People are acting upon the freedom of speech and right to bear arms. There should be some restraint on those rights, but people feel the need to enforce it more so in the United States than any other country. Other countries are more relaxed when it comes to gun control and violence. The United States has stricter laws than any other county. Thus, the United States produced the majority of all known serial
David Berkowitz was an infamous serial killer of the 1970s. He is also known as the “Son of Sam.” Berkowitz was a sociopathic, satanic serial killer. Serial killers must commit two or more murders in repeated incidents. He received commands from Satan to target single women and couples. Although he was adopted at birth, he believes he killed his mother and is carrying out these deeds by Satan as a punishment for killing his mother.
David Berkowitz acted alone within his killings physically, but mentally he worked with Satan. He believed he was the “Devil’s Advocate.”
David Berkowitz was born Richard David Falco. His adoptive parents, Nathan and Pearl Berkowitz, changed his name to David Berkowitz after adopting him. Berkowitz grew up in a household of adoptive parents. He was adopted at his time of birth. He had believed that his biological mother passed away while she was giving birth to him. Therefore, Berkowitz believed his mother died because he was born. He always had an immense source of guilt and large amount of anger built up inside of him. “Some believe it was the reason for his anti-social and aggressive behavior as a child,” (About News 2014). Berkowitz was raised from birth by his adoptive parents. He was brought up in the Bronx of New York. Although being angry about “killing” his mother, he used this anger towards others. Berkowitz was known as the neighborhood bully. So it has been known, Berkowitz was an intelligent, but troubled child. His adoptive parents were Jewish. Berkowitz did not want to follow the same faith as his family, the Jewish faith. Berkowitz always had rebellious tendencies. Berkowitz disagreed with his parents’ beliefs. He was close to his adoptive mother. The death of her affected him pretty harshly. He also started to fail in school after his adoptive mother’s death. From thinking he murdered his biological mother to being a childhood bully, he kept heading toward a downward spiral. David Berkowitz joined the army at eighteen years old. He was discharged from the army in 1974. After his discharge, he moved back to New York. “He eventually got himself a job at the post office and settled into an apartment in Yonkers. Neighbors and co-workers thought of him as a quiet loner, but they had no idea how lethal he was,” (Biography 2016). There was not history of criminal involvement. The only triggers that something bad could have happened in his life were the fact that in his childhood was that he was a bully. Berkowitz’s environment was not hostile. Although being adopted in an unstable environment would put most over the edge. Also, with Berkowitz being in the army, it had provided him with the proper knowledge on weapons and how they operate. He learned how to shoot guns, which was good at the time, but bad for his psychotic break by becoming Satan’s advocate. He carried out Satan’s duties, and proceeded to commit heinous crimes as an act of Satan. Berkowitz followed and was influenced by Satan. He did not approve of his parents believing in Judaism so he took it upon himself to follow Satan’s orders that were sent to him. Instead of having a sign from God, he had a sign from Satan. Berkowitz did not believe he did anything wrong by following the order of Satan. He murdered those people as he was only following …show more content…
As the advancement in technology increases and the increasing amount of laws put in place, it has put the United States on the top of the list with the most known serial killers. The media plays a dominantly influential part in today’s society. With more access to the media and seeing what goes on in the world, people are seeing the world as a more corrupt place than ever. People are acting upon the freedom of speech and right to bear arms. There should be some restraint on those rights, but people feel the need to enforce it more so in the United States than any other country. Other countries are more relaxed when it comes to gun control and violence. The United States has stricter laws than any other county. Thus, the United States produced the majority of all known serial