Conversations with a Killer: The Son of Sam Tapes recap - The hunt, origin of the monicker, and ultimate capture revealed

Conversations with a Killer: The Son of Sam Tapes, the latest Netflix documentary, goes in-depth into one of the most gruesome crime sprees in the 1970s in New York; the Son of Sam murders.

For those who don't know, David Berkowitz, a former soldier in the US Army, went on a brutal rampage between December 1975 and July 1977.

Produced and directed by Academy and Emmy Award-winning filmmaker Joe Berlinger, the Netflix documentary promises to delve into the mind of David Berkowitz, widely known by the alias "Son of Sam." Conversations with a Killer: The Son of Sam Tapes also promises to delve into Berkowitz's past with the help of audio interviews recorded in 1980 by Democrat and Chronicle reporter Jack Jones.

Director Joe Berlinger described Conversations with a Killer: The Son of Sam Tapes to Netflix like this:

“At the heart of Conversations with a Killer lies a commitment to unraveling the complex minds of notorious criminals while providing a space for those closest to the crimes to find closure. 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.”

Who is Conversations with a Killer: The Son of Sam Tapes's David Berkowitz?

At the beginning of Conversations with a Killer: The Son of Sam Tapes, we learn how Jack Jones came into contact with David Berkowitz. Turns out Jones got David Berkowitz’s letter from Attica Prison, in which the serial killer revealed that he was willing to open up to him. Born Richard Falco, he was legally adopted by the Berkowitz family and given the name David as an infant.

While not much is known about his past, we know that David Berkowitz was honorably discharged in June 1974 from the US Army after joining it in 1971. While David began his crime spree with a stabbing incident, he quickly changed his weapon of choice to a .44 Special caliber Bulldog revolver. Because of the frequent use of the .44 Special caliber Bulldog revolver, the police referred to him as "the .44 Caliber Killer".

However, it wasn't until the sixth attack in 1977 that David revealed his preferred name to the press: "Son of Sam". David Berkowitz did so through a note in which he explicitly stated his preferred name and also mocked the police for failing to identify and apprehend him. The Police discovered this note at the Alexander Esau and Valentina Suriani's shooting crime scene.

However, it was 20-year-old Stacy Moskowitz and Robert Violante's shooting in Brooklyn on 31st July, 1997, that ended the Son of Sam's rampage. The young couple was inside Violante's car for their first date when they were suddenly shot. While Moskowitz succumbed to her injuries, the attack cost Violante his left eye. It was this event that was David Berkowitz's undoing.

Approximately half an hour before the attack, a woman named Cacilia Davis saw David while walking her dog. She observed that David was staring at her, making her feel uncomfortable. The black, unidentifiable object (which would've been his revolver) in his hand particularly frightened her. She and her dog managed to go back home, and nearly 30 minutes later, she heard the gunshots fired at Moskowitz and Violante.

She called the police and informed them that the man who had supposedly targeted her received a parking ticket. It was this information that ultimately helped the police capture David on August 10, 1977. After looking into everyone who received a parking ticket on that day, they were able to identify David, who was residing in Yonkers, a different city in New York.

What makes Conversations with a Killer: The Son of Sam Tapes a must-watch for true crime fans?

While the public knows about the Son of Sam and Jack Jones' work on the serial killer, Conversations with a Killer: The Son of Sam Tapes also promises some tapes that haven't been made public yet. The synopsis reads as follows:

"One of the greatest manhunts in New York City history comes to life in Conversations with a Killer: The Son of Sam Tapes. The gripping three-part series takes viewers inside the NYPD’s desperate race to catch the infamous “.44 Caliber Killer” — and into the disturbing mind of David Berkowitz himself."

"Newly unearthed recordings offer rare insight into his twisted psyche, revealing what was going through his mind as he unleashed a reign of terror in the late 1970s. Alongside firsthand accounts from cops, journalists, and survivors, the series unpacks how fear spread through the streets, fueled by cryptic letters, a frenzied press, and a killer who seemed to be everywhere and nowhere at once."

"From Emmy-winning and Academy Award–nominated director Joe Berlinger, this chilling new chapter of Conversations with a Killer delves into one of the most infamous cases in American history."

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Consisting of three episodes, Conversations with a Killer: The Son of Sam Tapes is streaming on Netflix in its entirety.

Also read: Angi: Fake Life, True Crime – Who was María Ángeles Molina and where is she now? Details from the Netflix docuseries, explored

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