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1
00:00:01,896 --> 00:00:04,758
"'Go out and kill,'
commands father Sam.
2
00:00:04,758 --> 00:00:08,931
I am here on earth
to create havoc and terror."
3
00:00:13,965 --> 00:00:16,482
New York, 1977.
4
00:00:16,482 --> 00:00:19,862
A gunman
is targeting young couples.
5
00:00:19,862 --> 00:00:22,413
He pulled something
out of his pocket
6
00:00:22,413 --> 00:00:25,724
and started firing into the car.
7
00:00:25,724 --> 00:00:27,862
And I was yelling out for help,
8
00:00:27,862 --> 00:00:30,137
and then I collapsed
over the roof of the car.
9
00:00:31,517 --> 00:00:35,206
The NYPD believe
a serial killer is on the loose,
10
00:00:35,206 --> 00:00:37,793
but they have no leads.
11
00:00:37,793 --> 00:00:39,931
Then, on may the 30th,
12
00:00:39,931 --> 00:00:44,862
famed journalist Jimmy breslin
opens a letter from the killer.
13
00:00:44,862 --> 00:00:49,310
"Mr. Breslin, sir,
I am a monster.
14
00:00:49,310 --> 00:00:51,137
I am the son of Sam."
15
00:00:53,655 --> 00:00:55,689
That name caught fire.
16
00:00:55,689 --> 00:00:58,000
He came out of the dark,
17
00:00:58,000 --> 00:01:00,206
and the dark
became a time to fear.
18
00:01:00,206 --> 00:01:02,172
There was this sort
of overriding sense
19
00:01:02,172 --> 00:01:03,379
that you could be next,
20
00:01:03,379 --> 00:01:04,827
or someone you know
could be next.
21
00:01:04,827 --> 00:01:07,655
It felt really apocalyptic.
22
00:01:07,655 --> 00:01:09,310
We're all scared.
23
00:01:09,310 --> 00:01:14,758
A bizarre, sick mind had
just declared war on New York.
24
00:01:14,758 --> 00:01:17,103
40 years later,
25
00:01:17,103 --> 00:01:19,931
detectives, witnesses,
and survivors
26
00:01:19,931 --> 00:01:23,517
relive the hunt
for a serial killer.
27
00:01:23,517 --> 00:01:29,689
Up until now, none of US
have ever come forward.
28
00:01:29,689 --> 00:01:32,931
I could never forgive him
for what he's done.
29
00:01:32,931 --> 00:01:35,931
...Captions by vitac...
www.Vitac.Com
30
00:01:35,931 --> 00:01:38,896
captions paid for by
discovery communications
31
00:01:54,034 --> 00:01:56,379
July 1976.
32
00:01:56,379 --> 00:01:58,413
Disco is at its peak.
33
00:01:58,413 --> 00:02:02,862
The club scene is thriving,
especially in New York City.
34
00:02:04,586 --> 00:02:09,275
It was a time when women felt
a new freedom to be "me,"
35
00:02:09,275 --> 00:02:13,655
if you will, and to be single
and go out and date.
36
00:02:13,655 --> 00:02:15,724
People had a good time.
37
00:02:15,724 --> 00:02:19,172
It felt like, to me, the world's
most dangerous amusement park,
38
00:02:19,172 --> 00:02:20,758
but I really liked that.
39
00:02:20,758 --> 00:02:22,034
It was a great place to be
40
00:02:22,034 --> 00:02:24,379
because there was always
something to get into.
41
00:02:27,206 --> 00:02:29,482
18-year-old Donna lauria
42
00:02:29,482 --> 00:02:32,620
is caught up in the excitement
of the disco era.
43
00:02:32,620 --> 00:02:35,344
Beautiful and ambitious,
she's working
44
00:02:35,344 --> 00:02:36,620
as a medical technician
45
00:02:36,620 --> 00:02:40,137
and studying
for her paramedic's license.
46
00:02:40,137 --> 00:02:42,827
I think Donna was really happy
at the time.
47
00:02:42,827 --> 00:02:44,620
She was doing something
she wanted to do,
48
00:02:44,620 --> 00:02:46,862
and that was going along well.
49
00:02:46,862 --> 00:02:49,482
And, you know,
we were growing up,
50
00:02:49,482 --> 00:02:52,482
and, you know, things were good.
51
00:02:54,517 --> 00:02:56,000
On July 29th,
52
00:02:56,000 --> 00:02:58,965
Donna lauria
and her friend Jody valenti
53
00:02:58,965 --> 00:03:00,275
are on their way home
54
00:03:00,275 --> 00:03:03,172
after visiting
some clubs in Manhattan.
55
00:03:03,172 --> 00:03:05,241
It's 1:00 in the morning.
56
00:03:05,241 --> 00:03:06,724
The two women are parked
57
00:03:06,724 --> 00:03:11,379
in front of Donna's apartment
building in Jody's car.
58
00:03:11,379 --> 00:03:13,793
My dad was not thrilled
that it was that time,
59
00:03:13,793 --> 00:03:18,206
and dad and Donna
had a little exchange about,
60
00:03:18,206 --> 00:03:20,103
"it's late.
You know, come on.
61
00:03:20,103 --> 00:03:21,517
You need to come upstairs."
62
00:03:21,517 --> 00:03:26,172
She told him she would,
but go get her dog,
63
00:03:26,172 --> 00:03:29,482
and that they would
walk the dog together.
64
00:03:29,482 --> 00:03:31,137
The father says,
"well, I'm gonna go up
65
00:03:31,137 --> 00:03:33,103
and get the dog and come down."
66
00:03:33,103 --> 00:03:35,517
Everything typical, no problem,
67
00:03:35,517 --> 00:03:38,448
and suddenly,
the world explodes around them.
68
00:03:44,965 --> 00:03:48,758
Some guy
just came out of the shadows
69
00:03:48,758 --> 00:03:51,137
and fired and shot them.
70
00:03:52,896 --> 00:03:54,137
By the time I got there,
71
00:03:54,137 --> 00:03:58,655
she was already
on the pavement outside the car.
72
00:03:58,655 --> 00:04:04,068
I checked her for a pulse,
and...
73
00:04:11,965 --> 00:04:14,068
And there was
nothing I could do.
74
00:04:14,068 --> 00:04:17,793
She was dead by the time
I got down there.
75
00:04:17,793 --> 00:04:19,000
And I just...
76
00:04:19,000 --> 00:04:20,862
There was just nothing.
77
00:04:20,862 --> 00:04:23,896
I mean, it was horrible.
78
00:04:23,896 --> 00:04:28,413
The shocking attack
on Donna lauria and Jody valenti
79
00:04:28,413 --> 00:04:29,896
gets reported,
80
00:04:29,896 --> 00:04:34,034
but the tragedy passes
almost unnoticed.
81
00:04:36,620 --> 00:04:40,068
New York is in the grip
of a terrible crime wave.
82
00:04:40,068 --> 00:04:44,586
In 1976, it is one of the most
dangerous cities in the country,
83
00:04:44,586 --> 00:04:49,448
with over 1,700 murders
this year alone.
84
00:04:49,448 --> 00:04:51,448
You had bombings
down in Brooklyn.
85
00:04:51,448 --> 00:04:54,137
We had police that were shot.
86
00:04:54,137 --> 00:04:55,517
Banks were being robbed.
87
00:04:55,517 --> 00:04:57,275
Murder was up.
Rape was up.
88
00:04:57,275 --> 00:04:58,379
Armed robbery was up.
89
00:04:58,379 --> 00:05:00,000
You know,
there was a lot of desperation.
90
00:05:00,000 --> 00:05:02,862
We had
so many homicides in those days.
91
00:05:02,862 --> 00:05:06,965
The sheer number of cases
was overwhelming.
92
00:05:08,413 --> 00:05:10,931
With the city
on the verge of collapse,
93
00:05:10,931 --> 00:05:15,241
can anyone hope to find
Donna lauria's killer?
94
00:05:15,241 --> 00:05:17,206
"I love to hunt,
95
00:05:17,206 --> 00:05:21,931
prowling the streets looking
for fair game, tasty meat.
96
00:05:21,931 --> 00:05:24,241
I live for the hunt."
97
00:05:27,551 --> 00:05:32,517
Al Howard and Richard Paul of
Bronx homicide catch the case.
98
00:05:32,517 --> 00:05:34,965
From the start, they realize
this is going to be
99
00:05:34,965 --> 00:05:36,655
emotionally difficult.
100
00:05:36,655 --> 00:05:39,034
You have children of your own,
101
00:05:39,034 --> 00:05:40,724
and you can't figure out
the reason.
102
00:05:40,724 --> 00:05:44,379
Why would anybody want
to shoot two young ladies
103
00:05:44,379 --> 00:05:47,000
just sitting in the car?
104
00:05:47,000 --> 00:05:49,655
They wonder
if the location of the murder
105
00:05:49,655 --> 00:05:53,034
might be a crucial lead.
106
00:05:53,034 --> 00:05:55,000
When we got
the Donna lauria case,
107
00:05:55,000 --> 00:05:57,482
that was up in the Bronx.
108
00:05:57,482 --> 00:06:00,517
There was an area up there
where the mafia guys
109
00:06:00,517 --> 00:06:02,965
would dump their bodies
in this park area.
110
00:06:02,965 --> 00:06:07,620
One of my partners thought
that maybe it was an offshoot
111
00:06:07,620 --> 00:06:09,379
of a mafia problem up there.
112
00:06:10,827 --> 00:06:15,896
The attack on Donna
does resemble a mafia-style hit.
113
00:06:15,896 --> 00:06:17,896
A case of mistaken identity?
114
00:06:17,896 --> 00:06:21,482
Or could she have been caught up
in something like this?
115
00:06:21,482 --> 00:06:24,724
The detectives start
to investigate rumors.
116
00:06:24,724 --> 00:06:28,206
We developed information
that Donna had a boyfriend.
117
00:06:28,206 --> 00:06:32,931
And when they broke up,
he threatened her life.
118
00:06:32,931 --> 00:06:37,551
Vinny was maybe 20, 21, and he
was sort of a wannabe wise guy.
119
00:06:37,551 --> 00:06:41,413
Rich Paul searches
for the murder weapon.
120
00:06:41,413 --> 00:06:45,620
If he can link Donna's ex to
the gun, he'll have his killer.
121
00:06:45,620 --> 00:06:50,241
Well, the only evidence we had
in the shooting was the bullet
122
00:06:50,241 --> 00:06:54,793
that was recovered,
the .44-caliber bullet,
123
00:06:54,793 --> 00:06:57,172
and that was unusual.
124
00:06:57,172 --> 00:07:02,413
So we knew within a day or two
what kind of gun was used.
125
00:07:03,793 --> 00:07:07,206
The murder weapon
is a .44-caliber pistol
126
00:07:07,206 --> 00:07:10,103
called the charter arms bulldog.
127
00:07:10,103 --> 00:07:11,620
Hey, Mario.
128
00:07:11,620 --> 00:07:16,551
Detective Paul can link vinny
with exactly that type of gun.
129
00:07:16,551 --> 00:07:19,896
He's been seen with someone
who was buying one,
130
00:07:19,896 --> 00:07:22,379
but he denies it.
131
00:07:22,379 --> 00:07:25,551
I'd never heard charter
before this particular shooting,
132
00:07:25,551 --> 00:07:29,000
so it wasn't a common weapon
for US to run into.
133
00:07:29,000 --> 00:07:31,517
But it's a big bullet.
134
00:07:31,517 --> 00:07:35,482
That kind of gun is designed
to do a lot of destruction
135
00:07:35,482 --> 00:07:36,896
when it hits you.
136
00:07:40,689 --> 00:07:44,344
So we figured, once we find
this gun, and we test-fire it,
137
00:07:44,344 --> 00:07:46,965
we're gonna have
the murder weapon here.
138
00:07:50,310 --> 00:07:53,379
Once the police
are able to trace the gun,
139
00:07:53,379 --> 00:07:56,344
can they link it to Donna's ex?
140
00:07:56,344 --> 00:07:59,482
Or perhaps they're
on the wrong track.
141
00:08:03,068 --> 00:08:05,103
They test-fired it,
and they sent the bullet up,
142
00:08:05,103 --> 00:08:07,724
and it was not the bullet.
143
00:08:07,724 --> 00:08:10,758
For that two or three weeks,
I was convinced that vinny
144
00:08:10,758 --> 00:08:12,206
was the murderer.
145
00:08:12,206 --> 00:08:14,689
Of course, now you come up
with nothing after you have ...
146
00:08:14,689 --> 00:08:15,793
where do you go from this?
147
00:08:15,793 --> 00:08:17,655
You have no motive.
You have nothing.
148
00:08:17,655 --> 00:08:21,482
So the case started to get
really pretty cold.
149
00:08:21,482 --> 00:08:24,034
For three months,
Donna lauria's death
150
00:08:24,034 --> 00:08:27,000
was just another
unsolved murder...
151
00:08:27,000 --> 00:08:30,413
Until a new crime offers
a strange link.
152
00:08:34,827 --> 00:08:38,689
In 1976, I was 20 years old
153
00:08:38,689 --> 00:08:42,000
and, um...
154
00:08:42,000 --> 00:08:43,586
Smoked pot.
155
00:08:43,586 --> 00:08:46,000
Smoked a lot of pot
156
00:08:46,000 --> 00:08:47,551
and, you know,
157
00:08:47,551 --> 00:08:50,275
listened to the grateful dead
and the allman brothers.
158
00:08:50,275 --> 00:08:54,103
To me, that kind of makes me
a hippie.
159
00:08:54,103 --> 00:08:56,586
In October 1976,
160
00:08:56,586 --> 00:08:59,379
Carl denaro's life
is about to change.
161
00:08:59,379 --> 00:09:01,586
He's joined the air force
162
00:09:01,586 --> 00:09:04,275
and is celebrating one
of his last nights as a civilian
163
00:09:04,275 --> 00:09:08,137
in the company of a young woman
called Rosemary Keenan.
164
00:09:08,137 --> 00:09:10,344
Her dad was a cop.
165
00:09:10,344 --> 00:09:13,241
And on a few occasions
I'd be at her house,
166
00:09:13,241 --> 00:09:14,896
you know, with other people.
167
00:09:14,896 --> 00:09:16,586
And, you know, her dad
would come in,
168
00:09:16,586 --> 00:09:18,827
and he'd take one look at me
with the long hair
169
00:09:18,827 --> 00:09:20,689
and the earring,
and, you know,
170
00:09:20,689 --> 00:09:23,413
he wasn't a big fan of mine.
171
00:09:25,896 --> 00:09:28,413
There was a neighborhood bar.
172
00:09:28,413 --> 00:09:31,482
There were some girls hanging
out at the bar that I knew,
173
00:09:31,482 --> 00:09:34,448
and I went over,
said hello to them,
174
00:09:34,448 --> 00:09:37,000
and started talking to Rosemary.
175
00:09:37,000 --> 00:09:42,655
Apparently, she was there
specifically looking for me.
176
00:09:42,655 --> 00:09:46,310
This is where Rosemary and I
left that evening.
177
00:09:46,310 --> 00:09:48,758
And we got in her car,
178
00:09:48,758 --> 00:09:52,758
and she drove
straight down 164th street.
179
00:09:55,172 --> 00:09:59,068
You know, lovers' lanes were
wherever you made them, really.
180
00:09:59,068 --> 00:10:00,413
You know, if you had
someone with a car,
181
00:10:00,413 --> 00:10:01,896
and you were dating someone,
182
00:10:01,896 --> 00:10:04,172
you would find
an abandoned street, you know,
183
00:10:04,172 --> 00:10:06,137
where you could
sort of be in the car and talk
184
00:10:06,137 --> 00:10:08,275
and maybe kiss a little bit
or whatever the case is.
185
00:10:08,275 --> 00:10:09,827
I mean, the worst you thought
that could happen
186
00:10:09,827 --> 00:10:11,344
is that someone might see you.
187
00:10:11,344 --> 00:10:14,034
But it never...
188
00:10:14,034 --> 00:10:15,310
At least,
it never crossed my mind
189
00:10:15,310 --> 00:10:17,931
that something bad could happen.
190
00:10:17,931 --> 00:10:21,413
"Sometimes, the need to kill
becomes so overwhelming
191
00:10:21,413 --> 00:10:23,965
that I fear myself.
192
00:10:23,965 --> 00:10:26,689
I'm certain there
is something inside me,
193
00:10:26,689 --> 00:10:28,206
an alien presence,
194
00:10:28,206 --> 00:10:32,172
this need to obtain blood
and kill."
195
00:10:32,172 --> 00:10:33,793
Looking ahead, there was ...
196
00:10:33,793 --> 00:10:36,379
the streetlight that's there
was actually out that night,
197
00:10:36,379 --> 00:10:39,034
so it was kind of dark.
198
00:10:41,000 --> 00:10:44,896
And we pulled over
right about here.
199
00:10:44,896 --> 00:10:47,310
You know, we talked a little
bit, made out a little bit,
200
00:10:47,310 --> 00:10:48,827
and all of a sudden...
201
00:10:53,517 --> 00:10:56,379
Five shots ring out.
202
00:10:56,379 --> 00:10:58,206
Carl is hit.
203
00:10:58,206 --> 00:11:01,137
He doesn't really know
at first that he's hit.
204
00:11:01,137 --> 00:11:03,586
I looked down, and I had,
you know, pieces of glass
205
00:11:03,586 --> 00:11:06,034
embedded in my hands
and my arms.
206
00:11:06,034 --> 00:11:07,827
I didn't see anything.
207
00:11:07,827 --> 00:11:09,517
I just assumed the car blew up.
208
00:11:09,517 --> 00:11:16,344
Rosemary, scared,
frightened, terrified.
209
00:11:16,344 --> 00:11:20,689
She drives back to the bar
to get him help.
210
00:11:20,689 --> 00:11:23,586
Vinny, the doorman,
opens the door and says,
211
00:11:23,586 --> 00:11:24,793
"Carl, you don't look too good."
212
00:11:24,793 --> 00:11:26,482
And I said,
"I don't feel too good."
213
00:11:26,482 --> 00:11:29,862
And when I sat down,
my head went down,
214
00:11:29,862 --> 00:11:34,068
and my long hair was holding
in blood from my head wound,
215
00:11:34,068 --> 00:11:38,344
and my shirt turned bloodred
within seconds.
216
00:11:40,862 --> 00:11:43,482
The bullet
has shattered Carl's skull,
217
00:11:43,482 --> 00:11:48,448
and surgeons work through
the night to save him.
218
00:11:48,448 --> 00:11:50,793
Detective Richard Paul
hears about the shooting
219
00:11:50,793 --> 00:11:52,344
the next morning.
220
00:11:52,344 --> 00:11:55,068
One of my partners
was on the way into work,
221
00:11:55,068 --> 00:11:56,896
and he had
the local news station on.
222
00:11:56,896 --> 00:11:58,379
And he said to me,
"hey, you know, rich,
223
00:11:58,379 --> 00:12:00,551
there was a shooting in queens
224
00:12:00,551 --> 00:12:02,758
that sounds like
your kind of thing."
225
00:12:02,758 --> 00:12:07,620
And we found out
that the bullet that was used
226
00:12:07,620 --> 00:12:11,724
was probably
a .44-caliber bullet.
227
00:12:11,724 --> 00:12:16,931
And so we had some inkling
that these were connected.
228
00:12:16,931 --> 00:12:21,206
But the new shooting
is in queens,
229
00:12:21,206 --> 00:12:24,827
a different borough
and a different police precinct.
230
00:12:24,827 --> 00:12:28,517
And the local detectives,
including Rosemary's own father,
231
00:12:28,517 --> 00:12:29,862
redmond Keenan,
232
00:12:29,862 --> 00:12:32,172
take a very different view
of the case.
233
00:12:32,172 --> 00:12:36,482
Two detectives come in, and one
of them was Rosemary's father.
234
00:12:36,482 --> 00:12:38,931
I guess my first reaction was,
"crap," you know?
235
00:12:38,931 --> 00:12:40,517
He didn't like me before.
236
00:12:40,517 --> 00:12:42,310
He's not gonna like me
at all now.
237
00:12:42,310 --> 00:12:44,344
Basically, they harassed me.
238
00:12:44,344 --> 00:12:46,137
Now, you have to realize,
I'm sitting there.
239
00:12:46,137 --> 00:12:48,344
I'm in really bad pain.
240
00:12:48,344 --> 00:12:49,620
And they said,
"so, what happened?"
241
00:12:49,620 --> 00:12:51,000
And I said, "I don't know."
242
00:12:51,000 --> 00:12:52,137
And they said,
"well, who did it?"
243
00:12:52,137 --> 00:12:54,517
I said, "I have no idea
who did it."
244
00:12:54,517 --> 00:12:58,103
They thought it was
a drug deal gone wrong.
245
00:12:58,103 --> 00:13:01,862
I knew it wasn't a drug deal
because, you know, I smoked pot,
246
00:13:01,862 --> 00:13:04,758
but I ... you know,
I don't deal drugs.
247
00:13:04,758 --> 00:13:06,310
But I had no other answers.
248
00:13:08,413 --> 00:13:10,862
In the middle
of a citywide crime wave,
249
00:13:10,862 --> 00:13:12,724
and with a drug deal
used conveniently
250
00:13:12,724 --> 00:13:15,137
to explain the attack on Carl,
251
00:13:15,137 --> 00:13:17,482
there's no follow-up
on the possible connection
252
00:13:17,482 --> 00:13:20,655
to Donna lauria's murder
three months earlier.
253
00:13:20,655 --> 00:13:23,655
It will take another attack
254
00:13:23,655 --> 00:13:27,379
before cops start
to see the pattern.
255
00:13:37,034 --> 00:13:40,275
January 31, 1977.
256
00:13:40,275 --> 00:13:43,655
One of New York's
coldest winters on record.
257
00:13:43,655 --> 00:13:46,448
It's six months
since Donna lauria's murder
258
00:13:46,448 --> 00:13:50,068
and three months
since the attack on Carl denaro.
259
00:13:50,068 --> 00:13:54,034
Christine freund
and her fiancé, John diel,
260
00:13:54,034 --> 00:13:56,586
had been out to dinner
in queens.
261
00:13:56,586 --> 00:13:59,137
And now it's late.
262
00:13:59,137 --> 00:14:02,379
John parks his car,
which is a firebird,
263
00:14:02,379 --> 00:14:06,068
the hot car of the times.
264
00:14:06,068 --> 00:14:08,206
And he parks it
at station Plaza,
265
00:14:08,206 --> 00:14:12,620
which is the stop
for the long island railroad.
266
00:14:18,344 --> 00:14:20,172
This is the exact location
267
00:14:20,172 --> 00:14:24,862
where John's car was parked.
268
00:14:24,862 --> 00:14:30,310
And they parked her for a while,
talking about their future.
269
00:14:30,310 --> 00:14:32,413
They were planning a wedding.
270
00:14:32,413 --> 00:14:34,137
They were talking
about children.
271
00:14:34,137 --> 00:14:36,931
They were talking about all of
these things that a young couple
272
00:14:36,931 --> 00:14:38,655
would be talking about,
273
00:14:38,655 --> 00:14:41,827
and that was interrupted
that night.
274
00:14:45,517 --> 00:14:48,344
"I am the demon
from the bottomless pit.
275
00:14:48,344 --> 00:14:50,000
I take the lives of those
276
00:14:50,000 --> 00:14:52,206
who are not willing
to give them up."
277
00:14:57,379 --> 00:15:02,103
They're just sitting talking,
and the world explodes.
278
00:15:05,448 --> 00:15:08,000
Christine is bleeding,
279
00:15:08,000 --> 00:15:12,620
and John gets out,
screaming for help.
280
00:15:12,620 --> 00:15:16,517
He tries to stop motorists,
who will not stop.
281
00:15:16,517 --> 00:15:18,965
Here's this crazed individual
282
00:15:18,965 --> 00:15:22,586
trying to save
the love of his life.
283
00:15:25,275 --> 00:15:27,655
Marlin Hopkins
of queens homicide
284
00:15:27,655 --> 00:15:30,517
is among the first detectives
to reach the scene.
285
00:15:30,517 --> 00:15:34,137
I looked inside
the car, and I saw Christine.
286
00:15:34,137 --> 00:15:39,586
She was slumped over with a lot
of blood on the dashboard
287
00:15:39,586 --> 00:15:43,689
and the windshield
and the side window.
288
00:15:43,689 --> 00:15:46,206
This is a picture I acquired
from the family
289
00:15:46,206 --> 00:15:48,482
of Christine freund.
290
00:15:48,482 --> 00:15:52,862
Long brunette hair, pretty girl.
291
00:15:52,862 --> 00:15:54,586
Long life ahead of her.
292
00:15:54,586 --> 00:15:56,793
The emotions
that I was feeling then,
293
00:15:56,793 --> 00:15:59,517
I'm starting to feel them now.
294
00:15:59,517 --> 00:16:03,310
Christine's fiancé,
John, is uninjured,
295
00:16:03,310 --> 00:16:06,551
and detective Hopkins
is suspicious.
296
00:16:06,551 --> 00:16:10,103
It could be
he just innocently was there,
297
00:16:10,103 --> 00:16:12,655
or he could be the shooter.
298
00:16:12,655 --> 00:16:17,896
Murders usually occur between
people who know each other.
299
00:16:17,896 --> 00:16:19,379
But ballistic analysis
300
00:16:19,379 --> 00:16:22,103
proves beyond a doubt
the shooter fired
301
00:16:22,103 --> 00:16:25,586
from outside the car
and not inside.
302
00:16:25,586 --> 00:16:30,344
So, John, he went through this
whole thing of interrogation,
303
00:16:30,344 --> 00:16:33,448
hypnosis, lie detectors.
304
00:16:33,448 --> 00:16:36,517
Was that unsettling for him?
305
00:16:36,517 --> 00:16:38,103
Sure, definitely was.
306
00:16:38,103 --> 00:16:39,586
I felt for him after a while
307
00:16:39,586 --> 00:16:42,551
because I realized
it wasn't him.
308
00:16:42,551 --> 00:16:45,517
Hopkins is unaware
of the earlier shootings
309
00:16:45,517 --> 00:16:48,517
and wonders whether the unusual
caliber of the bullets
310
00:16:48,517 --> 00:16:52,172
might provide a clue
to the killer.
311
00:16:52,172 --> 00:16:54,034
This is the caliber of bullet
312
00:16:54,034 --> 00:16:55,965
that we were dealing with
at the time.
313
00:16:55,965 --> 00:17:01,068
Huge bullet to be fired
in a pistol.
314
00:17:01,068 --> 00:17:02,896
Finally, the connection
315
00:17:02,896 --> 00:17:05,620
with the previous attacks
becomes clear
316
00:17:05,620 --> 00:17:08,655
when captain Joe borrelli
of queens homicide
317
00:17:08,655 --> 00:17:11,000
becomes involved
in the investigation.
318
00:17:11,000 --> 00:17:13,000
One of the detectives said,
319
00:17:13,000 --> 00:17:16,172
"you know, we had
a shooting in queens.
320
00:17:16,172 --> 00:17:18,586
Two young girls
were shot and wounded,
321
00:17:18,586 --> 00:17:21,827
and it was
a large-caliber bullet."
322
00:17:21,827 --> 00:17:25,000
He said
that redmond Keenan's daughter
323
00:17:25,000 --> 00:17:26,793
was in a car
where the boy was shot,
324
00:17:26,793 --> 00:17:29,103
and that was a large bullet.
325
00:17:29,103 --> 00:17:33,000
Detectives contact
other police precincts,
326
00:17:33,000 --> 00:17:36,827
and they soon discover
a fourth large-caliber shooting.
327
00:17:36,827 --> 00:17:41,310
Two months earlier, Donna demasi
and joanne lomino were shot
328
00:17:41,310 --> 00:17:45,241
and badly wounded by an attacker
with a .44 pistol.
329
00:17:45,241 --> 00:17:48,931
We had a lot
of .44-caliber bullets,
330
00:17:48,931 --> 00:17:53,586
which...a coincidence
only goes so far.
331
00:17:53,586 --> 00:17:55,206
It's a huge breakthrough.
332
00:17:55,206 --> 00:17:58,137
For the first time,
the police confront
333
00:17:58,137 --> 00:17:59,896
a chilling possibility ...
334
00:17:59,896 --> 00:18:05,310
that all the attacks
are the work of the same killer.
335
00:18:05,310 --> 00:18:07,482
"I am he, the son of Sam,
336
00:18:07,482 --> 00:18:09,931
who fears nothing I destroy.
337
00:18:09,931 --> 00:18:12,172
Who can understand
the mysteries
338
00:18:12,172 --> 00:18:15,068
of the forces of darkness?"
339
00:18:15,068 --> 00:18:18,482
Once the New York
police department
340
00:18:18,482 --> 00:18:21,896
identified the potential
that it was the same person,
341
00:18:21,896 --> 00:18:24,310
it raised the specter
of the fact
342
00:18:24,310 --> 00:18:27,793
that it could happen to anyone
at any time in any place.
343
00:18:27,793 --> 00:18:29,724
When you have
somebody like this,
344
00:18:29,724 --> 00:18:30,965
and now you're starting
345
00:18:30,965 --> 00:18:34,793
to understand
that you have a serial killer,
346
00:18:34,793 --> 00:18:37,137
that changes the game.
347
00:18:37,137 --> 00:18:40,448
Captain Joe borrelli
sets up a task force,
348
00:18:40,448 --> 00:18:43,551
choosing officers who have
worked the individual attacks,
349
00:18:43,551 --> 00:18:45,896
including Richard Paul,
350
00:18:45,896 --> 00:18:49,517
marlin Hopkins,
and Rosemary Keenan's father.
351
00:18:49,517 --> 00:18:52,931
They are under no illusions
about the difficulty they face.
352
00:18:52,931 --> 00:18:56,241
When you investigate homicides,
one of the hardest
353
00:18:56,241 --> 00:18:59,137
to investigate
is a stranger-on-stranger,
354
00:18:59,137 --> 00:19:01,379
because there's no motive.
355
00:19:01,379 --> 00:19:04,482
The team
soon discovers the attacks
356
00:19:04,482 --> 00:19:06,068
have a lot in common,
357
00:19:06,068 --> 00:19:09,517
including the appearance
of the victims.
358
00:19:09,517 --> 00:19:14,689
Young women, long dark hair,
sitting in cars at night,
359
00:19:14,689 --> 00:19:18,551
shot suddenly through the glass
360
00:19:18,551 --> 00:19:22,551
by an unknown individual
who would then run off.
361
00:19:22,551 --> 00:19:26,241
Even Carl denaro
fits the pattern.
362
00:19:26,241 --> 00:19:27,862
Of course, still being
in my hippie stage,
363
00:19:27,862 --> 00:19:29,620
I had long brown hair,
364
00:19:29,620 --> 00:19:32,344
and I was sitting
in the passenger's seat.
365
00:19:32,344 --> 00:19:35,965
So it wasn't too much
of a leap to assume
366
00:19:35,965 --> 00:19:38,034
that I was mistaken
for a female.
367
00:19:42,379 --> 00:19:45,689
New yorkers
have no idea there's any danger.
368
00:19:45,689 --> 00:19:48,655
Life goes on as before.
369
00:19:48,655 --> 00:19:52,586
But in the tabloid newsrooms,
reporters are beginning to catch
370
00:19:52,586 --> 00:19:55,448
the scent of a big story.
371
00:19:55,448 --> 00:19:59,379
As early as January,
I think police began
372
00:19:59,379 --> 00:20:02,724
to see a connection
between these killings,
373
00:20:02,724 --> 00:20:04,931
but they didn't
make that public.
374
00:20:04,931 --> 00:20:08,241
Rumors kept floating
into the newsroom.
375
00:20:08,241 --> 00:20:10,931
Journalists were beginning
to also think
376
00:20:10,931 --> 00:20:12,793
that there might be a pattern.
377
00:20:12,793 --> 00:20:15,793
Brian Kates was
a reporter at the daily news.
378
00:20:15,793 --> 00:20:20,137
His mission was to out-report
his rivals at the New York post.
379
00:20:21,655 --> 00:20:23,448
Well, in those days,
there's no question.
380
00:20:23,448 --> 00:20:25,758
A popular newspaper
381
00:20:25,758 --> 00:20:30,655
does rely
on some kinds of crime.
382
00:20:30,655 --> 00:20:33,344
Be first.
Sell the news.
383
00:20:33,344 --> 00:20:36,206
Imagine, sell the news.
384
00:20:36,206 --> 00:20:38,000
That's what was important.
385
00:20:38,000 --> 00:20:39,965
Murder was definitely
a commodity.
386
00:20:39,965 --> 00:20:43,310
And I was fortunate at the time
working the night shift,
387
00:20:43,310 --> 00:20:46,448
'cause that's when murder
usually takes place.
388
00:20:46,448 --> 00:20:49,448
The press are now
sniffing around these cases
389
00:20:49,448 --> 00:20:51,034
for a story,
390
00:20:51,034 --> 00:20:55,172
and the police don't want them
to disclose any important leads.
391
00:20:55,172 --> 00:20:57,793
We certainly didn't want
to disclose that we knew
392
00:20:57,793 --> 00:21:00,655
we had a charter arms .44 pistol
393
00:21:00,655 --> 00:21:03,241
that was probably involved
in all the shootings
394
00:21:03,241 --> 00:21:05,137
because all the person
395
00:21:05,137 --> 00:21:06,793
would have had to do
was get rid of that gun,
396
00:21:06,793 --> 00:21:10,413
and we would have had nothing
to go on if they didn't confess.
397
00:21:10,413 --> 00:21:13,310
So we kept that as quiet
as we could.
398
00:21:13,310 --> 00:21:15,620
The cops were sort of, really,
399
00:21:15,620 --> 00:21:17,827
just waiting for the other foot
to drop,
400
00:21:17,827 --> 00:21:21,000
I.e., another bloodbath.
401
00:21:23,862 --> 00:21:28,000
On march the 8, 1977,
captain Joe borrelli
402
00:21:28,000 --> 00:21:31,379
gets the call
he's been dreading.
403
00:21:40,172 --> 00:21:42,172
1977.
404
00:21:42,172 --> 00:21:43,862
A serial killer is behind
405
00:21:43,862 --> 00:21:47,000
four apparently random attacks
in New York.
406
00:21:47,000 --> 00:21:51,413
Two young women have been killed
and four people badly wounded.
407
00:21:51,413 --> 00:21:55,275
An NYPD task force has been
set up to find the killer.
408
00:21:55,275 --> 00:22:00,034
The only lead they have is
the gun used in the attacks ...
409
00:22:00,034 --> 00:22:02,827
a .44-caliber pistol.
410
00:22:02,827 --> 00:22:05,310
Then, on march the 8th,
411
00:22:05,310 --> 00:22:09,241
detectives are called
to another attack.
412
00:22:09,241 --> 00:22:13,344
There's this very pretty
young girl just laying there,
413
00:22:13,344 --> 00:22:15,655
and some guy had come up,
some stranger,
414
00:22:15,655 --> 00:22:18,275
and killed her right there.
415
00:22:18,275 --> 00:22:20,172
It gets to you
after a while, you know?
416
00:22:20,172 --> 00:22:23,206
Sometimes, you get feelings.
417
00:22:23,206 --> 00:22:27,413
Our preliminary investigation
at this time
418
00:22:27,413 --> 00:22:29,931
is very uncertain,
419
00:22:29,931 --> 00:22:32,034
and we don't have
too many facts to go on.
420
00:22:32,034 --> 00:22:33,724
The victim
421
00:22:33,724 --> 00:22:37,000
is 19-year-old
Virginia voskerichian,
422
00:22:37,000 --> 00:22:41,827
a language student
at Columbia university.
423
00:22:41,827 --> 00:22:44,413
Virginia is shot
just a few streets
424
00:22:44,413 --> 00:22:47,034
from where Christine freund
was killed,
425
00:22:47,034 --> 00:22:49,862
but there are
important differences.
426
00:22:49,862 --> 00:22:52,655
The police wonder
if they are linked.
427
00:22:52,655 --> 00:22:54,517
This may not be the same thing.
428
00:22:54,517 --> 00:22:58,275
It's just a coincidence,
because here's a girl
429
00:22:58,275 --> 00:23:00,827
walking down the street
430
00:23:00,827 --> 00:23:03,000
and Christine was in a car.
431
00:23:03,000 --> 00:23:05,620
It's about 7:30 at night,
432
00:23:05,620 --> 00:23:08,655
and this lovely young girl,
433
00:23:08,655 --> 00:23:13,551
someone walks towards her,
pulls a gun.
434
00:23:13,551 --> 00:23:16,413
She sees the perpetrator,
435
00:23:16,413 --> 00:23:21,034
puts her books
up in front of her face,
436
00:23:21,034 --> 00:23:23,275
hoping to stop the bullet.
437
00:23:23,275 --> 00:23:26,551
The bullet passes
through the books and her face,
438
00:23:26,551 --> 00:23:28,586
and she's dead.
439
00:23:28,586 --> 00:23:30,482
Ballistics confirm
this is the work
440
00:23:30,482 --> 00:23:33,310
of the same .44-caliber killer.
441
00:23:33,310 --> 00:23:35,724
The fact that he's attacked
not in the dead of night,
442
00:23:35,724 --> 00:23:38,379
but early evening is disturbing,
443
00:23:38,379 --> 00:23:41,344
and it means one thing
to detectives ...
444
00:23:41,344 --> 00:23:42,931
he's getting bolder.
445
00:23:42,931 --> 00:23:44,965
They killed a girl again.
446
00:23:44,965 --> 00:23:47,862
Here,
I never hear those things.
447
00:23:47,862 --> 00:23:49,137
What happened now?
448
00:23:49,137 --> 00:23:51,448
It's a tragic thing.
449
00:23:51,448 --> 00:23:54,448
I think something
should be done about it.
450
00:23:54,448 --> 00:23:58,965
NYPD psychologist
Harvey schlossberg
451
00:23:58,965 --> 00:24:02,724
joins the investigation
to begin profiling the killer.
452
00:24:02,724 --> 00:24:06,655
Serial killers generally tend
to progress in what they do.
453
00:24:06,655 --> 00:24:10,034
They increase the anger,
454
00:24:10,034 --> 00:24:13,620
the damage that
they do to the victim,
455
00:24:13,620 --> 00:24:18,586
so they tend to build it up
more and more.
456
00:24:18,586 --> 00:24:19,931
The killer's attacks
457
00:24:19,931 --> 00:24:22,965
have focused
on the Bronx and queens.
458
00:24:22,965 --> 00:24:26,310
The NYPD intensify patrols,
459
00:24:26,310 --> 00:24:27,931
but they're starting to realize
460
00:24:27,931 --> 00:24:31,241
the scale of the challenge
they face.
461
00:24:31,241 --> 00:24:34,206
Imagine, at this time,
we're looking in two boroughs,
462
00:24:34,206 --> 00:24:37,310
which comprise a million people.
463
00:24:37,310 --> 00:24:39,655
And you're looking for somebody
that's just driving around
464
00:24:39,655 --> 00:24:41,034
randomly shooting people.
465
00:24:41,034 --> 00:24:43,275
It was like looking
for a needle in the haystack.
466
00:24:46,448 --> 00:24:49,068
Two days after
the voskerichian attack,
467
00:24:49,068 --> 00:24:51,793
police decide
it's time to go public.
468
00:24:51,793 --> 00:24:56,068
New York mayor Abe beame
stages a press conference,
469
00:24:56,068 --> 00:24:58,000
and for the first time,
470
00:24:58,000 --> 00:25:00,689
the public hears
that a serial killer
471
00:25:00,689 --> 00:25:02,931
is at large in their city.
472
00:25:02,931 --> 00:25:05,620
During the last few weeks,
473
00:25:05,620 --> 00:25:08,413
new yorkers have been subjected
474
00:25:08,413 --> 00:25:11,827
to a series
of criminal outrages,
475
00:25:11,827 --> 00:25:14,448
which are unmatched
in recent memory.
476
00:25:14,448 --> 00:25:17,517
Surprisingly, mayor beame
477
00:25:17,517 --> 00:25:20,793
reveals a critical detail.
478
00:25:20,793 --> 00:25:26,827
It was the mayor that disclosed
the caliber of the gun,
479
00:25:26,827 --> 00:25:29,034
which we thought was insane.
480
00:25:29,034 --> 00:25:34,448
Right now, if the killer takes
that gun and throws it away,
481
00:25:34,448 --> 00:25:37,758
the chances are
they will never catch him.
482
00:25:37,758 --> 00:25:39,827
So, there's the dilemma
you always face.
483
00:25:39,827 --> 00:25:42,793
The investigators,
they want to hold back,
484
00:25:42,793 --> 00:25:44,793
but the public has to know.
485
00:25:46,862 --> 00:25:49,275
"Let's see how ready you are.
486
00:25:49,275 --> 00:25:51,275
You guys have made me
very angry.
487
00:25:51,275 --> 00:25:54,758
So kiss my ass,
all you bitches."
488
00:25:54,758 --> 00:25:58,827
The police are worried
that their best evidence
489
00:25:58,827 --> 00:26:00,551
is now public,
490
00:26:00,551 --> 00:26:03,172
and the press make
a huge story of it.
491
00:26:03,172 --> 00:26:05,482
Well, now,
after that press conference,
492
00:26:05,482 --> 00:26:10,517
as a journalist,
intriguing, intriguing.
493
00:26:10,517 --> 00:26:13,103
Frightening, but intriguing.
494
00:26:13,103 --> 00:26:15,689
The press was able
to give a name to the shooter ...
495
00:26:15,689 --> 00:26:17,517
the .44 caliber killer.
496
00:26:17,517 --> 00:26:20,758
There were stories
almost daily, it seemed.
497
00:26:20,758 --> 00:26:23,034
That got everyone's
attention at that moment,
498
00:26:23,034 --> 00:26:25,482
'cause suddenly, they had linked
these shootings
499
00:26:25,482 --> 00:26:28,586
possibly to one person,
and it had a name.
500
00:26:28,586 --> 00:26:31,586
It was like Jack the ripper
or the Boston strangler.
501
00:26:31,586 --> 00:26:35,517
You had a person,
an image, an icon,
502
00:26:35,517 --> 00:26:39,068
and that kicked off
a genuine frenzy.
503
00:26:39,068 --> 00:26:40,758
Yeah, you have to be careful.
504
00:26:40,758 --> 00:26:42,344
You have to watch
where you go now,
505
00:26:42,344 --> 00:26:43,655
you know,
how late you stay out.
506
00:26:43,655 --> 00:26:45,551
I feel kind of spooked
about it, you know?
507
00:26:45,551 --> 00:26:48,068
You might sit down there
one night and get shot.
508
00:26:48,068 --> 00:26:51,000
We used to stay in front of
my house and park and, you know,
509
00:26:51,000 --> 00:26:53,448
and kiss good night,
but we can't do that no more.
510
00:26:53,448 --> 00:26:55,241
Everyone became fearful.
511
00:26:55,241 --> 00:26:57,517
What would happen
if they went out,
512
00:26:57,517 --> 00:26:59,724
if they were in the wrong place
at the wrong time,
513
00:26:59,724 --> 00:27:02,172
in the wrong car
in the wrong street?
514
00:27:02,172 --> 00:27:04,586
Would they survive?
515
00:27:04,586 --> 00:27:07,586
This is headquarters for
one of the most intense manhunts
516
00:27:07,586 --> 00:27:09,241
in the history of New York ...
517
00:27:09,241 --> 00:27:12,551
the search
for the .44 caliber killer.
518
00:27:12,551 --> 00:27:14,103
Operating out of this office,
519
00:27:14,103 --> 00:27:18,068
over 50 of the city's
best detectives pore over clues
520
00:27:18,068 --> 00:27:20,413
and run down leads.
521
00:27:20,413 --> 00:27:24,689
The good thing about getting
information from the public is,
522
00:27:24,689 --> 00:27:26,068
it gives you leads,
523
00:27:26,068 --> 00:27:28,103
because the eyes
and ears are out there.
524
00:27:28,103 --> 00:27:31,206
And hopefully,
one of those will work.
525
00:27:31,206 --> 00:27:33,758
The downside is that there's...
526
00:27:33,758 --> 00:27:35,586
Too much information
comes across.
527
00:27:35,586 --> 00:27:37,724
And he states that
this informant has been reliable
528
00:27:37,724 --> 00:27:38,965
in the past?
529
00:27:38,965 --> 00:27:43,172
Information came in
from all over the world.
530
00:27:43,172 --> 00:27:44,379
People from Europe.
531
00:27:44,379 --> 00:27:46,862
We got letters from, I think,
even Australia
532
00:27:46,862 --> 00:27:49,000
and places like that.
533
00:27:49,000 --> 00:27:52,655
The press did create a situation
where I'd never seen it,
534
00:27:52,655 --> 00:27:54,379
like, in all my years.
535
00:27:54,379 --> 00:27:57,379
Did they create
a sense of fear at all?
536
00:27:57,379 --> 00:27:58,620
Sure.
537
00:27:58,620 --> 00:28:01,344
But is all this media attention
538
00:28:01,344 --> 00:28:05,448
exactly what the killer wants?
539
00:28:05,448 --> 00:28:10,034
Serial killers are often
unsuccessful nobodies
540
00:28:10,034 --> 00:28:11,689
who feel powerless.
541
00:28:11,689 --> 00:28:14,965
But through killing, they can
hold an entire community,
542
00:28:14,965 --> 00:28:17,724
a whole city
in a grip of terror,
543
00:28:17,724 --> 00:28:21,206
and it makes them feel
extremely powerful.
544
00:28:21,206 --> 00:28:25,275
This is a niche where the only
pleasure comes from killing.
545
00:28:25,275 --> 00:28:27,551
Nobody can satisfy him,
546
00:28:27,551 --> 00:28:30,586
nothing, except getting away
with a killing
547
00:28:30,586 --> 00:28:32,689
and picking up
where he left off.
548
00:28:32,689 --> 00:28:36,931
The police know
they must find the killer fast.
549
00:28:36,931 --> 00:28:40,137
Their focus is now
on trying to predict
550
00:28:40,137 --> 00:28:42,551
where he might strike next.
551
00:28:44,827 --> 00:28:48,517
We come up with the idea that,
"hey, you just shoot somebody,
552
00:28:48,517 --> 00:28:50,275
you're probably
getting away in a car,"
553
00:28:50,275 --> 00:28:53,413
because all of these cases
554
00:28:53,413 --> 00:28:56,413
in queens and in the Bronx,
555
00:28:56,413 --> 00:28:58,724
there was an access road,
a main artery.
556
00:28:58,724 --> 00:29:00,482
It was, up in the Bronx,
557
00:29:00,482 --> 00:29:02,689
it was
the hutchinson river parkway.
558
00:29:02,689 --> 00:29:05,517
In queens, we had
the Van wyck expressway.
559
00:29:05,517 --> 00:29:09,655
The police focus
more patrols on places
560
00:29:09,655 --> 00:29:12,103
that are not only magnets
for young couples,
561
00:29:12,103 --> 00:29:16,344
but are also close
to major roads.
562
00:29:16,344 --> 00:29:22,137
And they also use other
rather less orthodox tactics.
563
00:29:22,137 --> 00:29:27,103
They wound up getting these
mannequins, female mannequins,
564
00:29:27,103 --> 00:29:30,724
and we put the mannequin
in the car with a detective.
565
00:29:30,724 --> 00:29:33,827
Put them in a location
we thought might be suspect ...
566
00:29:33,827 --> 00:29:38,103
lovers' lanes that are back away
from the traffic and so on,
567
00:29:38,103 --> 00:29:41,275
places that we kind of felt
he might go to.
568
00:29:41,275 --> 00:29:44,241
But then the word come back,
saying, "it's no good
569
00:29:44,241 --> 00:29:47,551
because there's no movement,
you know, if he's looking."
570
00:29:47,551 --> 00:29:54,413
Then we wound up putting wigs
on male detectives.
571
00:29:54,413 --> 00:29:57,000
And I'll never forget.
I was standing there one night.
572
00:29:57,000 --> 00:30:00,862
Ronnie marsunnesson
was going out with Richard Paul.
573
00:30:00,862 --> 00:30:05,034
And Ronnie turned around,
and he said to Richie, he says,
574
00:30:05,034 --> 00:30:07,275
"remember, now,
when you kiss me tonight,
575
00:30:07,275 --> 00:30:08,620
keep your eyes open
576
00:30:08,620 --> 00:30:10,862
'cause this guy
sneaks up on US."
577
00:30:12,241 --> 00:30:14,931
I'll give you the honest version
of this thing.
578
00:30:14,931 --> 00:30:16,862
If this individual
was riding around
579
00:30:16,862 --> 00:30:18,827
and he spotted these things,
580
00:30:18,827 --> 00:30:22,206
he was gonna shoot
into the car,
581
00:30:22,206 --> 00:30:23,482
I don't think either one of US
582
00:30:23,482 --> 00:30:25,896
had any intentions
of arresting him.
583
00:30:25,896 --> 00:30:27,862
I think we had the intention
584
00:30:27,862 --> 00:30:30,310
we were gonna start shooting
when he started shooting,
585
00:30:30,310 --> 00:30:33,448
and the whole thing
would have been over.
586
00:30:33,448 --> 00:30:38,344
As the weeks pass,
mannequins and cops in wigs
587
00:30:38,344 --> 00:30:40,586
aren't able
to lure the killer.
588
00:30:40,586 --> 00:30:44,137
Captain borrelli is prepared
to consider any lead,
589
00:30:44,137 --> 00:30:46,586
even a supernatural tip-off.
590
00:30:46,586 --> 00:30:49,793
I was in my office
in the 15th homicide,
591
00:30:49,793 --> 00:30:51,586
and the phone rings.
592
00:30:51,586 --> 00:30:56,310
The caller was a hispanic man,
and he told me,
593
00:30:56,310 --> 00:30:59,379
"my wife
has these special powers."
594
00:30:59,379 --> 00:31:03,068
And he said, "this is
what she's saying.
595
00:31:03,068 --> 00:31:07,448
He's gonna strike again,
the killer.
596
00:31:07,448 --> 00:31:11,517
He's gonna strike on a street
that's not a street,
597
00:31:11,517 --> 00:31:15,103
and a parkway,
but it's not a parkway.
598
00:31:15,103 --> 00:31:17,034
He's gonna kill two people ...
599
00:31:17,034 --> 00:31:19,344
a man and a woman.
600
00:31:19,344 --> 00:31:24,448
They're gonna be in a car
that's black and red.
601
00:31:24,448 --> 00:31:26,344
And he's gonna speak to you."
602
00:31:28,862 --> 00:31:32,482
Then, on April 17th,
officers are called to a scene
603
00:31:32,482 --> 00:31:34,551
that bears an eerie similarity
604
00:31:34,551 --> 00:31:36,862
to the psychic's prediction.
605
00:31:36,862 --> 00:31:40,965
And it was on the service road
of the hutchinson river parkway.
606
00:31:40,965 --> 00:31:44,931
It wasn't a street,
and it wasn't the parkway.
607
00:31:44,931 --> 00:31:47,793
The car is black and red.
608
00:31:47,793 --> 00:31:50,586
The man and the woman
are killed.
609
00:31:52,172 --> 00:31:57,344
And at that scene, there was
a note left addressed to me.
610
00:31:57,344 --> 00:32:00,000
"I love to hunt...
-"I love to hunt...
611
00:32:00,000 --> 00:32:05,137
Prowling the streets looking
for fair game, tasty meat."
612
00:32:05,137 --> 00:32:07,413
The women of queens
are the prettiest."
613
00:32:07,413 --> 00:32:12,448
Captain borrelli read the letter
to the task force,
614
00:32:12,448 --> 00:32:15,689
and silence.
615
00:32:15,689 --> 00:32:16,827
Total silence.
616
00:32:16,827 --> 00:32:18,689
Now it's personal.
617
00:32:29,965 --> 00:32:33,068
It's April 17th, 1977,
618
00:32:33,068 --> 00:32:35,068
when detectives
from the task force
619
00:32:35,068 --> 00:32:38,379
are called to the scene
of a terrible double murder
620
00:32:38,379 --> 00:32:39,758
carried out by the man
621
00:32:39,758 --> 00:32:43,620
the press has dubbed
the .44 caliber killer.
622
00:32:43,620 --> 00:32:48,620
Valentina suriani and
her boyfriend, Alexander esau,
623
00:32:48,620 --> 00:32:51,448
had been sweethearts
since high school.
624
00:32:51,448 --> 00:32:56,103
Nancy suriani genovese
is Valentina's sister.
625
00:32:56,103 --> 00:33:00,000
Val and Alex hung out probably
a couple of times a week.
626
00:33:00,000 --> 00:33:02,068
He seemed very proper.
627
00:33:02,068 --> 00:33:05,551
They seemed to enjoy
each other's company.
628
00:33:05,551 --> 00:33:07,000
The night that this happened,
629
00:33:07,000 --> 00:33:10,103
val was feeling
a little under the weather.
630
00:33:10,103 --> 00:33:12,241
My mom said, "why don't you
just stay home?"
631
00:33:12,241 --> 00:33:15,724
But she was an adult,
and she went out that night,
632
00:33:15,724 --> 00:33:19,103
and that was it.
633
00:33:19,103 --> 00:33:21,620
Valentina suriani
634
00:33:21,620 --> 00:33:25,620
seems to confirm the killer's
preference for brunettes,
635
00:33:25,620 --> 00:33:27,448
and, as in other attacks,
636
00:33:27,448 --> 00:33:30,896
the couple are parked
in a lovers' Lane.
637
00:33:30,896 --> 00:33:36,655
For Valentina and Alex, it was
tragically a case of wrong time,
638
00:33:36,655 --> 00:33:38,172
wrong place.
639
00:33:38,172 --> 00:33:43,793
Valentina
was very smart, very clever,
640
00:33:43,793 --> 00:33:48,310
funny, but very, very honest.
641
00:33:48,310 --> 00:33:51,551
She spoke from the heart.
642
00:33:51,551 --> 00:33:56,068
"Now, I don't know where i'm
going or if I'll ever arrive,
643
00:33:56,068 --> 00:33:58,103
but the trip is living,
644
00:33:58,103 --> 00:34:01,758
the fare is life,
and I love being alive."
645
00:34:01,758 --> 00:34:05,862
That's by Valentina suriani.
646
00:34:05,862 --> 00:34:08,965
It's heartbreaking,
it really is,
647
00:34:08,965 --> 00:34:11,896
because you feel that
if you could solve this thing,
648
00:34:11,896 --> 00:34:13,034
this wouldn't be happening,
649
00:34:13,034 --> 00:34:16,448
so it's a big challenge
for everybody.
650
00:34:16,448 --> 00:34:17,827
A letter is found
651
00:34:17,827 --> 00:34:19,965
just steps away
from the murder scene,
652
00:34:19,965 --> 00:34:22,517
addressed to captain borrelli.
653
00:34:22,517 --> 00:34:25,517
Police now have
an unprecedented lead ...
654
00:34:25,517 --> 00:34:29,275
communication
directly from the killer.
655
00:34:29,275 --> 00:34:33,206
It gives the police their
first glimpse into his mind.
656
00:34:33,206 --> 00:34:37,724
The killer left a note filled
with crazed obscenities,
657
00:34:37,724 --> 00:34:39,000
with threats,
658
00:34:39,000 --> 00:34:42,517
with what seemed
to be satanic symbols.
659
00:34:42,517 --> 00:34:46,068
"Police, let me haunt you
with these words ...
660
00:34:46,068 --> 00:34:47,586
I'll be back.
-"I'll be back.
661
00:34:47,586 --> 00:34:49,517
I'll be back.
-I'll be back...
662
00:34:49,517 --> 00:34:53,448
To be interpreted as 'bang,
bang, bang, bang, bang!'
663
00:34:53,448 --> 00:34:56,413
yours in murder, Mr. Monster."
664
00:34:59,034 --> 00:35:03,103
Detective bill Clark
is part of the NYPD task force
665
00:35:03,103 --> 00:35:05,103
investigating
Valentina's murder.
666
00:35:05,103 --> 00:35:09,620
The suriani and esau case
introduced a big escalation
667
00:35:09,620 --> 00:35:10,896
in the investigation
668
00:35:10,896 --> 00:35:16,034
and became a true
"we got to solve this or else,"
669
00:35:16,034 --> 00:35:17,862
because he's throwing
the gauntlet down
670
00:35:17,862 --> 00:35:21,206
and we know he isn't stopping.
671
00:35:21,206 --> 00:35:26,137
Serial killers like
to leave information to taunt
672
00:35:26,137 --> 00:35:29,000
and to tease the police.
673
00:35:29,000 --> 00:35:32,620
They want to show that they're
smarter than the police officers
674
00:35:32,620 --> 00:35:34,413
who are on the case.
675
00:35:34,413 --> 00:35:38,413
"I am deeply hurt by you
calling me a woman hater.
676
00:35:38,413 --> 00:35:39,931
I am not.
677
00:35:39,931 --> 00:35:42,344
But I am a monster.
678
00:35:42,344 --> 00:35:44,137
I am the son of Sam."
679
00:35:46,862 --> 00:35:49,931
The thing about the letter that
kind of really opened the door
680
00:35:49,931 --> 00:35:51,724
was that he signed it
with a name.
681
00:35:51,724 --> 00:35:53,655
He is now the son of Sam.
682
00:35:53,655 --> 00:35:58,620
And it was a whole bunch of,
"is his father's name Sam?"
683
00:35:58,620 --> 00:36:01,034
Is that where we have to look?"
684
00:36:01,034 --> 00:36:03,931
Police psychologist
Harvey schlossberg
685
00:36:03,931 --> 00:36:07,551
is building up
a profile of the killer.
686
00:36:07,551 --> 00:36:10,689
Originally, from the best
I could put together
687
00:36:10,689 --> 00:36:14,000
was, he liked to be a voyeur,
688
00:36:14,000 --> 00:36:15,379
a peeping Tom,
689
00:36:15,379 --> 00:36:17,068
and then that spread out
690
00:36:17,068 --> 00:36:20,103
to watching
more sexual kind of scenes,
691
00:36:20,103 --> 00:36:22,448
and, ultimately,
his big pleasure
692
00:36:22,448 --> 00:36:26,379
came from interfering
with lovers in cars
693
00:36:26,379 --> 00:36:29,793
where they parked to make out ...
you know, young couples.
694
00:36:29,793 --> 00:36:32,241
It would appear
that the .44 caliber killer
695
00:36:32,241 --> 00:36:35,413
did not want to have any contact
with his victims.
696
00:36:35,413 --> 00:36:38,172
It was very easy for him
psychologically
697
00:36:38,172 --> 00:36:39,482
to pull the trigger
698
00:36:39,482 --> 00:36:42,344
when he didn't have
any contact with the victims.
699
00:36:42,344 --> 00:36:46,034
It's much more difficult to kill
someone with your hands,
700
00:36:46,034 --> 00:36:49,620
with a knife, but in this case,
there was no contact.
701
00:36:51,620 --> 00:36:53,586
The profile helps investigators
702
00:36:53,586 --> 00:36:55,896
identify a possible suspect,
703
00:36:55,896 --> 00:36:58,655
so they follow reports
of a mysterious gunman
704
00:36:58,655 --> 00:37:01,965
who shoots at vehicles
and lives in the vicinity
705
00:37:01,965 --> 00:37:06,448
of two
of the son of Sam attacks.
706
00:37:06,448 --> 00:37:09,103
He had an apartment
on the second floor.
707
00:37:09,103 --> 00:37:11,344
As a bus would go by
or a truck would go by,
708
00:37:11,344 --> 00:37:14,724
he'd shoot it from his window.
709
00:37:14,724 --> 00:37:17,862
I said, "this is weird."
710
00:37:17,862 --> 00:37:19,862
Detective marlin Hopkins
711
00:37:19,862 --> 00:37:22,034
searches
the suspect's apartment,
712
00:37:22,034 --> 00:37:25,724
hoping to find
the .44-caliber murder weapon.
713
00:37:25,724 --> 00:37:28,793
He said, "you can check out
my apartment. It's no problem."
714
00:37:28,793 --> 00:37:30,206
Bad move.
715
00:37:30,206 --> 00:37:31,931
We went into the apartment.
716
00:37:31,931 --> 00:37:35,034
A slew of guns ...
rifles, pistols.
717
00:37:35,034 --> 00:37:36,862
And we went through all of them.
718
00:37:36,862 --> 00:37:37,931
I arrested him for that.
719
00:37:37,931 --> 00:37:40,655
But no .44-caliber.
720
00:37:40,655 --> 00:37:43,655
That was a downer.
721
00:37:43,655 --> 00:37:47,620
Then, on may the 30th, 1977,
722
00:37:47,620 --> 00:37:49,551
there is a dramatic development
723
00:37:49,551 --> 00:37:53,241
in the offices
of the New York daily news.
724
00:37:53,241 --> 00:37:56,517
The son of Sam
has sent a second letter,
725
00:37:56,517 --> 00:37:58,000
a much longer one,
726
00:37:58,000 --> 00:38:01,551
this time
to columnist Jimmy breslin.
727
00:38:01,551 --> 00:38:03,827
"Mr. Breslin, sir,
728
00:38:03,827 --> 00:38:06,068
don't think that because
you haven't heard from me
729
00:38:06,068 --> 00:38:08,103
for a while
that I went to sleep.
730
00:38:08,103 --> 00:38:11,551
No, rather, I'm still here,
731
00:38:11,551 --> 00:38:14,586
like a spirit
roaming the night."
732
00:38:14,586 --> 00:38:16,000
The letter was very eerie.
733
00:38:16,000 --> 00:38:17,758
I mean, you know,
then you know
734
00:38:17,758 --> 00:38:20,482
that he read something
that you wrote
735
00:38:20,482 --> 00:38:22,793
and that,
somewhere out there,
736
00:38:22,793 --> 00:38:25,034
he's reading again
what you wrote.
737
00:38:25,034 --> 00:38:28,068
At the daily newsat that time,
Jimmy breslin
738
00:38:28,068 --> 00:38:29,896
was the top columnist.
739
00:38:29,896 --> 00:38:33,103
People bought the daily news
simply to read Jimmy breslin,
740
00:38:33,103 --> 00:38:36,000
so if anyone wanted
to speak to New York,
741
00:38:36,000 --> 00:38:37,413
the best way to speak
to New York
742
00:38:37,413 --> 00:38:39,000
was through Jimmy breslin.
743
00:38:39,000 --> 00:38:41,827
Brian Kates is in the newsroom
744
00:38:41,827 --> 00:38:44,758
when breslin receives
the letter from the killer.
745
00:38:44,758 --> 00:38:46,413
When the newsroom saw this,
746
00:38:46,413 --> 00:38:50,862
we were, first of all,
stunned and then ecstatic
747
00:38:50,862 --> 00:38:54,448
and then realized
the implications of this.
748
00:38:54,448 --> 00:38:57,172
Suddenly, the press, the media,
749
00:38:57,172 --> 00:38:58,620
and the daily news
in particular,
750
00:38:58,620 --> 00:39:01,689
were no longer observers
in this scenario,
751
00:39:01,689 --> 00:39:02,793
but participants.
752
00:39:02,793 --> 00:39:06,172
We were part of this story.
753
00:39:06,172 --> 00:39:08,586
On June the 5th, the daily news
754
00:39:08,586 --> 00:39:12,724
prints a dramatic excerpt
of the son of Sam's letter,
755
00:39:12,724 --> 00:39:17,413
along with an invitation
from breslin to the killer.
756
00:39:17,413 --> 00:39:19,448
"If he wants further contact,
757
00:39:19,448 --> 00:39:23,517
all he has to do is call
or write me at thedaily news.
758
00:39:23,517 --> 00:39:25,758
The time to do it is now."
759
00:39:25,758 --> 00:39:30,103
The story flies off
the newsstands,
760
00:39:30,103 --> 00:39:33,586
becoming the best-selling
edition of all time.
761
00:39:33,586 --> 00:39:36,482
Residents of New York now
realize they're in the grip
762
00:39:36,482 --> 00:39:38,000
of a crazed killer.
763
00:39:38,000 --> 00:39:41,689
This has become
the summer of Sam.
764
00:39:41,689 --> 00:39:44,758
Suddenly, we went overnight
from the .44 caliber killer
765
00:39:44,758 --> 00:39:46,551
to son of Sam.
766
00:39:46,551 --> 00:39:48,586
Is this part of a game?
You know?
767
00:39:48,586 --> 00:39:51,448
It just ... you know,
it's like the city froze.
768
00:39:51,448 --> 00:39:54,551
It's one of those crimes
that's been, I guess,
769
00:39:54,551 --> 00:39:56,965
has been visited upon man
throughout the ages ...
770
00:39:56,965 --> 00:39:59,517
a demented killer,
771
00:39:59,517 --> 00:40:01,172
and you don't know
how to stop him.
772
00:40:01,172 --> 00:40:03,758
Breslin's coverage
in the daily news
773
00:40:03,758 --> 00:40:06,896
fuels rival newspapers.
774
00:40:06,896 --> 00:40:09,620
Steve dunleavy
wrote about the son of Sam
775
00:40:09,620 --> 00:40:11,758
for the New York post.
776
00:40:11,758 --> 00:40:16,206
Every journalist involved,
we're looking for an edge,
777
00:40:16,206 --> 00:40:17,586
any kind of an edge.
778
00:40:17,586 --> 00:40:19,793
They had an artist's impression
779
00:40:19,793 --> 00:40:21,655
of what he would look like.
780
00:40:21,655 --> 00:40:23,206
They'd bring in psychiatrists
781
00:40:23,206 --> 00:40:26,620
to say what kind of
an illness did he have.
782
00:40:26,620 --> 00:40:29,034
One of the psychiatrists
783
00:40:29,034 --> 00:40:30,206
that was interviewed
784
00:40:30,206 --> 00:40:33,793
said that the son of Sam
is probably impotent
785
00:40:33,793 --> 00:40:35,448
because of the gun and all.
786
00:40:35,448 --> 00:40:38,862
You know how many calls
we got to the task force office,
787
00:40:38,862 --> 00:40:41,344
women giving up impotent guys?
788
00:40:41,344 --> 00:40:44,310
I mean, it was unbelievable.
789
00:40:44,310 --> 00:40:47,137
We're all scared.
Cops were scared.
790
00:40:47,137 --> 00:40:48,862
I was scared.
My wife was scared.
791
00:40:48,862 --> 00:40:51,241
My kids were scared.
792
00:40:51,241 --> 00:40:57,068
A bizarre, sick mind had
just declared war on New York.
793
00:41:10,413 --> 00:41:12,862
The summer of 1977,
794
00:41:12,862 --> 00:41:15,620
and New York
is gripped by terror.
795
00:41:15,620 --> 00:41:18,482
A serial killer calling himself
the son of Sam
796
00:41:18,482 --> 00:41:20,586
is stalking young couples,
797
00:41:20,586 --> 00:41:22,275
and his threatening notes
to the police
798
00:41:22,275 --> 00:41:26,931
and the press make it clear
he is calling the shots.
799
00:41:26,931 --> 00:41:32,724
New York mayor Abe beame steps
up the hunt to catch the killer.
800
00:41:32,724 --> 00:41:35,310
He increases the size
of the task force,
801
00:41:35,310 --> 00:41:40,068
making it the largest
in New York's police history.
802
00:41:40,068 --> 00:41:42,517
Since publication
of the son of Sam letter
803
00:41:42,517 --> 00:41:43,965
to Jimmy breslin,
804
00:41:43,965 --> 00:41:46,827
leads have been pouring in
to police,
805
00:41:46,827 --> 00:41:51,689
including a promising one
from a parole officer.
806
00:41:51,689 --> 00:41:54,000
He had gotten a letter
807
00:41:54,000 --> 00:41:57,655
written in the same-type
handwriting as the son of Sam.
808
00:41:57,655 --> 00:42:01,862
The letter writer has
a criminal record for robbery
809
00:42:01,862 --> 00:42:04,344
and has been sending notes
to his parole officer,
810
00:42:04,344 --> 00:42:06,103
his university professor,
811
00:42:06,103 --> 00:42:08,137
and even to the police.
812
00:42:08,137 --> 00:42:10,689
There was no way that we could
exclude him other than,
813
00:42:10,689 --> 00:42:12,275
"let's put this guy
under surveillance,
814
00:42:12,275 --> 00:42:15,068
go on and see what he does."
815
00:42:15,068 --> 00:42:18,586
On the night of June 27, 1977,
816
00:42:18,586 --> 00:42:22,034
police tail the suspect
into the New York subway.
817
00:42:22,034 --> 00:42:24,931
He got on the subway and jumped
off at the last minute,
818
00:42:24,931 --> 00:42:26,034
and the guys lost him.
819
00:42:30,689 --> 00:42:33,206
At the same time
police lose their suspect,
820
00:42:33,206 --> 00:42:36,034
17-year-old Judy placido
821
00:42:36,034 --> 00:42:39,034
is among the dancers
at the elephas,
822
00:42:39,034 --> 00:42:41,241
a popular nightclub in queens.
823
00:42:41,241 --> 00:42:43,379
She's just
graduated high school,
824
00:42:43,379 --> 00:42:44,827
and she's celebrating.
825
00:42:44,827 --> 00:42:46,965
Every borough had its share
of discos, and I think elephas
826
00:42:46,965 --> 00:42:49,551
was probably one of the more
popular ones in those days.
827
00:42:49,551 --> 00:42:52,310
Police have
already identified the elephas
828
00:42:52,310 --> 00:42:53,827
as a possible target.
829
00:42:53,827 --> 00:42:58,000
They have a patrol car outside.
830
00:42:58,000 --> 00:43:04,517
Inside, Judy placido has met
20-year-old Salvatore Lupo.
831
00:43:04,517 --> 00:43:08,931
At about 3:00 A.M.,
he offers to take her home.
832
00:43:08,931 --> 00:43:12,275
When finally they leave elephas,
833
00:43:12,275 --> 00:43:15,068
they go to his car,
this red Cadillac,
834
00:43:15,068 --> 00:43:16,551
and they sit in the car,
835
00:43:16,551 --> 00:43:21,862
and they actually, ironically,
discuss the son of Sam.
836
00:43:21,862 --> 00:43:24,551
Without warning,
a gunman approaches
837
00:43:24,551 --> 00:43:27,034
and fires three shots
into the car.
838
00:43:31,379 --> 00:43:34,724
One of the bullets
enters Judy's head,
839
00:43:34,724 --> 00:43:39,000
spins around,
and stops just over her eye.
840
00:43:39,000 --> 00:43:41,655
Think about those chances,
841
00:43:41,655 --> 00:43:44,620
that getting hit by a .44
842
00:43:44,620 --> 00:43:47,896
doesn't penetrate your skull.
843
00:43:47,896 --> 00:43:50,344
Judy is hit
with all three shots,
844
00:43:50,344 --> 00:43:53,034
and sal Lupo
is wounded in the arm.
845
00:43:53,034 --> 00:43:57,172
The police patrol misses
the incident by mere minutes.
846
00:43:57,172 --> 00:44:00,172
They had returned to the station
at the end of their shift.
847
00:44:00,172 --> 00:44:02,413
I mean, I can't describe
to you the looks
848
00:44:02,413 --> 00:44:04,862
on these two detectives' faces.
849
00:44:04,862 --> 00:44:06,379
They must have thought
immediately,
850
00:44:06,379 --> 00:44:08,655
"I hope it's not
the son of Sam."
851
00:44:08,655 --> 00:44:10,000
But it turned out it was.
852
00:44:10,000 --> 00:44:11,482
I went out
to the elephas shooting
853
00:44:11,482 --> 00:44:13,241
shortly after it happened.
854
00:44:13,241 --> 00:44:17,206
If you can imagine a scene
with police tape everywhere,
855
00:44:17,206 --> 00:44:20,724
flashing lights, police lights,
ambulance lights,
856
00:44:20,724 --> 00:44:23,275
and so you go kind of
hopelessly fumbling
857
00:44:23,275 --> 00:44:25,379
from one cop to another,
858
00:44:25,379 --> 00:44:26,965
asking people,
"did you see anything?
859
00:44:26,965 --> 00:44:28,793
Did you hear anything?"
860
00:44:28,793 --> 00:44:30,827
The answer to all
of those things was no.
861
00:44:30,827 --> 00:44:33,482
You kept thinking, "how
is nobody catching this guy?
862
00:44:33,482 --> 00:44:35,793
How is somebody
walking the streets
863
00:44:35,793 --> 00:44:38,586
with a giant gun
and shooting people,
864
00:44:38,586 --> 00:44:39,965
and nobody's seeing this?"
865
00:44:39,965 --> 00:44:42,689
This guy has got to be
the luckiest guy in the world
866
00:44:42,689 --> 00:44:45,586
that he can do these things
and nobody sees them, you know.
867
00:44:45,586 --> 00:44:48,655
It was a hell
of a lot of pressure.
868
00:44:48,655 --> 00:44:52,344
Every day, you were getting
calls from politicians,
869
00:44:52,344 --> 00:44:54,896
the mayor's office,
the police commissioner.
870
00:44:54,896 --> 00:44:56,413
"What do you got?
871
00:44:56,413 --> 00:44:57,862
What do you hear?
872
00:44:57,862 --> 00:45:00,172
But what are you working on?"
873
00:45:03,172 --> 00:45:05,689
With no direct
witnesses to this attack,
874
00:45:05,689 --> 00:45:09,172
police intensify surveillance
on their best suspect ...
875
00:45:09,172 --> 00:45:13,724
the letter writer who eluded
officers on the subway.
876
00:45:13,724 --> 00:45:16,896
In all this chaos,
little attention is paid
877
00:45:16,896 --> 00:45:18,655
to some strange letters
878
00:45:18,655 --> 00:45:24,172
reported by a civilian police
dispatcher named wheat carr.
879
00:45:24,172 --> 00:45:26,620
Initially, the letters
that we received complaining
880
00:45:26,620 --> 00:45:30,172
about the dog were disturbing.
881
00:45:30,172 --> 00:45:34,758
They didn't make sense,
so we didn't put a whole lot
882
00:45:34,758 --> 00:45:38,517
of credence to them initially.
883
00:45:38,517 --> 00:45:43,344
The carr family live
in yonkers, Westchester county,
884
00:45:43,344 --> 00:45:47,034
just a few miles
north of the Bronx.
885
00:45:47,034 --> 00:45:50,137
She and her father, Sam,
had been getting
886
00:45:50,137 --> 00:45:53,310
more and more anxious
about these strange letters
887
00:45:53,310 --> 00:45:56,034
complaining
about their dog, Harvey.
888
00:45:59,137 --> 00:46:02,482
"Samuel carr, I've asked
you kindly to stop that dog
889
00:46:02,482 --> 00:46:04,275
from howling all day long.
890
00:46:04,275 --> 00:46:08,103
I can see that there shall be
no peace in my life
891
00:46:08,103 --> 00:46:10,655
or my family's life
until I end yours."
892
00:46:10,655 --> 00:46:14,724
We had, all along,
been reporting the letters
893
00:46:14,724 --> 00:46:17,724
and the threats
to the police department,
894
00:46:17,724 --> 00:46:21,931
but still not taking it
as seriously as we should
895
00:46:21,931 --> 00:46:26,034
until, one afternoon,
the dog, Harvey, was shot.
896
00:46:28,896 --> 00:46:32,344
Wheat carr informs her
police colleagues in yonkers,
897
00:46:32,344 --> 00:46:36,172
hoping that an investigation
will now be launched.
898
00:46:36,172 --> 00:46:39,413
I became aware of it
after the dog was shot.
899
00:46:39,413 --> 00:46:42,655
More than likely,
in those situations,
900
00:46:42,655 --> 00:46:46,241
it's impossible
to prove who did it.
901
00:46:46,241 --> 00:46:48,586
Sergeant novotny
looks into the case,
902
00:46:48,586 --> 00:46:50,103
but nobody imagines
903
00:46:50,103 --> 00:46:54,275
how these letters might link
to the son of Sam.
904
00:46:56,448 --> 00:47:02,586
Back in the city, there are far
more serious matters to address.
905
00:47:02,586 --> 00:47:06,724
A power blackout plunges
New York into darkness,
906
00:47:06,724 --> 00:47:09,448
unleashing crime and chaos.
907
00:47:12,206 --> 00:47:13,482
New York had
one of those little,
908
00:47:13,482 --> 00:47:15,000
you know, New York moments
and went kind of nuts,
909
00:47:15,000 --> 00:47:16,965
and just lootings and fires,
910
00:47:16,965 --> 00:47:19,448
and it was a bad, bad night.
911
00:47:19,448 --> 00:47:22,103
Eventually, though,
a lightning storm came through,
912
00:47:22,103 --> 00:47:23,896
and so you would hear
all the sound,
913
00:47:23,896 --> 00:47:25,482
and then
this lightning would hit,
914
00:47:25,482 --> 00:47:26,965
and it would
illuminate the street,
915
00:47:26,965 --> 00:47:28,206
and you suddenly
see people running,
916
00:47:28,206 --> 00:47:29,827
and there would be
a cop car going by.
917
00:47:29,827 --> 00:47:31,172
There would be all this
sort of going on
918
00:47:31,172 --> 00:47:33,586
and just noise and glass
and screaming.
919
00:47:33,586 --> 00:47:35,517
It felt really apocalyptic.
920
00:47:35,517 --> 00:47:39,275
It really felt like New York
had finally come to an end.
921
00:47:39,275 --> 00:47:41,689
But hovering over
all of this was the idea
922
00:47:41,689 --> 00:47:45,310
that there was a serial killer
still running around.
923
00:47:45,310 --> 00:47:47,896
The police
are no closer to finding him,
924
00:47:47,896 --> 00:47:49,310
and so the growing sense
925
00:47:49,310 --> 00:47:52,586
of desperation
leads anxious new yorkers
926
00:47:52,586 --> 00:47:54,724
to take matters
into their own hands.
927
00:47:59,172 --> 00:48:03,000
If the cops ain't gonna do
it, then citizens got to do it.
928
00:48:03,000 --> 00:48:05,241
That's what I think.
Do it our way.
929
00:48:05,241 --> 00:48:06,758
We'll have to do it our way.
930
00:48:06,758 --> 00:48:09,034
But give him to US mothers.
931
00:48:09,034 --> 00:48:10,206
That's who want to handle him.
932
00:48:10,206 --> 00:48:11,344
Don't give him to the cops.
933
00:48:11,344 --> 00:48:12,448
Don't give him to these boys.
934
00:48:12,448 --> 00:48:13,931
Give him to US mothers.
935
00:48:13,931 --> 00:48:17,310
We want to handle him
the way we want to.
936
00:48:17,310 --> 00:48:21,689
Mike lauria, the
father of Sam's first victim,
937
00:48:21,689 --> 00:48:24,068
Donna lauria, is among them.
938
00:48:24,068 --> 00:48:25,482
I want to see this guy caught.
939
00:48:25,482 --> 00:48:28,068
And I figure if I'm on patrol,
one night, I may spot him.
940
00:48:28,068 --> 00:48:29,517
I know what goes on in my heart.
941
00:48:29,517 --> 00:48:32,448
I know how I feel.
942
00:48:32,448 --> 00:48:35,034
How could I say it?
I want this guy caught.
943
00:48:35,034 --> 00:48:40,103
Dad needed to have
his pound of flesh somehow,
944
00:48:40,103 --> 00:48:41,724
and I guess he thought
945
00:48:41,724 --> 00:48:45,413
if that was
how it was gonna be,
946
00:48:45,413 --> 00:48:48,137
then maybe he'd get lucky enough
to catch him.
947
00:48:48,137 --> 00:48:50,793
As far as the police work
is concerned, I mean,
948
00:48:50,793 --> 00:48:54,344
when you're a family
of a victim,
949
00:48:54,344 --> 00:48:56,931
you never think
that they're doing enough.
950
00:48:56,931 --> 00:49:00,310
Homicide detectives
unfortunately are left
951
00:49:00,310 --> 00:49:02,034
with an impossible situation.
952
00:49:02,034 --> 00:49:09,310
The only way random shootings
can be apprehended
953
00:49:09,310 --> 00:49:12,034
is by the shootings continuing,
954
00:49:12,034 --> 00:49:15,551
so it's almost a roulette wheel
of fate.
955
00:49:15,551 --> 00:49:18,689
Bottom line is, if he stops
and goes up to live
956
00:49:18,689 --> 00:49:20,793
on the top of a mountain,
you'll never get him.
957
00:49:20,793 --> 00:49:22,517
He'll get away with everything
he's already done,
958
00:49:22,517 --> 00:49:25,931
so it's kind of like
a catch-22 there.
959
00:49:25,931 --> 00:49:28,655
While the city waits
with dread for the son of Sam
960
00:49:28,655 --> 00:49:30,275
to strike again,
961
00:49:30,275 --> 00:49:32,551
in yonkers, the carr family,
962
00:49:32,551 --> 00:49:34,862
whose dog has been shot already,
963
00:49:34,862 --> 00:49:36,689
experience an escalation
964
00:49:36,689 --> 00:49:39,103
in the mysterious attacks
against them.
965
00:49:39,103 --> 00:49:42,827
Not long after that is
when the house was firebombed,
966
00:49:42,827 --> 00:49:45,655
or my bedroom was firebombed,
more accurately.
967
00:49:45,655 --> 00:49:47,931
I think that is the point
at which we decided
968
00:49:47,931 --> 00:49:50,551
we had to figure this out.
969
00:49:50,551 --> 00:49:53,275
And then wheat learns
that another local family,
970
00:49:53,275 --> 00:49:54,827
the cassaras,
971
00:49:54,827 --> 00:49:57,655
have received
a similar threatening letter.
972
00:49:57,655 --> 00:50:01,103
When the two families meet,
the cassaras provide
973
00:50:01,103 --> 00:50:04,965
the frightening final piece
of the puzzle.
974
00:50:04,965 --> 00:50:09,137
Their son brought up the fact
that they had had a tenant
975
00:50:09,137 --> 00:50:13,344
that had some sort of an issue
about a dog,
976
00:50:13,344 --> 00:50:15,137
and also a dog
in their neighborhood
977
00:50:15,137 --> 00:50:17,379
had turned up dead.
978
00:50:17,379 --> 00:50:19,482
The publication
of the son of Sam's letter
979
00:50:19,482 --> 00:50:20,896
to Jimmy breslin
980
00:50:20,896 --> 00:50:23,206
suggests
who might be tormenting them.
981
00:50:23,206 --> 00:50:27,275
Wheat's father is Sam carr,
and in his letter,
982
00:50:27,275 --> 00:50:30,068
the killer refers
to a king of wicker.
983
00:50:30,068 --> 00:50:34,793
In yonkers, the carr family
lives off wicker street.
984
00:50:34,793 --> 00:50:38,034
The letter also mentions
a John wheaties,
985
00:50:38,034 --> 00:50:41,379
and wheat's brother
is called John.
986
00:50:41,379 --> 00:50:44,137
Our letters, the breslin
letters, and the cassaras'
987
00:50:44,137 --> 00:50:46,517
was obviously the same person.
988
00:50:49,103 --> 00:50:51,586
The evidence is circumstantial,
989
00:50:51,586 --> 00:50:55,068
but wheat manages to convince
a handful of yonkers' cops
990
00:50:55,068 --> 00:50:58,586
to sit up and take notice.
991
00:50:58,586 --> 00:51:03,448
In looking
at these three documents,
992
00:51:03,448 --> 00:51:08,206
the totality of the three
of them together
993
00:51:08,206 --> 00:51:11,206
all give important clues.
994
00:51:11,206 --> 00:51:13,689
There's a little in each one.
995
00:51:13,689 --> 00:51:18,793
When they showed me,
they also convinced me.
996
00:51:18,793 --> 00:51:22,103
I tried numerous times
to contact
997
00:51:22,103 --> 00:51:23,965
the task force in queens.
998
00:51:23,965 --> 00:51:28,344
The phone number that I had
was continuously busy,
999
00:51:28,344 --> 00:51:31,172
which frustrated me.
1000
00:51:31,172 --> 00:51:34,068
People come up with all kinds
of wild scenarios
1001
00:51:34,068 --> 00:51:36,206
about who the shooter is,
1002
00:51:36,206 --> 00:51:39,448
and if you've got 1,000 reports
coming in in a week,
1003
00:51:39,448 --> 00:51:41,206
most of it is worthless.
1004
00:51:43,896 --> 00:51:45,241
July 29th will be
1005
00:51:45,241 --> 00:51:47,241
the son of Sam's
first anniversary,
1006
00:51:47,241 --> 00:51:50,724
exactly a year since he began
a terrible rampage
1007
00:51:50,724 --> 00:51:52,310
that's already left
five people dead
1008
00:51:52,310 --> 00:51:54,448
and six others injured.
1009
00:51:54,448 --> 00:51:56,965
The police here at
the special homicide task force
1010
00:51:56,965 --> 00:52:00,172
are hoping that the so-called
.44 caliber killer
1011
00:52:00,172 --> 00:52:03,068
doesn't try and celebrate
his anniversary in blood.
1012
00:52:07,862 --> 00:52:12,482
"Tell me, Jim, what
will you have for July 29th?
1013
00:52:12,482 --> 00:52:14,655
You must not forget
Donna lauria.
1014
00:52:14,655 --> 00:52:18,827
Sam's a thirsty lad, and
he won't let me stop killing
1015
00:52:18,827 --> 00:52:21,413
until he gets
his fill of blood."
1016
00:52:21,413 --> 00:52:23,586
That infuriated my father
1017
00:52:23,586 --> 00:52:26,793
because it was making it sound
as though it was someone he knew
1018
00:52:26,793 --> 00:52:30,137
and that he cared about her.
1019
00:52:30,137 --> 00:52:31,344
It was almost this level ...
1020
00:52:31,344 --> 00:52:34,586
you know, he developed
this interest in her.
1021
00:52:34,586 --> 00:52:38,000
The night before
the anniversary, Jimmy breslin
1022
00:52:38,000 --> 00:52:42,103
once again writes to the killer
in his newspaper column.
1023
00:52:42,103 --> 00:52:46,551
Jimmy, in my interpretation
of it, he was taunting him,
1024
00:52:46,551 --> 00:52:51,172
trying to get him
to send him another letter.
1025
00:52:51,172 --> 00:52:53,413
"Is tomorrow night, July 29th,
1026
00:52:53,413 --> 00:52:54,965
so significant to him
1027
00:52:54,965 --> 00:52:58,034
that he must go out
and find a victim,
1028
00:52:58,034 --> 00:53:00,689
or will he sit alone
and look out his attic window
1029
00:53:00,689 --> 00:53:03,068
to be thrilled by his power,
1030
00:53:03,068 --> 00:53:04,620
this power that will have him
1031
00:53:04,620 --> 00:53:07,000
in the newspapers
and on television
1032
00:53:07,000 --> 00:53:08,827
and in the thoughts
and conversations
1033
00:53:08,827 --> 00:53:11,344
of most of the young people
in this city?"
1034
00:53:23,517 --> 00:53:27,137
July 29, 1977.
1035
00:53:27,137 --> 00:53:31,137
It's the anniversary of
the son of Sam's first murder.
1036
00:53:31,137 --> 00:53:35,034
And the fear is that he will
Mark the day with an attack.
1037
00:53:35,034 --> 00:53:38,034
But the anniversary
passes off without incident.
1038
00:53:38,034 --> 00:53:41,896
And residents breathe
a sigh of relief.
1039
00:53:41,896 --> 00:53:46,793
Two days later, Bobby violante,
a young man from Brooklyn,
1040
00:53:46,793 --> 00:53:50,551
heads out on his first date
with Stacy moskowitz.
1041
00:53:50,551 --> 00:53:52,931
I was looking very forward
to that evening.
1042
00:53:52,931 --> 00:53:54,965
I'm getting ready to go out,
1043
00:53:54,965 --> 00:53:57,931
and I'm walking down
the stairs from my house,
1044
00:53:57,931 --> 00:54:00,724
and my mom turned to me,
1045
00:54:00,724 --> 00:54:03,206
and she says,
"now, Robert, just be careful."
1046
00:54:03,206 --> 00:54:05,172
"Don't worry," I said,
"mom, I'm going out
1047
00:54:05,172 --> 00:54:07,172
with a blonde tonight."
1048
00:54:07,172 --> 00:54:09,517
Everybody knows
the son of Sam's preference
1049
00:54:09,517 --> 00:54:13,034
for brunettes,
so the couple isn't nervous.
1050
00:54:13,034 --> 00:54:15,896
They're going out in Brooklyn,
a borough well outside
1051
00:54:15,896 --> 00:54:19,482
the killer's territory
in the Bronx and queens.
1052
00:54:19,482 --> 00:54:25,482
Bobby and Stacy go to a movie,
then go get a bite at jasmines.
1053
00:54:25,482 --> 00:54:28,310
From my point of view,
the date was going great, also.
1054
00:54:28,310 --> 00:54:31,103
I mean, we just had a really,
really nice time.
1055
00:54:31,103 --> 00:54:35,551
Now they go to park
in this Gravesend bay area
1056
00:54:35,551 --> 00:54:37,137
where all the kids park.
1057
00:54:37,137 --> 00:54:40,206
That was the make-out area.
1058
00:54:40,206 --> 00:54:42,241
So, right over there
is the lamppost
1059
00:54:42,241 --> 00:54:46,551
where I was parked 40 years ago.
1060
00:54:46,551 --> 00:54:48,965
Police officer
Mike cataneo and his partner
1061
00:54:48,965 --> 00:54:51,620
are also in the area,
watching for trouble
1062
00:54:51,620 --> 00:54:55,068
and writing
the occasional parking ticket.
1063
00:54:55,068 --> 00:54:59,310
It was a beautiful, gorgeous
summer night, full moon.
1064
00:54:59,310 --> 00:55:01,827
And every cop will tell you,
"when it's a full moon,
1065
00:55:01,827 --> 00:55:02,827
be careful.
1066
00:55:02,827 --> 00:55:04,827
The crazies are out."
1067
00:55:04,827 --> 00:55:05,896
We always said that.
1068
00:55:05,896 --> 00:55:07,413
They probably
still say it today.
1069
00:55:07,413 --> 00:55:11,000
That area, I guess because
it's so densely populated,
1070
00:55:11,000 --> 00:55:13,310
very often, there's cars
parked on a hydrant
1071
00:55:13,310 --> 00:55:15,172
for the entire night.
1072
00:55:15,172 --> 00:55:16,241
That bothered me.
1073
00:55:16,241 --> 00:55:17,896
I'm not a ticket writer.
I never was.
1074
00:55:17,896 --> 00:55:22,241
But that ...
you could cost somebody a life.
1075
00:55:22,241 --> 00:55:24,413
After ticketing the car,
1076
00:55:24,413 --> 00:55:26,310
cataneo finds a pair of lovers
1077
00:55:26,310 --> 00:55:29,137
who are parked
in a popular make-out spot.
1078
00:55:29,137 --> 00:55:30,655
The area's not well lit.
1079
00:55:30,655 --> 00:55:33,965
It's very quiet, especially
at night after midnight.
1080
00:55:33,965 --> 00:55:35,275
Kids know it's there.
1081
00:55:35,275 --> 00:55:38,000
We actually chased a couple
of kids out of there.
1082
00:55:38,000 --> 00:55:39,896
And we're going out there
and start yelling at them,
1083
00:55:39,896 --> 00:55:42,034
"are you nuts?!
Do you read the paper?!"
1084
00:55:42,034 --> 00:55:43,931
First thing
out of that kid's mouth ...
1085
00:55:43,931 --> 00:55:45,551
"he didn't come
to Brooklyn yet!"
1086
00:55:45,551 --> 00:55:48,379
We drove away,
and off they went.
1087
00:55:48,379 --> 00:55:50,758
I think
it was approximately around,
1088
00:55:50,758 --> 00:55:53,724
like, 1:00 in the morning.
1089
00:55:53,724 --> 00:55:59,206
We went to go play on the swings
like two little kids.
1090
00:55:59,206 --> 00:56:01,482
As we were going up
to the swings,
1091
00:56:01,482 --> 00:56:04,724
I see just some guy hanging out
at the park house.
1092
00:56:04,724 --> 00:56:05,896
Didn't pay any mind to him.
1093
00:56:05,896 --> 00:56:07,517
We just walked by him.
1094
00:56:07,517 --> 00:56:10,551
And then we were playing on
the swings for about 10 minutes,
1095
00:56:10,551 --> 00:56:12,586
and then she's starting
to get a little nervous.
1096
00:56:12,586 --> 00:56:16,310
She was saying, "Robert, let's
go and go back to the car."
1097
00:56:16,310 --> 00:56:19,655
I said, "okay."
1098
00:56:19,655 --> 00:56:22,551
As Bobby and Stacy
walk back to their car,
1099
00:56:22,551 --> 00:56:25,862
another couple is parked
right in front of them.
1100
00:56:25,862 --> 00:56:29,310
Tommy zaino is trying
to impress his date, Debbie,
1101
00:56:29,310 --> 00:56:31,586
with his blue corvette.
1102
00:56:31,586 --> 00:56:33,517
It was a nice car, yes.
1103
00:56:33,517 --> 00:56:35,000
The ladies loved the car.
1104
00:56:35,000 --> 00:56:37,172
When I came back
into the car, she said,
1105
00:56:37,172 --> 00:56:38,827
"Robert, let's get going.
1106
00:56:38,827 --> 00:56:42,137
You know, I feel
a little nervous sitting here."
1107
00:56:42,137 --> 00:56:44,275
And I turned to her, and I said,
"all right, stace."
1108
00:56:44,275 --> 00:56:46,379
I said, "how about we just
stay five more minutes,
1109
00:56:46,379 --> 00:56:47,517
and then we'll go?"
1110
00:56:49,344 --> 00:56:51,068
What happened next...
1111
00:56:51,068 --> 00:56:57,310
Really tough to know
just exactly what happened.
1112
00:56:57,310 --> 00:56:59,758
I noticed somebody
walking out of the park,
1113
00:56:59,758 --> 00:57:02,241
and he was walking towards
the car behind me.
1114
00:57:02,241 --> 00:57:04,137
He looked like
he was gonna get into the car
1115
00:57:04,137 --> 00:57:08,137
or talk to somebody in the car.
1116
00:57:08,137 --> 00:57:10,758
But he pulled something
out of his pocket,
1117
00:57:10,758 --> 00:57:14,896
got into a stance,
and started firing into the car.
1118
00:57:18,896 --> 00:57:20,862
And then, the next thing I know,
1119
00:57:20,862 --> 00:57:26,413
everything just went blank.
1120
00:57:30,517 --> 00:57:33,724
I don't think we were three,
four minutes, five minutes away.
1121
00:57:33,724 --> 00:57:35,931
Boom.
Shots fired.
1122
00:57:35,931 --> 00:57:37,517
Go down there,
and there's the two kids.
1123
00:57:37,517 --> 00:57:39,827
I said, "my god."
1124
00:57:39,827 --> 00:57:41,482
I can't forget that stuff.
1125
00:57:41,482 --> 00:57:44,275
I never seen anything
like that happen.
1126
00:57:44,275 --> 00:57:47,793
It looked like somebody
was making a movie.
1127
00:57:47,793 --> 00:57:49,482
It didn't look real.
1128
00:57:49,482 --> 00:57:51,206
Everything was flashing
through my head
1129
00:57:51,206 --> 00:57:52,862
that this could
have been the guy.
1130
00:57:52,862 --> 00:57:54,724
This could have been
the son of Sam.
1131
00:57:54,724 --> 00:57:57,000
I started the car
and took off as fast
1132
00:57:57,000 --> 00:57:59,034
as I could
to the police station.
1133
00:57:59,034 --> 00:58:00,206
I didn't even stop at lights.
1134
00:58:00,206 --> 00:58:02,275
I must have got there
in a couple seconds.
1135
00:58:02,275 --> 00:58:03,862
I pulled right up to them,
and I told them,
1136
00:58:03,862 --> 00:58:07,482
"I think somebody got shot
down near the park."
1137
00:58:07,482 --> 00:58:11,310
So, then the next thing I did
was, I opened the car door.
1138
00:58:11,310 --> 00:58:14,689
I wrapped my arm around the pole
1139
00:58:14,689 --> 00:58:19,310
and honked the horn as long
as I could till it died out.
1140
00:58:22,655 --> 00:58:25,068
The four shots went off,
and we knew it was shots.
1141
00:58:25,068 --> 00:58:26,758
It had to be.
1142
00:58:26,758 --> 00:58:28,724
And I said to my girlfriend,
"those were shots."
1143
00:58:28,724 --> 00:58:31,896
And then this horn
started beeping incessantly,
1144
00:58:31,896 --> 00:58:34,034
and then it stopped,
and then it beeped again.
1145
00:58:34,034 --> 00:58:36,862
And then this man
started screaming,
1146
00:58:36,862 --> 00:58:38,379
"help me, god.
Help me."
1147
00:58:38,379 --> 00:58:40,172
I was yelling out for help,
1148
00:58:40,172 --> 00:58:42,724
and then I collapsed
over the roof of the car.
1149
00:58:42,724 --> 00:58:45,344
And he was covered with blood.
1150
00:58:45,344 --> 00:58:48,000
And the girl
was covered with blood.
1151
00:58:48,000 --> 00:58:49,448
It was a horror.
1152
00:58:52,000 --> 00:58:55,379
Bobby violante
has been blinded in the attack.
1153
00:58:55,379 --> 00:58:59,137
Stacy moskowitz has also been
badly wounded.
1154
00:58:59,137 --> 00:59:03,310
She's rushed to the hospital,
but dies the following day.
1155
00:59:03,310 --> 00:59:04,586
I'll still tell you.
1156
00:59:04,586 --> 00:59:07,620
I lost
something very dear to me.
1157
00:59:07,620 --> 00:59:09,103
Great kid.
1158
00:59:09,103 --> 00:59:11,793
But most important
are the people,
1159
00:59:11,793 --> 00:59:16,241
that an animal should snuff
away a life of a young girl,
1160
00:59:16,241 --> 00:59:18,827
blind a young boy,
1161
00:59:18,827 --> 00:59:22,689
and has killed others
and will probably go on killing.
1162
00:59:22,689 --> 00:59:25,241
An animal like this
has to be caught.
1163
00:59:25,241 --> 00:59:28,517
I was in the hospital
for about a month and a half.
1164
00:59:28,517 --> 00:59:32,000
I was asking for Stacy
to see how she was doing,
1165
00:59:32,000 --> 00:59:38,344
and they hadn't told me
for almost a week later
1166
00:59:38,344 --> 00:59:41,310
that she had passed away.
1167
00:59:41,310 --> 00:59:44,931
And she had actually
passed away only 18 hours
1168
00:59:44,931 --> 00:59:47,655
after we were brought
to the hospital,
1169
00:59:47,655 --> 00:59:50,275
but they didn't want
to tell me right away
1170
00:59:50,275 --> 00:59:52,034
because, you know,
1171
00:59:52,034 --> 00:59:54,793
all that I was
having to deal with.
1172
00:59:54,793 --> 01:00:01,137
I gave him the news
about his eyes yesterday,
1173
01:00:01,137 --> 01:00:07,103
and he accepted it like a man.
1174
01:00:07,103 --> 01:00:09,551
My son Robert
1175
01:00:09,551 --> 01:00:12,758
is more of a man
than I could ever be.
1176
01:00:12,758 --> 01:00:18,586
It was a comfort to know
that she had liked me,
1177
01:00:18,586 --> 01:00:21,137
and I liked her,
1178
01:00:21,137 --> 01:00:25,103
and we had a really nice time
that night.
1179
01:00:25,103 --> 01:00:30,034
And the sad part was
about knowing, possibly,
1180
01:00:30,034 --> 01:00:32,517
how many other nice nights
1181
01:00:32,517 --> 01:00:35,620
we could have had together
if things would have worked out,
1182
01:00:35,620 --> 01:00:38,344
but it was a comfort
to know that one night
1183
01:00:38,344 --> 01:00:39,724
I had shared with her,
1184
01:00:39,724 --> 01:00:41,517
that it was a really nice night.
1185
01:00:47,551 --> 01:00:49,862
After the shooting
of Robert violante
1186
01:00:49,862 --> 01:00:52,000
and Stacy moskowitz in Brooklyn,
1187
01:00:52,000 --> 01:00:55,551
new yorkers are faced
with a terrifying reality.
1188
01:00:55,551 --> 01:01:01,517
The kill zone is no longer
limited to the Bronx and queens.
1189
01:01:01,517 --> 01:01:03,517
"No one is safe."
1190
01:01:03,517 --> 01:01:06,275
And it wasn't a scare tactic,
believe me,
1191
01:01:06,275 --> 01:01:08,655
because no one was safe.
1192
01:01:08,655 --> 01:01:10,448
The son of Sam task force
1193
01:01:10,448 --> 01:01:13,551
has lost many of its best leads.
1194
01:01:13,551 --> 01:01:15,551
A frantic call to bill Clark
1195
01:01:15,551 --> 01:01:18,655
quickly eliminates
their prime suspect.
1196
01:01:18,655 --> 01:01:21,068
He's still tailing the man
who slipped away
1197
01:01:21,068 --> 01:01:23,586
the night
of the elephas shooting.
1198
01:01:23,586 --> 01:01:27,344
The night
of the Stacy moskowitz shooting,
1199
01:01:27,344 --> 01:01:30,413
I was sitting outside of
his apartment, surveilling him.
1200
01:01:30,413 --> 01:01:33,310
And I get a call ...
"make sure he's in there.
1201
01:01:33,310 --> 01:01:35,137
If he's in there,
then come on down here."
1202
01:01:35,137 --> 01:01:36,965
'Cause then
he couldn't have done it.
1203
01:01:36,965 --> 01:01:39,034
So I go up
to his apartment door,
1204
01:01:39,034 --> 01:01:41,517
and when he comes to the door,
1205
01:01:41,517 --> 01:01:45,482
it was all I could do
not to wring his neck.
1206
01:01:45,482 --> 01:01:48,655
Brooklyn homicide
joins the investigation,
1207
01:01:48,655 --> 01:01:50,758
and the hope is that
their local contacts
1208
01:01:50,758 --> 01:01:53,000
will generate new leads.
1209
01:01:53,000 --> 01:01:56,551
William gardella is assigned
to this latest murder.
1210
01:01:56,551 --> 01:02:00,137
To me, this was going to be the
biggest challenge of my life,
1211
01:02:00,137 --> 01:02:01,724
having this case.
1212
01:02:04,275 --> 01:02:08,103
And a new lead
is about to break the case open.
1213
01:02:08,103 --> 01:02:11,344
The son of Sam
has made his first mistake.
1214
01:02:23,034 --> 01:02:25,448
August 1977.
1215
01:02:25,448 --> 01:02:28,620
The son of Sam
has now struck in Brooklyn,
1216
01:02:28,620 --> 01:02:32,793
extending his killing ground
across the whole of New York.
1217
01:02:32,793 --> 01:02:35,724
Detectives from Brooklyn
now join the hunt,
1218
01:02:35,724 --> 01:02:38,310
leaving no stone unturned.
1219
01:02:38,310 --> 01:02:40,172
When we were
conducting a canvass,
1220
01:02:40,172 --> 01:02:42,413
questioning people
at their doors,
1221
01:02:42,413 --> 01:02:45,103
we typically would ask,
were they out that night?
1222
01:02:45,103 --> 01:02:46,551
Did they hear the shots?
1223
01:02:46,551 --> 01:02:48,275
When they heard the shots,
what was their response?
1224
01:02:48,275 --> 01:02:51,000
Did they call 911?
1225
01:02:51,000 --> 01:02:53,586
Finally, we checked
for summonses.
1226
01:02:53,586 --> 01:02:59,068
A summons places a person,
a vehicle, at a specific place
1227
01:02:59,068 --> 01:03:00,344
and a specific time.
1228
01:03:00,344 --> 01:03:03,586
Those people
are potential witnesses.
1229
01:03:03,586 --> 01:03:06,689
Joe strano come up
with a witness.
1230
01:03:06,689 --> 01:03:09,241
Her name was Cecilia Davis.
1231
01:03:09,241 --> 01:03:13,172
I seen a man coming up
from down that tree there,
1232
01:03:13,172 --> 01:03:15,206
and as the dog
pulled towards the man,
1233
01:03:15,206 --> 01:03:17,034
the man come towards me,
1234
01:03:17,034 --> 01:03:18,931
and he looked me
straight in the face.
1235
01:03:18,931 --> 01:03:20,241
He looked at my dog,
1236
01:03:20,241 --> 01:03:25,413
and right here,
we crossed each other.
1237
01:03:25,413 --> 01:03:27,724
But she also told detectives,
1238
01:03:27,724 --> 01:03:31,517
"I saw an officer
giving summonses."
1239
01:03:31,517 --> 01:03:33,896
As parking tickets
are filed by hand,
1240
01:03:33,896 --> 01:03:35,551
it takes police nearly a week
1241
01:03:35,551 --> 01:03:38,413
to track down
the crucial summons.
1242
01:03:38,413 --> 01:03:40,172
It's the one
officer Mike cataneo
1243
01:03:40,172 --> 01:03:41,620
wrote the night of the murder,
1244
01:03:41,620 --> 01:03:45,103
just blocks from where Bobby
and Stacy were gunned down.
1245
01:03:45,103 --> 01:03:48,931
One of the summonses was issued
to a David berkowitz,
1246
01:03:48,931 --> 01:03:52,655
35 pine street,
yonkers, New York.
1247
01:03:52,655 --> 01:03:55,448
What was someone
living in yonkers
1248
01:03:55,448 --> 01:03:58,448
doing there at that moment?
1249
01:03:58,448 --> 01:04:01,172
This was important to follow up
on because the person
1250
01:04:01,172 --> 01:04:02,862
could have been a witness,
1251
01:04:02,862 --> 01:04:05,448
could have been the killer,
1252
01:04:05,448 --> 01:04:06,517
could have been somebody
1253
01:04:06,517 --> 01:04:08,896
visiting somebody in the area,
you know.
1254
01:04:08,896 --> 01:04:11,965
You don't know.
1255
01:04:11,965 --> 01:04:13,482
It's a promising lead,
1256
01:04:13,482 --> 01:04:17,241
so the detectives contact
yonkers police about berkowitz.
1257
01:04:17,241 --> 01:04:18,724
In an amazing coincidence,
1258
01:04:18,724 --> 01:04:22,068
the dispatcher who takes
the call is wheat carr,
1259
01:04:22,068 --> 01:04:23,517
the woman whose family believes
1260
01:04:23,517 --> 01:04:26,586
they're being threatened
by the son of Sam.
1261
01:04:26,586 --> 01:04:30,034
This, remarkably,
is the same man ...
1262
01:04:30,034 --> 01:04:31,965
David berkowitz.
1263
01:04:35,551 --> 01:04:40,448
On the night of August the 9th,
I was working 3:00 to 11:00
1264
01:04:40,448 --> 01:04:43,620
and answered a call,
1265
01:04:43,620 --> 01:04:45,034
and I honestly thought,
"god.
1266
01:04:45,034 --> 01:04:47,241
They finally found the pieces
of paper Sam gave them,
1267
01:04:47,241 --> 01:04:49,275
and they're following up on it."
1268
01:04:49,275 --> 01:04:52,620
And he said, "we're following up
on a parking ticket,
1269
01:04:52,620 --> 01:04:54,862
and we'd like you
to make a notification
1270
01:04:54,862 --> 01:04:57,724
to someone who might be
a possible witness."
1271
01:04:57,724 --> 01:05:03,103
Wheat carr, taking the call,
stops the officer and said,
1272
01:05:03,103 --> 01:05:06,896
"you don't want to speak
to this person as a witness.
1273
01:05:06,896 --> 01:05:10,275
My family has been
having trouble with him."
1274
01:05:10,275 --> 01:05:14,344
This guy was asking me to send
two cops to knock on the door
1275
01:05:14,344 --> 01:05:18,586
of someone I firmly believed
to be a serial killer.
1276
01:05:18,586 --> 01:05:22,586
Wheat carr finally has
the full attention of the NYPD.
1277
01:05:22,586 --> 01:05:27,517
Up to this point, there have
been so many false leads.
1278
01:05:27,517 --> 01:05:30,586
Is this finally the breakthrough
they've been looking for?
1279
01:05:30,586 --> 01:05:32,965
As soon as I walked
into the office,
1280
01:05:32,965 --> 01:05:34,620
sergeant shea says,
1281
01:05:34,620 --> 01:05:38,551
"we got something
going up in yonkers."
1282
01:05:38,551 --> 01:05:41,931
Bill gardella and
a team of detectives is sent up
1283
01:05:41,931 --> 01:05:44,965
to yonkers
to find David berkowitz.
1284
01:05:44,965 --> 01:05:48,068
He has no idea what to expect.
1285
01:05:48,068 --> 01:05:51,172
Is he a witness,
or is wheat carr right?
1286
01:05:51,172 --> 01:05:54,517
Could this be the killer?
1287
01:05:54,517 --> 01:05:56,620
"Please inform
all the detectives
1288
01:05:56,620 --> 01:06:00,068
working on the case that I wish
them the best of luck.
1289
01:06:00,068 --> 01:06:06,000
Think positive, get off
your butts, knock on coffins."
1290
01:06:06,000 --> 01:06:08,655
We're on the block
where David berkowitz lives.
1291
01:06:08,655 --> 01:06:11,517
That's his apartment
building over there.
1292
01:06:11,517 --> 01:06:16,758
Our unmarked police car
was parked right about here,
1293
01:06:16,758 --> 01:06:18,275
right here.
1294
01:06:18,275 --> 01:06:19,689
There was one car
in front of US,
1295
01:06:19,689 --> 01:06:23,034
and there was a Van similar
to this, but higher parked here.
1296
01:06:23,034 --> 01:06:27,206
And berkowitz's Ford galaxy
1297
01:06:27,206 --> 01:06:30,827
was, I would say,
right about here.
1298
01:06:30,827 --> 01:06:34,517
The first officer
on the scene searches the car
1299
01:06:34,517 --> 01:06:37,965
and alerts his superiors.
1300
01:06:37,965 --> 01:06:42,000
In the back is a duffel bag
containing guns.
1301
01:06:42,000 --> 01:06:44,862
In the front,
a letter with a message
1302
01:06:44,862 --> 01:06:47,000
that is all too familiar.
1303
01:06:47,000 --> 01:06:50,620
It is a note the son of Sam
intended to be left at the scene
1304
01:06:50,620 --> 01:06:52,551
of his next murder.
1305
01:06:52,551 --> 01:06:54,724
The letter said,
"I'm coming out.
1306
01:06:54,724 --> 01:06:56,275
You can't stop me."
1307
01:06:56,275 --> 01:07:00,586
And at that moment,
we knew this is him.
1308
01:07:00,586 --> 01:07:03,103
"Bullets
crackle in a quiet town.
1309
01:07:03,103 --> 01:07:04,862
The sounds of running feet
1310
01:07:04,862 --> 01:07:09,482
and screams of anguish
fill the air."
1311
01:07:09,482 --> 01:07:11,758
At this moment, they have no
idea if berkowitz is by himself.
1312
01:07:11,758 --> 01:07:13,103
It could be a hostage situation.
1313
01:07:13,103 --> 01:07:14,413
They have no idea
if he's armed.
1314
01:07:14,413 --> 01:07:16,551
The assumption has to be
that he will come with a fight
1315
01:07:16,551 --> 01:07:19,448
or with guns blazing.
1316
01:07:19,448 --> 01:07:22,517
Two of my detectives,
I had them on the rear,
1317
01:07:22,517 --> 01:07:23,965
watching his fire escape,
1318
01:07:23,965 --> 01:07:28,586
while we were parked
in our unmarked car over here.
1319
01:07:28,586 --> 01:07:32,551
Four against
the potential son of Sam.
1320
01:07:32,551 --> 01:07:35,551
We should have had more people,
but that was not my decision.
1321
01:07:35,551 --> 01:07:37,827
That was not my decision.
1322
01:07:37,827 --> 01:07:40,000
We didn't have bulletproof vests
at that time.
1323
01:07:40,000 --> 01:07:42,586
This is what you have.
This is what you're going to do.
1324
01:07:42,586 --> 01:07:47,172
The detectives
wait until about 10:00 P.M.
1325
01:07:47,172 --> 01:07:49,275
When a man finally emerges
1326
01:07:49,275 --> 01:07:51,551
and heads to the car
they're staking out.
1327
01:07:51,551 --> 01:07:55,724
He's carrying a paper bag
shaped in a triangle.
1328
01:07:55,724 --> 01:07:59,068
He takes that and throws it
on the seat next to him.
1329
01:07:59,068 --> 01:08:03,068
The son of Sam
is armed with his .44.
1330
01:08:03,068 --> 01:08:04,931
He's going hunting.
1331
01:08:04,931 --> 01:08:07,344
I jumped out of the car,
took my gun out,
1332
01:08:07,344 --> 01:08:10,068
ran down the sidewalk.
1333
01:08:10,068 --> 01:08:12,758
And his front passenger window
1334
01:08:12,758 --> 01:08:15,137
was lowered about 6 inches.
1335
01:08:15,137 --> 01:08:18,241
I came up, put the gun
through the window.
1336
01:08:18,241 --> 01:08:21,551
He had his hand
on the ignition key.
1337
01:08:21,551 --> 01:08:23,310
He had just turned
on the ignition,
1338
01:08:23,310 --> 01:08:26,517
and I screamed at him, "police.
Don't you move your hands.
1339
01:08:26,517 --> 01:08:29,310
Don't you go for a gun.
I'll open up on you."
1340
01:08:29,310 --> 01:08:31,137
I'm cursing, screaming,
yelling at him,
1341
01:08:31,137 --> 01:08:33,275
trying to put the fear
of god in him.
1342
01:08:33,275 --> 01:08:34,862
And what was his response?
1343
01:08:34,862 --> 01:08:38,275
He kept his hand
on the ignition key,
1344
01:08:38,275 --> 01:08:43,379
and he slowly turns his head
like this and smiles.
1345
01:08:43,379 --> 01:08:45,241
Just smiled.
1346
01:08:45,241 --> 01:08:46,965
And I've got a gun
pointed 2 feet from him.
1347
01:08:46,965 --> 01:08:48,103
He didn't flinch.
1348
01:08:48,103 --> 01:08:49,793
He just kept that smile.
1349
01:08:49,793 --> 01:08:51,034
I ran around.
1350
01:08:51,034 --> 01:08:53,827
John put him,
and he rear-cuffed him.
1351
01:08:53,827 --> 01:08:55,206
And then he says to ...
1352
01:08:55,206 --> 01:08:56,517
berkowitz says
to the three of US,
1353
01:08:56,517 --> 01:08:59,413
he says, "well,"
he said, "you got me.
1354
01:08:59,413 --> 01:09:03,172
And what took you so long?"
1355
01:09:03,172 --> 01:09:05,103
This has been
the largest manhunt
1356
01:09:05,103 --> 01:09:07,275
in New York's history,
1357
01:09:07,275 --> 01:09:10,965
and bill gardella is
the first police officer
1358
01:09:10,965 --> 01:09:14,000
to look upon the face
of the son of Sam.
1359
01:09:18,275 --> 01:09:20,344
When I was standing
in the street
1360
01:09:20,344 --> 01:09:24,413
and that car was pulling away
with him in it,
1361
01:09:24,413 --> 01:09:26,413
it hit me what the impact
of what we just did is.
1362
01:09:26,413 --> 01:09:31,137
I remember standing there
and seeing that car leave.
1363
01:09:31,137 --> 01:09:33,413
And I said, "wow.
This is...
1364
01:09:33,413 --> 01:09:35,103
We've stopped these murders."
1365
01:09:35,103 --> 01:09:36,862
It was a good feeling.
1366
01:09:36,862 --> 01:09:39,793
It was a good feeling.
1367
01:09:39,793 --> 01:09:41,551
Good evening.
1368
01:09:41,551 --> 01:09:45,241
The most intensive manhunt in
New York City's history is over.
1369
01:09:45,241 --> 01:09:48,517
This is the man police believe
to be the son of Sam,
1370
01:09:48,517 --> 01:09:51,068
the .44 caliber killer,
who has killed six
1371
01:09:51,068 --> 01:09:53,344
and wounded seven
in a string of attacks
1372
01:09:53,344 --> 01:09:55,241
over the last 13 months.
1373
01:10:01,793 --> 01:10:06,137
He had this peculiar
smiling grin that,
1374
01:10:06,137 --> 01:10:09,413
I think, me and, I think,
20 million other people said,
1375
01:10:09,413 --> 01:10:11,275
"you know,
what is this all about?"
1376
01:10:11,275 --> 01:10:14,758
I wanted to slap the smirk
off his face.
1377
01:10:14,758 --> 01:10:16,482
I was so angry.
1378
01:10:16,482 --> 01:10:19,655
It was the Mona Lisa smile,
a lot of people would say.
1379
01:10:21,965 --> 01:10:25,689
David had never been the center
of attraction to anyone,
1380
01:10:25,689 --> 01:10:27,034
and now he was suddenly
1381
01:10:27,034 --> 01:10:30,758
the center
of attention of the world.
1382
01:10:32,448 --> 01:10:35,655
When I got down
to police headquarters,
1383
01:10:35,655 --> 01:10:39,482
it was so exciting,
it was, like, surreal.
1384
01:10:39,482 --> 01:10:41,034
It was surreal
'cause there he is.
1385
01:10:41,034 --> 01:10:42,655
There he is.
1386
01:10:45,724 --> 01:10:47,172
I just had to see myself
1387
01:10:47,172 --> 01:10:49,000
what he looked like, you know?
1388
01:10:49,000 --> 01:10:50,758
He looked like
he was enjoying it.
1389
01:10:50,758 --> 01:10:52,862
That's the impression I got.
1390
01:10:52,862 --> 01:10:55,724
And we let each individual
detective that had the case
1391
01:10:55,724 --> 01:10:57,413
go in and interview him.
1392
01:10:59,655 --> 01:11:02,689
"And are you the man who
shot and killed Donna lauria
1393
01:11:02,689 --> 01:11:05,172
and wounded Jody valenti?"
1394
01:11:05,172 --> 01:11:07,379
"Yes, I am."
1395
01:11:07,379 --> 01:11:09,103
When he was answering
the questions
1396
01:11:09,103 --> 01:11:10,413
that were asked of him,
1397
01:11:10,413 --> 01:11:12,172
he went into specifics,
how he killed.
1398
01:11:12,172 --> 01:11:13,172
He was stoic.
1399
01:11:13,172 --> 01:11:16,586
He was like a statue.
1400
01:11:16,586 --> 01:11:20,517
"I just emptied my gun in the
car and saw the glass shatter.
1401
01:11:20,517 --> 01:11:24,000
And the other girl, I believe
she screamed and blew the horn,
1402
01:11:24,000 --> 01:11:26,344
and I found myself
pulling the trigger,
1403
01:11:26,344 --> 01:11:29,379
and I had already
run out of bullets."
1404
01:11:29,379 --> 01:11:31,517
He was as crazy as a bedbug.
1405
01:11:31,517 --> 01:11:34,206
His explanation of why
he did these things
1406
01:11:34,206 --> 01:11:36,482
was because a dog told him
to do it.
1407
01:11:36,482 --> 01:11:38,965
"He told me through his dog.
1408
01:11:38,965 --> 01:11:40,206
It's not really a dog.
1409
01:11:40,206 --> 01:11:42,206
It looks like a dog."
1410
01:11:42,206 --> 01:11:44,517
It was almost like,
"it wasn't myfault.
1411
01:11:44,517 --> 01:11:47,413
It was theirfault.
I was being ordered to."
1412
01:11:47,413 --> 01:11:52,206
And he was happy it was over.
1413
01:11:53,965 --> 01:11:56,034
When the police search
berkowitz's apartment
1414
01:11:56,034 --> 01:11:57,586
to obtain more evidence,
1415
01:11:57,586 --> 01:11:59,206
they are about to enter
1416
01:11:59,206 --> 01:12:02,310
the chilling world
of a serial killer.
1417
01:12:12,000 --> 01:12:16,034
The police had finally
captured the son of Sam
1418
01:12:16,034 --> 01:12:20,172
and identified the killer
as David berkowitz.
1419
01:12:20,172 --> 01:12:22,275
He is taken into custody,
1420
01:12:22,275 --> 01:12:25,448
and a search of
his apartment begins.
1421
01:12:25,448 --> 01:12:28,172
The windows are blacked out.
1422
01:12:28,172 --> 01:12:31,517
Graffiti is scrawled
all over the walls.
1423
01:12:31,517 --> 01:12:34,172
The place leaves
a terrifying impression
1424
01:12:34,172 --> 01:12:35,689
on those who witness it.
1425
01:12:40,413 --> 01:12:42,275
Walking into that apartment,
1426
01:12:42,275 --> 01:12:45,206
I can't explain the feeling.
1427
01:12:45,206 --> 01:12:48,344
This is where he is.
This is where he was.
1428
01:12:48,344 --> 01:12:51,137
And then,
looking into that apartment,
1429
01:12:51,137 --> 01:12:54,103
looking on the wall.
1430
01:12:54,103 --> 01:12:56,103
A small hole in the wall
1431
01:12:56,103 --> 01:12:58,862
and writing around that hole.
1432
01:12:58,862 --> 01:13:01,862
This is where he talked to Sam.
1433
01:13:01,862 --> 01:13:04,758
He was commanded
by Sam carr's dog
1434
01:13:04,758 --> 01:13:08,241
through this hole in the wall.
1435
01:13:08,241 --> 01:13:14,068
The following morning,
August the 11th, 1977,
1436
01:13:14,068 --> 01:13:16,413
new yorkers
wake up to the news.
1437
01:13:21,034 --> 01:13:25,655
Everyone was so happy that
this man had finally been found.
1438
01:13:25,655 --> 01:13:28,517
The exhilaration of that.
1439
01:13:28,517 --> 01:13:30,448
That was the first thing
I heard this morning.
1440
01:13:30,448 --> 01:13:32,862
It was fantastic.
It was great.
1441
01:13:32,862 --> 01:13:34,655
It made me feel great.
1442
01:13:34,655 --> 01:13:38,965
It made me feel that they
finally caught the son of a gun,
1443
01:13:38,965 --> 01:13:41,137
and now the city
was safe again.
1444
01:13:43,517 --> 01:13:46,344
Once berkowitz had been
finally captured and identified,
1445
01:13:46,344 --> 01:13:48,931
people still wanted
to know more about him.
1446
01:13:48,931 --> 01:13:51,172
How could he have done this?
1447
01:13:51,172 --> 01:13:52,931
Why did he do this?
1448
01:13:52,931 --> 01:13:58,206
And then his bizarre story,
the story of the dog.
1449
01:13:58,206 --> 01:13:59,482
David berkowitz
1450
01:13:59,482 --> 01:14:01,689
believes that the barking
of the dog
1451
01:14:01,689 --> 01:14:03,724
was how his demonic master
1452
01:14:03,724 --> 01:14:06,344
delivered
his instructions to kill.
1453
01:14:06,344 --> 01:14:10,137
The press spotlight falls
onto the dog's owner, Sam carr.
1454
01:14:10,137 --> 01:14:13,758
The press was camped out
by 10:00 in the morning,
1455
01:14:13,758 --> 01:14:16,448
wanting to know about,
was the dog evil,
1456
01:14:16,448 --> 01:14:18,448
or did the dog
ever talk to them,
1457
01:14:18,448 --> 01:14:22,034
or weird nonsense like that.
1458
01:14:22,034 --> 01:14:26,689
We had a whole new set
of people calling in threats
1459
01:14:26,689 --> 01:14:30,310
because they thought
that the stories
1460
01:14:30,310 --> 01:14:32,758
they read in the post
meant my father
1461
01:14:32,758 --> 01:14:37,931
really was telling this guy
to go out and commit murders.
1462
01:14:37,931 --> 01:14:40,275
The nation is
fascinated by the son of Sam's
1463
01:14:40,275 --> 01:14:43,517
bizarre demonic explanation
of his killings.
1464
01:14:43,517 --> 01:14:45,965
Will these delusions
also protect him
1465
01:14:45,965 --> 01:14:47,482
from criminal prosecution?
1466
01:14:50,793 --> 01:14:53,896
Since his arrest,
David berkowitz has been held
1467
01:14:53,896 --> 01:14:57,482
in the psychiatric wing
of kings county hospital
1468
01:14:57,482 --> 01:15:01,241
under the supervision
of Dr. Daniel Schwartz.
1469
01:15:01,241 --> 01:15:04,862
He has to be examined
to ascertain whether or not
1470
01:15:04,862 --> 01:15:07,103
there is any mental disease
1471
01:15:07,103 --> 01:15:09,827
or defect that prevents him
1472
01:15:09,827 --> 01:15:12,689
from understanding the charges
against him
1473
01:15:12,689 --> 01:15:14,310
or assisting in his defense.
1474
01:15:14,310 --> 01:15:16,758
I spent many hours with him.
1475
01:15:16,758 --> 01:15:21,379
I heard a very,
very involved story.
1476
01:15:21,379 --> 01:15:25,965
I thought that his description
of demonology
1477
01:15:25,965 --> 01:15:30,344
was delusional thinking.
1478
01:15:30,344 --> 01:15:34,034
Forgive me if I don't
believe in demonology.
1479
01:15:34,034 --> 01:15:40,724
His explanation involved a very
complex series of beliefs.
1480
01:15:40,724 --> 01:15:42,103
They were logical.
1481
01:15:42,103 --> 01:15:44,068
They were connected.
1482
01:15:44,068 --> 01:15:47,931
"All my life, I've been wild,
cruel, and destructive.
1483
01:15:47,931 --> 01:15:50,034
There's no doubt in my mind
that a demon
1484
01:15:50,034 --> 01:15:51,965
has been living
in me since birth."
1485
01:15:55,793 --> 01:15:57,620
The examination of berkowitz
1486
01:15:57,620 --> 01:16:01,793
provides an in-depth picture
of his early life.
1487
01:16:01,793 --> 01:16:05,862
He was given up for adoption
at birth by his mother.
1488
01:16:05,862 --> 01:16:09,034
His adoptive parents,
Pearl and Nate berkowitz,
1489
01:16:09,034 --> 01:16:11,655
gave him all the love
and care they could,
1490
01:16:11,655 --> 01:16:13,034
but it wasn't easy.
1491
01:16:13,034 --> 01:16:15,344
David was always a bit strange.
1492
01:16:15,344 --> 01:16:19,827
He was a loner and,
at a certain age,
1493
01:16:19,827 --> 01:16:22,965
started an interest in girls.
1494
01:16:22,965 --> 01:16:25,586
The girls tended not
to like him.
1495
01:16:25,586 --> 01:16:29,275
As David grew up,
he was unable to fit in.
1496
01:16:29,275 --> 01:16:31,034
He enlisted in the military.
1497
01:16:31,034 --> 01:16:33,586
That only made matters worse.
1498
01:16:33,586 --> 01:16:37,310
He was a very lost, lonely,
despondent young man,
1499
01:16:37,310 --> 01:16:39,965
and he was looking for meaning
and purpose in his life.
1500
01:16:39,965 --> 01:16:45,896
And he began to find something
in the form of satanism.
1501
01:16:45,896 --> 01:16:48,241
The demons that emerge
1502
01:16:48,241 --> 01:16:50,655
are the justification
berkowitz uses
1503
01:16:50,655 --> 01:16:53,517
to vent his anger
at young women.
1504
01:16:53,517 --> 01:16:58,034
His earlier career
was climbing fire escapes
1505
01:16:58,034 --> 01:17:01,724
and peeking into women
changing their clothes.
1506
01:17:01,724 --> 01:17:04,586
Berkowitz
was on a downward spiral.
1507
01:17:04,586 --> 01:17:06,793
He made one last attempt
to reach out
1508
01:17:06,793 --> 01:17:08,241
and connect with someone.
1509
01:17:08,241 --> 01:17:13,413
He searches out his real mother,
biological mother,
1510
01:17:13,413 --> 01:17:17,344
tries to kind of become
part of that family,
1511
01:17:17,344 --> 01:17:20,482
but like everything else,
even fails at that.
1512
01:17:20,482 --> 01:17:23,724
Berkowitz was furious
when he learned he had been
1513
01:17:23,724 --> 01:17:27,379
the unwanted result
of an extramarital affair,
1514
01:17:27,379 --> 01:17:30,793
possibly even conceived
in the backseat
1515
01:17:30,793 --> 01:17:32,655
of a parked car.
1516
01:17:32,655 --> 01:17:36,379
His killing spree began
shortly afterwards.
1517
01:17:36,379 --> 01:17:39,758
But are his demons real
or simply an excuse
1518
01:17:39,758 --> 01:17:42,379
to escape criminal justice?
1519
01:17:42,379 --> 01:17:46,931
A person cannot be brought
to trial, to any proceeding,
1520
01:17:46,931 --> 01:17:49,862
if the person is not competent.
1521
01:17:49,862 --> 01:17:53,068
You go to a hospital,
and you sit,
1522
01:17:53,068 --> 01:17:55,689
and that can be
an indefinite period.
1523
01:17:55,689 --> 01:18:00,344
"I am not well, not at all,
having dogs talk to me
1524
01:18:00,344 --> 01:18:03,931
and being controlled
by demons."
1525
01:18:03,931 --> 01:18:07,655
It sounds like he's saying
what he thinks he needs to
1526
01:18:07,655 --> 01:18:09,758
in order
to get the courts to cooperate
1527
01:18:09,758 --> 01:18:13,551
and put him in a hospital
as opposed to prison.
1528
01:18:13,551 --> 01:18:16,206
"I don't want to stay
behind the walls forever."
1529
01:18:16,206 --> 01:18:17,689
Yeah, I bet you don't.
1530
01:18:17,689 --> 01:18:22,000
"I owe society a chance to make
myself good and repay them
1531
01:18:22,000 --> 01:18:23,206
for all the troubles
1532
01:18:23,206 --> 01:18:25,724
I caused as a result
of my illness."
1533
01:18:25,724 --> 01:18:28,551
Only Dr. Schwartz
has the authority to determine
1534
01:18:28,551 --> 01:18:32,103
if the son of Sam
is fit to stand trial.
1535
01:18:32,103 --> 01:18:34,482
The nation waits to hear
what he will decide.
1536
01:18:43,448 --> 01:18:45,551
Since the arrest of August 10th,
1537
01:18:45,551 --> 01:18:47,137
David berkowitz has been held
1538
01:18:47,137 --> 01:18:50,241
in the psychiatric wing
of kings county hospital
1539
01:18:50,241 --> 01:18:53,827
while the prosecution case
is being built against him.
1540
01:18:53,827 --> 01:18:56,413
The psychiatrist evaluating
whether or not he is fit
1541
01:18:56,413 --> 01:18:59,310
to stand trial
is Daniel Schwartz.
1542
01:18:59,310 --> 01:19:05,103
On August 30, 1977,
we submitted our report
1543
01:19:05,103 --> 01:19:07,172
that he was not fit to proceed.
1544
01:19:07,172 --> 01:19:10,896
That certainly isn't
what the people wanted,
1545
01:19:10,896 --> 01:19:12,758
and that probably
isn't what the court
1546
01:19:12,758 --> 01:19:14,758
or district attorney wanted.
1547
01:19:14,758 --> 01:19:16,586
There were questions
as to whether or not berkowitz
1548
01:19:16,586 --> 01:19:18,172
was playing the system
1549
01:19:18,172 --> 01:19:19,689
and was playing
the psychiatrists.
1550
01:19:21,689 --> 01:19:24,896
The prosecutors do not
accept Dr. Schwartz's findings
1551
01:19:24,896 --> 01:19:28,068
and seek a second opinion.
1552
01:19:28,068 --> 01:19:31,034
It will be, and is,
the position of my office
1553
01:19:31,034 --> 01:19:33,586
that this defendant is
competent to proceed to trial.
1554
01:19:33,586 --> 01:19:37,000
The state now says
to the court,
1555
01:19:37,000 --> 01:19:40,862
"these psychiatrists
are not right,
1556
01:19:40,862 --> 01:19:43,827
and we're gonna hire
still one more."
1557
01:19:43,827 --> 01:19:46,310
They should have said,
"we're gonna hire one more
1558
01:19:46,310 --> 01:19:48,896
who will see it our way."
1559
01:19:48,896 --> 01:19:50,724
Public anger is appeased,
1560
01:19:50,724 --> 01:19:52,000
and the new examination
1561
01:19:52,000 --> 01:19:55,724
overturns
Dr. Schwartz's decision
1562
01:19:55,724 --> 01:19:59,103
and rules that berkowitz
is sane enough to stand trial.
1563
01:20:03,896 --> 01:20:07,241
But then, in a sudden
and dramatic reversal,
1564
01:20:07,241 --> 01:20:11,000
he pleads guilty to all charges
ahead of the trial.
1565
01:20:11,000 --> 01:20:15,034
He refused to use
an insanity defense
1566
01:20:15,034 --> 01:20:18,793
because he needed the world
to understand
1567
01:20:18,793 --> 01:20:21,068
the danger of the demons
that are present,
1568
01:20:21,068 --> 01:20:22,758
and if he said he was insane,
1569
01:20:22,758 --> 01:20:26,241
then the warning
would not be heeded.
1570
01:20:28,482 --> 01:20:31,034
As berkowitz has pled
guilty to the charges,
1571
01:20:31,034 --> 01:20:32,931
there can be no trial,
1572
01:20:32,931 --> 01:20:36,275
and so his next appearance
is for sentencing.
1573
01:20:36,275 --> 01:20:38,827
And on may 22nd, 1978,
1574
01:20:38,827 --> 01:20:41,344
he is called before the court.
1575
01:20:41,344 --> 01:20:45,689
The public was riveted,
and you had a situation
1576
01:20:45,689 --> 01:20:47,517
that was almost like
a three-ring circus,
1577
01:20:47,517 --> 01:20:51,344
and berkowitz himself
was the ringmaster.
1578
01:20:51,344 --> 01:20:55,068
This is the last
chance for his victims,
1579
01:20:55,068 --> 01:20:57,137
like Bobby violante,
1580
01:20:57,137 --> 01:20:58,965
and families of the deceased,
1581
01:20:58,965 --> 01:21:01,965
like neysa moskowitz,
mother of Stacy,
1582
01:21:01,965 --> 01:21:04,310
to witness justice being done,
1583
01:21:04,310 --> 01:21:07,275
but things don't go
according to plan.
1584
01:21:07,275 --> 01:21:10,172
The judge ordered to bring
the defendant in,
1585
01:21:10,172 --> 01:21:14,931
and he came in almost like
in a prayer mode
1586
01:21:14,931 --> 01:21:19,034
with his hands
clasped over his handcuffs
1587
01:21:19,034 --> 01:21:22,517
and chanting
in a singsong manner,
1588
01:21:22,517 --> 01:21:24,310
"Stacy is a whore.
1589
01:21:24,310 --> 01:21:26,206
Stacy is a whore,"
1590
01:21:26,206 --> 01:21:29,517
knowing full well that
neysa moskowitz would be there.
1591
01:21:29,517 --> 01:21:31,827
She had been very vocal
in saying
1592
01:21:31,827 --> 01:21:33,482
that he should get
the death penalty,
1593
01:21:33,482 --> 01:21:37,965
and clearly, David berkowitz
didn't like that.
1594
01:21:37,965 --> 01:21:40,413
It enraged everyone in there,
obviously ...
1595
01:21:40,413 --> 01:21:41,931
reporters, everyone.
1596
01:21:41,931 --> 01:21:44,379
I really couldn't
control myself.
1597
01:21:44,379 --> 01:21:46,758
Anybody with any heart at all,
any emotions,
1598
01:21:46,758 --> 01:21:48,413
wouldn't have been able
to control themselves either,
1599
01:21:48,413 --> 01:21:49,517
what he said,
1600
01:21:49,517 --> 01:21:50,758
and I feel very angry
1601
01:21:50,758 --> 01:21:52,586
that it was even
permitted to happen.
1602
01:21:52,586 --> 01:21:54,931
Berkowitz said
he didn't want to be sentenced.
1603
01:21:54,931 --> 01:21:58,310
He kicked and bit some of five
officers trying to move him.
1604
01:21:58,310 --> 01:22:01,103
Two officers were hurt,
but not seriously
1605
01:22:01,103 --> 01:22:03,482
before berkowitz was
finally subdued.
1606
01:22:03,482 --> 01:22:06,206
It appeared to me
that what we were seeing
1607
01:22:06,206 --> 01:22:08,103
was, the side of the person,
1608
01:22:08,103 --> 01:22:10,862
perhaps, that had been,
you know,
1609
01:22:10,862 --> 01:22:12,862
present for the murders
1610
01:22:12,862 --> 01:22:15,827
suddenly is visible
on the outside.
1611
01:22:15,827 --> 01:22:17,000
Berkowitz is sentenced
1612
01:22:17,000 --> 01:22:20,241
to six consecutive
life sentences,
1613
01:22:20,241 --> 01:22:23,896
a total of 365 years.
1614
01:22:23,896 --> 01:22:27,448
He is still serving
that sentence and has continued
1615
01:22:27,448 --> 01:22:29,448
to attract public interest
1616
01:22:29,448 --> 01:22:31,931
for the last 40 years.
1617
01:22:31,931 --> 01:22:34,172
He has become
a born-again Christian.
1618
01:22:34,172 --> 01:22:39,034
The son of Sam now calls
himself the son of hope.
1619
01:22:39,034 --> 01:22:42,448
He has an online ministry
preaching redemption
1620
01:22:42,448 --> 01:22:44,724
and reaching out
to other lost souls.
1621
01:22:47,448 --> 01:22:49,206
God has given me
a whole new life.
1622
01:22:49,206 --> 01:22:52,448
My testimony has gone
into many prisons and jails,
1623
01:22:52,448 --> 01:22:57,344
giving men and women
a hope, you know,
1624
01:22:57,344 --> 01:22:59,344
that god forgives sins,
1625
01:22:59,344 --> 01:23:00,758
that he does redeem people,
1626
01:23:00,758 --> 01:23:03,413
that even if you're in prison,
god will not reject you.
1627
01:23:03,413 --> 01:23:07,689
Everybody in prison
finds one god or another,
1628
01:23:07,689 --> 01:23:08,965
or say they do.
1629
01:23:08,965 --> 01:23:11,620
Personally, I wish
he would have met god
1630
01:23:11,620 --> 01:23:14,448
rather than be sitting
in prison talking about it.
1631
01:23:14,448 --> 01:23:16,172
I don't believe him,
that he found god.
1632
01:23:16,172 --> 01:23:17,689
I don't believe him.
1633
01:23:17,689 --> 01:23:22,655
Doesn't make up for all those
young women that he killed.
1634
01:23:22,655 --> 01:23:24,310
It's now 40 years
1635
01:23:24,310 --> 01:23:28,344
since the son of Sam's reign
of terror came to an end,
1636
01:23:28,344 --> 01:23:32,827
yet he and his crimes
remain with US to this day.
1637
01:23:32,827 --> 01:23:34,689
Many people don't even
know the name David berkowitz.
1638
01:23:34,689 --> 01:23:37,000
But son of Sam?
Yeah.
1639
01:23:37,000 --> 01:23:38,034
Everyone knows son of Sam.
1640
01:23:38,034 --> 01:23:40,896
It is part
of our popular culture.
1641
01:23:40,896 --> 01:23:43,413
Here we are 40 years later.
1642
01:23:43,413 --> 01:23:47,827
Parents have died, brothers
and sisters have grown up,
1643
01:23:47,827 --> 01:23:51,034
but they can't
outlive the saga.
1644
01:23:51,034 --> 01:23:52,206
Am I still sad?
Yeah.
1645
01:23:52,206 --> 01:23:54,413
I'm still sad about it.
1646
01:23:54,413 --> 01:23:55,448
Do I miss her?
1647
01:23:55,448 --> 01:23:57,793
I miss her immensely.
I do.
1648
01:23:57,793 --> 01:24:02,379
I miss her beyond words.
1649
01:24:02,379 --> 01:24:06,034
It's a lifetime.
It's your entire lifetime.
1650
01:24:06,034 --> 01:24:07,655
It never goes away.
1651
01:24:07,655 --> 01:24:11,137
It never gets better.
1652
01:24:11,137 --> 01:24:15,586
You just find ways to manage it.
1653
01:24:17,172 --> 01:24:19,620
Everything changed that night.
1654
01:24:19,620 --> 01:24:21,517
In fact, so much changed
1655
01:24:21,517 --> 01:24:25,586
that I wasn't even aware
of half the changes.
1656
01:24:25,586 --> 01:24:29,517
There were so many things
that I wasn't able to do ...
1657
01:24:29,517 --> 01:24:33,344
not drive a car ever again,
1658
01:24:33,344 --> 01:24:35,965
not play sports ever again.
1659
01:24:35,965 --> 01:24:38,517
I could never forgive him
for what he's done.
1660
01:24:43,000 --> 01:24:47,551
This was a, you know, kind of
a horrendous time for all of US,
1661
01:24:47,551 --> 01:24:50,793
and it leaves an impact.
1662
01:24:50,793 --> 01:24:52,724
Something you don't forget.
1663
01:24:54,482 --> 01:24:56,137
Do I want to forget it?
1664
01:24:56,137 --> 01:24:58,034
I'm not sure.
1665
01:24:58,034 --> 01:24:59,586
Do I want to put it behind me?
1666
01:24:59,586 --> 01:25:03,000
I'm not sure.
1667
01:25:03,000 --> 01:25:05,827
But it is what it is.
1668
01:25:07,482 --> 01:25:10,068
I feel much safer
walking the streets of New York.
1669
01:25:10,068 --> 01:25:11,448
Everyone was so happy
1670
01:25:11,448 --> 01:25:12,965
that this man
had finally been found.
1671
01:25:12,965 --> 01:25:15,758
My son Robert is more
of a man than I could ever be.
1672
01:25:15,758 --> 01:25:17,310
He came out of the dark.
1673
01:25:17,310 --> 01:25:19,275
Talking about their future.
1674
01:25:19,275 --> 01:25:20,517
They were planning a wedding.
1675
01:25:20,517 --> 01:25:21,965
She spoke from the heart.
1676
01:25:21,965 --> 01:25:23,517
A bizarre, sick mind.
1677
01:25:23,517 --> 01:25:24,896
That name caught fire.
1678
01:25:24,896 --> 01:25:27,620
It was so exciting,
it was, like, surreal.
1679
01:25:27,620 --> 01:25:29,551
And there's
this very pretty young girl.
1680
01:25:29,551 --> 01:25:32,448
It felt like the world's
most dangerous amusement park.
1681
01:25:32,448 --> 01:25:32,689
"We got to solve this."131144