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Son of Sam: The Killer Speaks | Full Episode

2025-08-07 News & Politics
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48 Hours
48 Hours
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David Berkowitz's 2017 Confession: Inside the Son of Sam Terror

Understand the specific origins of David Berkowitz’s compulsion and how his post-crime persona as a minister impacts the narrative of the 1977 New York terror.

Short Summary

  • Assess the social climate of 1977 NYC, marked by chaos, heatwaves, and bombings, setting the stage for the killer’s impact.
  • Detail Berkowitz’s claimed formative psychological issues, including adoption trauma and guilt over his adoptive mother’s death.
  • Review the critical investigative breakthrough stemming from a single parking ticket and a neighbor identifying the suspect.
  • Analyze the intense media pressure and the controversial journalistic role played by columnist Jimmy Breslin in communicating with the killer.

This segment examines the 2017 prison reveal from David Berkowitz, contextualized against the backdrop of the city he terrified. Readers gain insight into the childhood experiences Berkowitz cites as foundational to his darkness, juxtaposed with the police work that eventually led to his capture. The piece concludes by contrasting his self-described demonic service with his current identity as a born-again Christian minister.

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Description

Nearly five decades ago, the "Son of Sam" terrorized New York City. In a 2017 prison interview, convicted serial killer David Berkowitz tells CBS News what led him to shoot. "CBS Evening News" co-anchor Maurice DuBois reports. #48hours #crime #mystery True crime. Real justice. "48 Hours" investigates the most intriguing crime and justice cases that touch on all areas of the human experience including greed and passion. "48 Hours," which premiered in 1988, has developed a rich history of original reporting and impact journalism that has helped exonerate wrongly convicted people, caused cold cases to be reopened and solved, and along the way changed lives. Subscribe to the "48 Hours" YouTube channel: https://youtube.com/48hours Watch full episodes of "48 Hours": https://cbsnews.com/48-hours/full-episodes/ Listen to the "48 Hours" podcast: https://link.chtbl.com/48-Hours Listen to the "My Life of Crime with Erin Moriarty" podcast: https://link.chtbl.com/CBSNewsMLOC Follow "48 Hours" on Instagram: https://instagram.com/48hoursCBS/ Like "48 Hours" on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/48hours Follow "48 Hours" on Twitter: https://twitter.com/48hours Subscribe to our newsletter: https://cbsnews.com/newsletter/ Download the CBS News app: https://cbsnews.com/mobile/ Try Paramount+ free: https://paramountplus.com/?ftag=PPM-05-10aeh8h For video licensing inquiries, contact: [email protected]

Top Comments (10)

@nickdedivanaj 2025-08-07

“I don’t want to talk about it anymore” wtf you think we’re here for?

1.1k 18 replies
@BFSOM 2025-08-07

He keeps saying "what happened" but never says "what I did. "

988 59 replies
@ReginaPhalangee 2025-08-07

"I don't wanna discuss that" Oh, I'm sorry did you think he was there to talk about Love Island? WTF

831 14 replies
@nameherebawk 2025-08-07

Yeah, he "spoke" but he didn't say anything.

728 11 replies
@sashasavisha146 2025-08-11

The fact that he gets fan mail in prison shows you how effed up some people are in this world.

424 21 replies
@Mojo522 2025-08-08

I see a coward, not answering simple questions, yet making excuses.

409 6 replies
@chQta-y6i 2025-08-08

it feels disgusting that the killer can speak while his victims are forever silent

328 7 replies
@mandycribbage 2025-08-07

Why even agree to an interview if you have absolutely no intention of talking candidly? Just to break up the monotony of being in a prison cell? If I were the interviewer I'd have told him to stop wasting my time and abandoned the whole thing halfway through.

312 10 replies
@victoriadiaz8862 2025-08-07

He is NOT remorseful. Thats what my gut hears and feels. He definitely is an attention seeker.

262 9 replies
@48hours 2025-08-07

Click here to watch more “48 Hours” full episodes: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLcFHkKbd_jTJiRmfUfLX2Ay_hnf5j3cxH

51 3 replies

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