During a night of searching for victims, David Berkowitz encountered a couple whose car was stuck in a snowbank. After assisting them in freeing their vehicle,Berkowitz declined too shoot them when questioned later by someone named Jones. Berkowitz stated he saw their faces and felt a connection, realizing he “meant something to somebody.” He allowed the couple to leave before proceeding to kill Valentina Suriani, 18, and Alexander Esau, 20.
berkowitz Claims He Facilitated His Own Arrest
Berkowitz remained at large for over a year, creating widespread fear among New York City couples. His shifting victimology, which included the killing of Stacy Moskowitz, a blonde woman, and the partial blinding of her date, Robert Violante, defied initial assumptions that he targeted only women with dark hair.
The intense media and police focus on the “Son of Sam” case led New York Police Commissioner Michael Codd to suggest publicly that the killer would be caught after making a minor error, such as a parking violation.
According to Berkowitz himself, he heard this statement and intentionally sought to receive a parking ticket to expedite his apprehension. he recounted parking his car in an area where he observed police presence and waiting to be ticketed.Approximately 45 minutes after receiving the ticket, he committed the murders of Moskowitz and Violante in the same vicinity.
Upon being identified and approached by law enforcement, Berkowitz reportedly expressed his relief, stating, “Finally! What took you so long?”