David Berkowitz was one of the most feared killers in New York City in the 1970's. His crimes caused the death of six people and injurys to seven others. He is currently serving a 365 year sentence at the Sullivan Correctional Facility in Fallsburg, New York. The following is an excerpt of his testimony from his official home page.
His criminal case is well known and was called the Son of Sam shootings. It was in 1988 when he was living in a cold and lonely prison cell, that God got hold of his life. David's story began with a TORMENTED CHILDHOOD. He became violent and disruptive. His parents were once ordered by his school to take him to a child psychologist. Unfortunately, the therapy sessions spreading over 2 years' time had no affect on his behavior. During this period of his life, David was also plagued with bouts of severe depression. When this feeling came over him, he would hide under his bed for hours or lock himself in a closet and sit in total darkness from morning until afternoon. Surprisingly, he had a craving for the darkness and he felt an urge to flee away from people.
Occasionally this same evil force would come upon David in the middle of the night. When this would happen he felt an urge to sneak out of the house and wander the dark streets. he roamed the neighborhood like an alley cat and would creep back into the house by climbing the fire escape. Indeed, thoughts of suicide often came into his mind. At times those urges were so strong that his body actually trembled.
In 1975, he met some guys at a party who were heavily involved in a satanic occult. David had always been fascinated with witchcraft, satanism, and occult things since he was a child. He then began to read the Satanic Bible by the late Anton LaVey who founded the Church of Satan in San Francisco in 1966. He also began to practice various occult rituals and incantations.
Eventually he crossed the invisible line of no return. After years of mental torment, behavioral problems, deep inner struggles and his own rebellious ways, he became the criminal. As a result, 6 people lost their lives. Many others suffered at his hands. In 1978, he was sentenced to about 365 consecutive years!
10 years into his prison sentence, feeling despondent and without hope, Rick (another inmate) came up to him one day as he was walking the prison yard on a cold winter’s night. Rick introduced himself to David and told him that Jesus Christ loved him and wanted to forgive him. Miraculously, they became friends. Rick later gave him a Gideon’s Pocket Testament and asked him to read the Psalms.
One night, David was reading Psalm 34. He came upon the 6th verse, which says, "this poor man cried, and the Lord heard him, and saved him from all his troubles". It was at that moment in 1987 that he began to pour out his heart to God. Everything seemed to hit him at once. He got down on his knees and began to cry out to Jesus Christ. He told Him that he was sick and tired of doing evil. He asked Jesus to forgive him for all his sins. When he got up it felt as if a very heavy but invisible chain that had been around him for so many years was broken. A peace flooded over him.
He was changed ever since. He even worked as the prison Chaplain’s clerk and had a letter writing ministry subsequently. In addition, the Lord has opened ways for him to share with millions via TV programs such as Inside Edition in 1993 and A & E Investigative Reporter in 1997, what Jesus has done in his life as well as to warn others about the dangers of getting involved in the occult.
THERE IS HOPE FOR YOU TOO
One of his favorite passages of Scripture is Romans 10:13. It says, "For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved." Here it is clear that God has no favoritism. He rejects no one, but welcomes all who will call upon Him.
David Berkowitz
His criminal case is well known and was called the Son of Sam shootings. It was in 1988 when he was living in a cold and lonely prison cell, that God got hold of his life. David's story began with a TORMENTED CHILDHOOD. He became violent and disruptive. His parents were once ordered by his school to take him to a child psychologist. Unfortunately, the therapy sessions spreading over 2 years' time had no affect on his behavior. During this period of his life, David was also plagued with bouts of severe depression. When this feeling came over him, he would hide under his bed for hours or lock himself in a closet and sit in total darkness from morning until afternoon. Surprisingly, he had a craving for the darkness and he felt an urge to flee away from people.
Occasionally this same evil force would come upon David in the middle of the night. When this would happen he felt an urge to sneak out of the house and wander the dark streets. he roamed the neighborhood like an alley cat and would creep back into the house by climbing the fire escape. Indeed, thoughts of suicide often came into his mind. At times those urges were so strong that his body actually trembled.
In 1975, he met some guys at a party who were heavily involved in a satanic occult. David had always been fascinated with witchcraft, satanism, and occult things since he was a child. He then began to read the Satanic Bible by the late Anton LaVey who founded the Church of Satan in San Francisco in 1966. He also began to practice various occult rituals and incantations.
Eventually he crossed the invisible line of no return. After years of mental torment, behavioral problems, deep inner struggles and his own rebellious ways, he became the criminal. As a result, 6 people lost their lives. Many others suffered at his hands. In 1978, he was sentenced to about 365 consecutive years!
10 years into his prison sentence, feeling despondent and without hope, Rick (another inmate) came up to him one day as he was walking the prison yard on a cold winter’s night. Rick introduced himself to David and told him that Jesus Christ loved him and wanted to forgive him. Miraculously, they became friends. Rick later gave him a Gideon’s Pocket Testament and asked him to read the Psalms.
One night, David was reading Psalm 34. He came upon the 6th verse, which says, "this poor man cried, and the Lord heard him, and saved him from all his troubles". It was at that moment in 1987 that he began to pour out his heart to God. Everything seemed to hit him at once. He got down on his knees and began to cry out to Jesus Christ. He told Him that he was sick and tired of doing evil. He asked Jesus to forgive him for all his sins. When he got up it felt as if a very heavy but invisible chain that had been around him for so many years was broken. A peace flooded over him.
He was changed ever since. He even worked as the prison Chaplain’s clerk and had a letter writing ministry subsequently. In addition, the Lord has opened ways for him to share with millions via TV programs such as Inside Edition in 1993 and A & E Investigative Reporter in 1997, what Jesus has done in his life as well as to warn others about the dangers of getting involved in the occult.
THERE IS HOPE FOR YOU TOO
One of his favorite passages of Scripture is Romans 10:13. It says, "For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved." Here it is clear that God has no favoritism. He rejects no one, but welcomes all who will call upon Him.
David Berkowitz