Verdict Archive

What the courts decided

Case file · New York State courts (Brooklyn, Queens and the Bronx), United States

David Richard Berkowitz: charges, verdict and sentence

People
v.
Berkowitz
New York State courts (Brooklyn, Queens and the Bronx), United States · 1977 to 2026

David Berkowitz was arrested in Yonkers, New York, on 10 August 1977 and, after being found fit to stand trial, pleaded guilty on 8 May 1978 in courts in Brooklyn, the Bronx and Queens to six killings and to attempted murder and assault counts for a series of shootings in New York City. On 12 June 1978 he received six terms of 25 years to life, one for each killing, plus additional terms. He has been denied parole at repeated hearings, most recently on 14 May 2024 at his twelfth appearance, and did not attend a scheduled hearing in May 2026.

Where it stands nowAs of August 2026 Berkowitz was held at Shawangunk Correctional Facility in New York. Parole was denied on 14 May 2024, and he did not attend a scheduled parole hearing in May 2026, as reported by A&E and Hoodline citing the New York Post.

Charges and outcomes

ChargeOutcomeDate
Murder, six counts1,2Pleaded guilty8 May 1978
Attempted murder and assault, shootings that wounded seven people1,2Pleaded guilty8 May 1978

Sentence

Six terms of 25 years to life, one for each killing, plus additional terms for assault and attempted murder, imposed on 12 June 1978. The life terms run consecutively, but under New York's sentence merging practice he became eligible for parole as if convicted of one murder.

Court record, stage by stage

  1. arrestArrested outside his apartment building in Yonkers, New York2,1
  2. trialRuled fit to stand trial by Judge Joseph R. Corso after a second competency hearing1
    New York State Supreme Court, Brooklyn
  3. verdictPleaded guilty in three courts, Brooklyn, the Bronx and Queens, against his lawyers' advice1,4
    New York State Supreme Court
  4. sentenceSentenced to six consecutive terms of 25 years to life, one for each killing, plus additional terms for assault and attempted murder1
    New York State Supreme Court
  5. appealParole denied after a Board of Parole interview, his twelfth appearance2
    New York State Board of Parole
  6. appealDid not attend a scheduled parole board appearance, telling the New York Post he had other things to do3,5
    New York State Board of Parole

Sources

  1. Great American Trials via Encyclopedia.com, The Son of Sam Trial: 1978
  2. NBC New York, Son of Sam killer David Berkowitz denied parole (28 May 2024)
  3. A&E, Son of Sam David Berkowitz skips parole (17 August 2026)
  4. Macau Daily Times, 1978: Son of Sam pleads guilty to murders (courtesy BBC News)
  5. Hoodline, Son of Sam skips parole hearing (21 May 2026)

This file describes court proceedings. It does not describe or name victims beyond the court record. Our standards.