BERDELLA, ROBERT: World’s Most Evil Killers TV -
December 1988, Kansas City: Robert Berdella finally confessed to kidnapping, raping, torturing and then killing six men, four and a half years after the murder of his first victim. He took hundreds of photos and kept vivid detailed notes to document his macabre acts, using ever more twisted methods. World’s Most Evil Killers s3e7: Robert Berdella, History 2021
After murdering them, he dissected his victims with such precision he became known as the Kansas City butcher. ibid.
For Berdella it’s more than killing, it’s cruelty. ibid. Dr Stuart Hamilton, forensic pathologist
One of his victims managed to escape and called for help. ibid.
BERESFORD-REDMAN, BRUCE: Murder in Mexico 2015 - Murder in Mexico: Beyond the Headlines TV -
‘I thought we weren’t going to do this any more. This is the last time.’ Murder in Mexico: The Bruce Beresford-Redman Story starring Colin Egglesfield & Leonor Verela & Brianne Davis & Mo Gallini & Jorge-Luis Pallo & Hemky Madera & James Black & Samantha Sloyan et al, director Mark Gantt, 2015, lover
‘I hope sleeping with her was worth it.’ ibid. wife to husband
‘I promised Monica I wouldn’t communicate with you.’ ibid. lover to husband
After a trial that lasted over three years, Bruce Beresford-Redman was finally convicted of murder. He is currently serving a 12-year sentence in a Mexican prison. Bruce is appealing his conviction continuing to insist upon his innocence. ibid. captions
He was a television producer; she was his vivacious Brazilian wife, a loving mother to their two young children … Now in jail convicted of a brutal crime – but did he do it? Murder in Mexico: Beyond the Headlines, CI 2010
A hotel worker finds her naked bloated body in a sewage cistern about seventy-five yards from Bruce and Monica’s room at The Moon Palace. ibid.
They find scratches on Bruce’s neck to be especially convincing. ibid.
BERGNA, PETER: Killer Trials TV -
Rinette Riella-Bergna dies but her husband escapes with barely a scratch. Some believe this is no accident … A mysterious death, a courtroom drama and a jury that could go either way. Killer Trials s1e17: Mystery on the Mountain, ID 2012
Somehow Bergna survives the crash and dials 911. ibid.
They discover he wasn’t the loving husband he appeared to be. ibid.
He inherits more than a three-quarters of a million dollars. ibid.
Her husband Peter stands trial for her murder … A mistrial is declared [9 guilty/3 not-guilty] … Bergna is sentenced to life in prison. ibid.
BERKOWITZ, DAVID et al: Son of Sam letters - Great Crimes & Trials TV - Murder Trail TV - Born to Kill: The Son of Sam TV - Deranged Killers: Son of Sam TV - Summer of Sam 1999 - Son of Sam: The Hunt for a Killer TV - World’s Most Evil Killers TV - True Crime Recaps 2021 - Very Scary People TV -
I am deeply hurt by your calling me a wemon [sic] hater. I am not. But I am a monster. I am the ‘Son of Sam’. I am a little ‘brat’. When father Sam gets drunk he gets mean. He beats his family. Sometimes he ties me up to the back of the house. Other times he locks me in the garage. Sam loves to drink blood. ‘Go out and kill’ commands father Sam. Behind our house some rest. Mostly young – raped and slaughtered – their blood drained – just bones now. Papa Sam keeps me locked in the attic, too. I can’t get out but I look out the attic window and watch the world go by. I feel like an outsider. I am on a different wave length then everybody else – programmed too [sic] kill. However, to stop me you must kill me. Attention all police: Shoot me first – shoot to kill or else. Keep out of my way or you will die! Papa Sam is old now. He needs some blood to preserve his youth. He has had too many heart attacks. Too many heart attacks. ‘Ugh, me hoot it hurts sonny boy.’ I miss my pretty princess most of all. She’s resting in our ladies house but I’ll see her soon. I am the ‘Monster’ – ‘Beelzebub’ – the ‘Chubby Behemouth’. I love to hunt. Prowling the streets looking for fair game – tasty meat. The wemon of Queens are prettyist of all. I must be the water they drink. I live for the hunt – my life. Blood for papa. Mr Borrelli, sir, I don’t want to kill anymore no sir, no more but I must, ‘honour thy father’. I want to make love to the world. I love people. I don’t belong on Earth. Return me to yahoos. To the people of Queens, I love you. And I wa want to wish all of you a happy Easter. May God bless you in this life and in the next and for now I say goodbye and goodnight. Police – Let me haunt you with these words; I’ll be back! I’ll be back! To be interpreted as – bang, bang, bang, bang, bang – ugh!! Yours in murder Mr Monster. Son of Sam letter, cited Marilyn Bardsley
Hello from the gutters of NYC which are filled with dog manure, vomit, stale wine, urine and blood. Hello from the sewers of NYC which swallow up these delicacies when they are washed away by the sweeper trucks. Hello from the cracks in the sidewalks of NYC and from the ants that dwell in these cracks and feed in the dried blood of the dead that has settled into the cracks. JB, I’m just dropping you a line to let you know that I appreciate your interest in those recent and horrendous .44 killings. I also want to tell you that I read your column daily and I find it quite informative. Tell me Jim, what will you have for July twenty-ninth? You can forget about me if you like because I don’t care for publicity. However you must not forget Donna Lauria and you cannot let the people forget her either. She was a very, very sweet girl but Sam’s a thirsty lad and he won’t let me stop killing until he gets his fill of blood. Mr Breslin, sir, don’t think that because you haven’t heard from me for a while that I went to sleep. No, rather, I am still here. Like a spirit roaming the night. Thirsty, hungry, seldom stopping to rest; anxious to please Sam. I love my work. Now, the void has been filled. Perhaps we shall meet face to face someday or perhaps I will be blown away by cops with smoking .38s. Whatever, if I shall be fortunate enough to meet you I will tell you all about Sam if you like and I will introduce you to him. His name is ‘Sam the terrible’. Not knowing the what the future holds I shall say farewell and I will see you at the next job. Or should I say you will see my handiwork at the next job? Remember Ms Lauria. Thank you. In their blood and from the gutter ‘Sam’s creation’ .44 Here are some names to help you along. Forward them to the inspector for use by NCIC [sic] ‘The Duke of Death’ ‘The Wicked King Wicker’ ‘The Twenty Two Disciples of Hell’ ‘John 'Wheaties’ – Rapist and Suffocator of Young Girls. PS: Please inform all the detectives working the slaying to remain. PS: JB, Please inform all the detectives working the case that I wish them the best of luck. ‘Keep ’em digging, drive on, think positive, get off your butts, knock on coffins, etc.’ Upon my capture I promise to buy all the guys working the case a new pair of shoes if I can get up the money. Son of Sam. Son of Sam letter, received Jimmy Breslin, Daily News 30th May 1977
People when they get into the occult they don’t understand really everything that they are really getting into. There is a price to pay. David Berkowitz (Son of Sam) televised interview
It was in these neat ordered suburbs that a man first labelled the .44 caliber killer and then the Son of Sam created a year of terror. Great Crimes & Trials s1e4: Son of Sam, BBC 1993
When asked who he was he simply said, ‘I am Sam.’ He made no attempt to resist arrest. ibid.
At his initial questioning David Berkowitz had told police an incredible story: he had been urged to kill by demon voices which had accompanied him when he went hunting for victims and told him what to do. ibid.
New York, 1977: the city was paralysed with fear. A serial killer was on the loose shooting young women. A lone killer with no motive ... Three hundred detectives were looking for him ... the search for the Son of Sam. Murder Trail
A nondescript twenty-three-year-old ... In his fantasy life he was son of Sam, a servant of the devil. ibid.
‘I am a monster. I am Son of Sam ... Yours in murder. Mr Monster’. ibid. Sam’s letter
Berkowitz was calm and cooperative. ibid.
In the mid-1970s New York City was plunged into terror: innocent young couples were being slayed on the streets. The killer called himself the Son of Sam. But what made him murder? Born to Kill s3e6: The Son of Sam, 2011
The most notorious killer in New York’s history. ibid.
Was it the discovery of his adoption? Was it his unstable and isolated life? Or was the Son of Sam simply born to kill? ibid.
In the late 1970s a cold-blooded killer stalked the streets of New York City. He preyed on the young and vulnerable. It wasn’t good detective work that led to the killer – it was a parking ticket. Deranged Killers s1e1: Son of Sam, Discovery 2015
Some people question whether the convicted killer acted alone. ibid.
The day after the killing of Virginia Voskerichian, the police announced the creation of a dedicated task-force known as Operation Omega. It would eventually grow to three hundred detectives. ibid.
The murders were linked to a Satanic cult? Berkowitz said that he joined the cult in this abandoned building at a park in the Yonkers district of New York. ibid.
The hot blistering summer of 1977. Summer of Sam 1999 starring John Leguizamo & Adrien Brody & Mira Sorvino & Jennifer Esposito & Anthony LaPaglia & Michael Rispoli & Saverio Guerra & Bebe Neuwirth & Patti LuPone & Mike Starr & Roger Guenveur Smith & Ben Gazzara et al, director Spike Lee, opening commentary
‘To stop me you must kill me. I am the monster. Beelzebub.’ ibid. Son of Sam’s letter
‘.44 calibre. The Son of Sam.’ ibid.