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Issue date: 3/12/08Section: News

Media Credit: PHOTO COURTESY OF ST. JOHN'S WEBTEAM Bill Gardella was one of the detectives who helped capture David Berkowitz, the serial killer known as the Son of Sam, back in the '70s.

Nearly 50 students packed the Donovan Community Room to listen to St. John's alum and genuine New York City hero Bill Gardella share the story of how he helped catch and arrest the notorious serial killer known as "The Son of Sam." The event was sponsored by the Learning Community and took place during common hour on March 6.
David Berkowitz, who earned the name "Son of Sam," was arrested and convicted in the late 70's for the death of six people as well as wounding seven others in eight shootings in New York City. He was sentenced to 25-years to life in prison for each of the murders, and was also charged with assault and attempted murder.

According to Gardella, Berkowitz fit the profile of a serial killer.

"He was a white male, 20 to 30 years old and had an above average I.Q. of 125, the upper 5 percent of the population…and he mutilated animals and set fires in the Bronx."

Even with above average intelligence he was an "underachiever," according to Gardella.
"He worked as a security guard. He worked in a Post Office…with his I.Q. he could have gone to law school… He was insane, but he was intelligent," Gardella said.

Gardella mentioned pictures found in the [killer's] apartment, which were clear indications that Berkowitz suffered from low self-esteem.

"He would take a ballpoint pen and obliterate his face, scribbling it out of the photo. He hated to look at himself."
Gardella then went on to speak about how Berkowitz seemed unsuspecting at first.

"No one would have suspected him…if I were to ask the girls in a class with David Berkowitz to pick the friendliest, meekest, quietest guy, they would have picked Berkowitz," Gardella said.

Gardella began by giving some background information on David Berkowitz. He said that Berkowitz's birth mother gave him up for adoption and that his adopted mother died from cancer when he was a teenager.

The former detective said he believes that it was following an encounter with his birth mother after spending time in the armed services that drove Berkowitz down the path of a serial killer.

Continued...

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