“Son of Sam murder victim”
“First victim of Son of Sam”.
Accident – Death – Obituary News : An 87-year-old woman has come forward to reveal that she was the first victim of the notorious serial killer known as the “Son of Sam.” Wendy Savino shared her harrowing story of survival after being shot five times by David Berkowitz on April 9, 1976. Despite losing an eye in the attack, Savino miraculously survived and has now been officially recognised by the New York Police Department as Berkowitz’s initial victim.
Berkowitz, originally dubbed the “.44-Caliber Killer,” later earned the moniker “Son of Sam” due to the cryptic notes he left at crime scenes. The killer, now 70 years old, is serving multiple life sentences in prison for a string of murders committed between 1976 and 1977 in New York City. Despite being denied parole for the 12th time in May, Berkowitz expressed remorse for his crimes and attended the hearing to apologise openly.
Savino vividly recalled the chilling moment when Berkowitz shot her while she sat in her car. She remembered seeing him smile as he approached her vehicle, leading her to believe he was going to ask for directions. However, her world turned upside down when she felt a sharp pain in her chest, realising she had been shot. The subsequent shots left her wounded and fighting for her life, with the final two bullets hitting her back as she played dead to survive.
After the attack, Savino managed to crawl to safety and seek help, eventually providing the police with a description of her assailant. Her husband, a prominent figure in the Republican Party, sent her to England to recover from the trauma. Despite the physical wounds healing, Savino’s emotional scars ran deep, causing her to live in constant fear and anxiety.
Years later, Savino positively identified Berkowitz from a photo lineup provided by NYPD detectives. With her status as a Son of Sam victim officially recognised, Berkowitz’s list of victims now includes six murdered individuals and eight shooting survivors. Despite claiming to have found religion and remorse for his past actions, Berkowitz continues to grapple with the infamy of his crimes and the moniker that haunts him to this day..
“NYPD classifies woman as Son of Sam’s first victim”.
