The Son of Sam: The Boogeyman of 1970’s New York

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  • Опубликовано: 3 фев 2025
  • Unravel the chilling tale of the Son of Sam, David Berkowitz, who terrorized 1970s NYC with his murderous spree. Explore the dark side of the city's history in this gripping true crime story.
    Simon's Social Media:
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    SideProjects: / @sideprojects
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Комментарии •

  • @davidhughes4089
    @davidhughes4089 Год назад +541

    I honestly think the casual criminalist is the greatest true crime biographics channel on RUclips - the level of detail and quality of script outclasses everything else out.

    • @HavianEla
      @HavianEla Год назад +24

      And, of course, there’s Simon’s rants! I’m in complete agreement. Simon Whistler, Stephanie Soo, and Georgia Marie are the most empathetic True Crime hosts I’ve seen.

    • @Calvin_OBlenis
      @Calvin_OBlenis Год назад +10

      When Simon actually follows the script...

    • @davidhughes4089
      @davidhughes4089 Год назад +8

      @@Calvin_OBlenis it adds to the charm 😄 there's another channel This Is Monsters which is good too and a bit more straight down the line

    • @notsoberoveranalyzer8264
      @notsoberoveranalyzer8264 Год назад +1

      @@HavianElarecently came across Steph, she kicks ass.

    • @lavenderlaceration
      @lavenderlaceration Год назад +4

      Each of the script writers have their own style and personality but still treat each case with grace and kindness to the victims, it's really nice to see. Jens edits are always the best and an amazing addition to the videos. Simon is absolutely hilarious too, love his rants. Just a marvelous channel overall :3

  • @Halloween111
    @Halloween111 Год назад +94

    I remember hearing that Bundy wasn't hopeful about an insanity plea because "If they can find Berkowitz sane, I don't have a chance."

    • @rachelraquel758
      @rachelraquel758 8 месяцев назад +10

      Gacy said something similar about Dahmer.

    • @danielallen4450
      @danielallen4450 7 месяцев назад +20

      @@rachelraquel758 ​ @rachelraquel758 Gacy’s exact words were that “Insanity doesn’t belong in a courtroom because if Jeffrey Dahmer doesn’t meet the requirements for insanity, then I’d hate like hell to run into the guy that does”.

  • @morganosborne9258
    @morganosborne9258 Год назад +87

    Matt, you are not the lesser writer on this show. We (I think I speak for most,if not all of the viewers) enjoy your scripts. Always well crafted and researched. Keep them coming.

  • @MGscribe
    @MGscribe Год назад +499

    My 20th script! Let’s go!
    Hope you all enjoy it, honestly. I’ve been apart of the team for almost a year now, and I couldn’t be happier. As always, any comments and criticisms are welcomed, love you all!

    • @ignitionfrn2223
      @ignitionfrn2223 Год назад +5

      What do you have in store for us ?

    • @MatthewMarcum
      @MatthewMarcum Год назад +7

      Excellent work as always, Matt! If been waiting for this one for a long time.

    • @bezllama3325
      @bezllama3325 Год назад +5

      I was waiting for the son of sam! A couple of suggestions: Ian Watkins and Luis Garavatio (I think thats how you spell it) and maybe Jimmy Saville and lastly LISK since y'all did one on Biographics and now they found a suspect (maybe wait until october or so to write that one

    • @SmithySmithTheFifth
      @SmithySmithTheFifth Год назад +1

      ​@@ignitionfrn2223getting the chapters ready early? 😜

    • @DJF040788
      @DJF040788 Год назад +3

      ​@bezllama3325 I quite like the idea of Watkins but I really don't think Simon's mental health would appreciate it!

  • @StrongDreamsWaitHere
    @StrongDreamsWaitHere Год назад +369

    Simon, I think the important thing here is that B. knew what he was doing was wrong, and did it anyway, even if he did it for crazy reasons. Contrast with the greyhound bus killer, who honestly believed he was killing an alien threat to humanity.

    • @kseltl
      @kseltl Год назад +9

      Also canada not USA
      we are kinda soft on crime in canada

    • @_KRose
      @_KRose Год назад +4

      ​@@kseltl Pfff okay bud

    • @niemanickurwa
      @niemanickurwa Год назад

      Crazy is crazy, it shouldn't really matter if they know it's wrong or not. This system of determining insanity is archaic and intellectually inconsistent. If you're killing people then inherently you're insane, the only differences that should matter are whether it was self-defense or temporary insanity. They should all be studied in a psych ward.

    • @Iris_1217
      @Iris_1217 Год назад +17

      ​@@kseltli mean the dude was pretty obviously insane. I don't see how what happened to him isn't appropriate, if justice is meant to be rehabilitative.

    • @Bluesit32
      @Bluesit32 Год назад +14

      He also thought that if he didn't kill the "alien", God would end his life in as most painful a method as possible.

  • @KenedeYoung
    @KenedeYoung Год назад +40

    Simon should definitely talk to people who were adopted. Being adopted at birth still brings up feelings of abandonment… of course most people don’t become murderers but they still feel a sense of “what is wrong with me” or “why didn’t that want me”

    • @druzilla6442
      @druzilla6442 11 месяцев назад +2

      Absolutely. There are different how people feel about it, like my brother that's also adopted. He never cared about it, some times I wish I could feel the same. Not knowing why I was adopted growing up made my fantasy go wild. I felt unwanted and broken. I also get that it's not easy to understand how it is if you're not adopted. To be able to take having biological family around you for granted.
      I luckily found my mother and we have contact. A few months ago I got access to more papers, one of them was a letter my mother wrote to get me back and stop the adoption going forward. I cried because she had wanted me and because they had forcefully taken me away from her.
      Sorry for my rambling 😬

    • @KenedeYoung
      @KenedeYoung 11 месяцев назад +2

      @@druzilla6442 I love that you found your birth mother! And knowing that she did want you does give you other feelings to process, so I definitely get it.
      My mother was adopted and she hasn’t been able to find any records of it. Part of me thinks not knowing is harder to deal with. She has so many unanswered questions. Her birth parents may or may not have wanted her. She doesn’t know if they are dead or alive. There’s just so much unknown.

    • @druzilla6442
      @druzilla6442 11 месяцев назад

      @@KenedeYoung I'm so sorry your mom haven't found out anything, that sounds hard to deal with. Can I ask which country it happened? I get if you don't want to say. I was actually at a meeting just last weekend for adoptees, first time. It made me feel less alone. I haven't yet asked my bio mother about my father, but I'm going to and maybe afterwards take a dna test to find him or other relatives. Maybe that could be an idea for your mother to find out something if she wants to? I wish you and your mother a bright future❤️✨️

    • @TBDS1990
      @TBDS1990 3 месяца назад +1

      Agreed. Not only was I adopted,I was one of those babies dropped off at a doorstep and left to be found or not. And before I was dropped off, the woman who carried me in her womb tried to abort me, which I thankfully survived, and was subsequently born four months early.
      There can definitely be trauma from the abandonment. There can be trauma from being kept in the system because no one wants to adopt you for whatever their reasons. Trauma from finally being adopted but it's into an abusive family. The list of reasons for adoption being traumatic goes on.

  • @jaymor78
    @jaymor78 Год назад +142

    I'm not american so stand to be corrected but I believe being competent to stand trial doesn't mean you don't suffer from a mental illness but are competent enough to understand that what you did was wrong (often demonstrated by trying to cover up a person part in a crime or even running away, a truly deranged person will be too disorganised for this). It also means that a person is competent enough to engage in their trial. Congrats Dave on 20 episode, this is my favourite true crime channel/podcast!

    • @AthenaisC
      @AthenaisC Год назад +24

      You are sort of correct. Competency means you understand what a judge and jury are. You understand what a trial is. You can assist your attorney with your defense, etc.

    • @angelitabecerra
      @angelitabecerra Год назад +20

      Mostly correct.
      Competently to stand trial means you not only understand what's right and wrong, but you also understand the trial process. And you're capable of participating in your own defense.

    • @SugarandSarcasm
      @SugarandSarcasm Год назад +4

      The writer’s name is Matt, since the other commenters already covered competency

    • @AthenaisC
      @AthenaisC Год назад +6

      @angelitabecerra knowing the difference between right and wrong has more to do with insanity at the time of the crime in my state. However, there are different laws in all 50 states.

    • @secretagent5954
      @secretagent5954 Год назад +6

      every single one of you is either wrong or only half correct and its pissing this attorney off to the point im going to offer to be a legal consultant to simon for free

  • @jacksonstarky8288
    @jacksonstarky8288 Год назад +523

    Thank you, Matt, for finally writing a script about this case for Simon. Thank you, Simon, for bringing Matt onboard as a writer. And last but not least, thank you, Jen, for everything you do to retain Simon's RUclips audience in the face of draconian language censorship that would be far more at home in fascist dictatorships. I mean, they're words we hear every evening on the news, ffs. If I had the money to contribute financially via Patreon or channel membership (I don't think Simon has either at the moment), I would, if it meant that Simon and his writers could present the cases as they happened without having to dance around RUclips's insane language policies. On which note, thank you again, Matt, for writing a script that seemed to take RUclips's authoritarianism into account. 🙂

    • @benstrbich8813
      @benstrbich8813 Год назад +18

      Thank you to Simon and your entire team that’s able to bring us these incredible videos as well as the time you take out of your busy schedules to create content which I can play drinking games to (every tangent equals a shot/drink). Thanks for all the hours you’ve all entertained me and countless others.

    • @crowleysgirl3257
      @crowleysgirl3257 Год назад +14

      ​@@benstrbich8813that's one way to get drunk.

    • @dlo111
      @dlo111 Год назад +4

      ​@@crowleysgirl3257😂

    • @mariawhite7337
      @mariawhite7337 Год назад +9

      ​@benstrbich8813 I like my liver just the way it is thank you very much. 😂

    • @darlenefraser3022
      @darlenefraser3022 Год назад +1

      @@benstrbich8813Brilliant idea!

  • @dog-gone-it5944
    @dog-gone-it5944 Год назад +78

    Matt is a great writer! He's brought a lot to the show. THANKS, MATT!!

  • @kevinmcqueenie7420
    @kevinmcqueenie7420 Год назад +73

    I've said it before, but this is the one true crime show I can go into knowing that there won't be sensationalism or over-focus on the killer, the gory details or a feeling of exploitation. The respect for the victims and acknowledgement of how horrible these events are, plus Simon's existential battles with himself, the stellar writing and fantastic editing, are why I will always be hooked.

    • @wendychavez5348
      @wendychavez5348 Год назад +2

      I 100% agree with this statement!

    • @magical571
      @magical571 8 месяцев назад +1

      so, a half assed one is what you are saying lol. I'm only watching these because of it's cozy long format and abundance of episodes that i can let playing on the background while
      cooking lol. But it's certainly pretty mediocre besides that, and whenever a writer does a better effort, you'll have simon being a hypocrite coward.
      But i can tell. He, doesn't like this, yet he sees the market for it, he wants to cash in, and he may even find some morbid curiosity in him, but he needs that validation in his head, that rationalization that what he does is somehow better or on some moral highground. when he is, for a fact, cashing in on true crime like every other show or documentary. it's super middle of the road, reliably so lol. th equivalent of a big mac for true crime.
      If any of you praising these supposed standards were actually to stop for a second and think, he would turn ads off, or donate every last penny to the victim's families. This is for a fact a cash in on the true crime audience, with a bit of a focus on making it accesible for those with a weak stomach, nothing more, nothing less.

  • @juzzymb
    @juzzymb Год назад +30

    Congratulations Matt! We’re lucky to have you writing for Simon. You’re an excellent writer! It makes me really happy to know that a bunch of the writers and editors are now friends and all talk behind the scenes. Thanks Simon for assembling such an epic team ❤

  • @laurachapple6795
    @laurachapple6795 Год назад +57

    If I'm ever captured by a serial killer I will try saying "what are you doing? Don't be a psycho." And see if that helps.

    • @0Gematria0
      @0Gematria0 9 месяцев назад +3

      Hahaha!! Underrated comment

  • @patriciatucker622
    @patriciatucker622 Год назад +28

    I read a book written by one of the psychologist that interviewed Berkowitz after the arrest and trial. He made a pretty solid case that Berkowitz was sane.

  • @TerraUmbraVampWriter
    @TerraUmbraVampWriter Год назад +15

    I loved this script, it focused so much on the victims and the killer was only a footnote. It was engaging and I hated to have to pause it to handle IRL things.
    Congrats Matt on 20 scripts. Looking forward to 20 more

  • @Pherioxus
    @Pherioxus Год назад +97

    They should've called him the ''Chubby Behemoth'' instead of Son of Sam. He wrote it himself in that letter, it sounds silly instead of scary or cool and it describes his physique accurately.

    • @onemorechris
      @onemorechris Год назад

      ‘the fat twat’

    • @carnuatus
      @carnuatus Год назад +9

      This! It makes me laugh every time.

    • @wingerding
      @wingerding 11 месяцев назад

      But no one knew his physique

    • @teamezyw6009
      @teamezyw6009 11 месяцев назад +1

      Half of those weren’t his nicknames after his first trial when the DA had to publicly say their verdict of him acting alone was wrong and the case got re opened they then got referred to as his Coconspirators or to do with said cult he had connections with for instance using nicknames for the underground near his house where it was known for him to hang where they found the ritual site with their symbol where they drunk urine and the blood of sacrificed dogs 👍

    • @Pherioxus
      @Pherioxus 11 месяцев назад +2

      @@teamezyw6009 You are machine-gunning statements that need their own separate explanation, what are you talking about lol

  • @justinfeasel6060
    @justinfeasel6060 Год назад +19

    Simon, if it's possible give Matt a bonus for his 1 year anniversary and 20 scripts. I do my part by watching all of them to the end so you get that "sweet watch time" as you call it and "liking" everything. Keep Matt on board. Good scripts.

  • @AthenaisC
    @AthenaisC Год назад +26

    "What you doing? Don't be a psycho." I feel like this should be on the "Advice for criminals" list. Like, close to the top. 😅

    • @i.b.640
      @i.b.640 Год назад +1

      I want to give this comment so many likes.

    • @dawnt6791
      @dawnt6791 Год назад +1

      TOTALLY agree!

  • @Marietta099
    @Marietta099 Год назад +3

    Simon, this is really good work!

  • @ignitionfrn2223
    @ignitionfrn2223 Год назад +124

    3:40 - Chapter 1 - From the shadows
    14:05 - Chapter 2 - The bloodshed continues
    21:10 - Chapter 3 - Correspondence from a killer
    31:35 - Chapter 4 - The final attacks
    36:50 - Chapter 5 - Closing in on evil
    43:40 - Chapter 6 - Meet david berkowitz
    50:30 - Chapter 7 - Psychotic
    54:10 - Chapter 8 - The dog made me do it
    58:10 - Chapter 9 - Justice done
    1:03:20 - Wrap up
    1:07:10 - Dismembered appendices
    PS: *Son of sam* ...so i see Brain Blaze's editor has been naughty

    • @SmithySmithTheFifth
      @SmithySmithTheFifth Год назад +9

      Honesty mate you do a good deed wit Simon's channels especially brain blaze, but who is gonna be skipping chapters on an hour long scripted story? 😂😂

    • @agirlnamedtomm940
      @agirlnamedtomm940 Год назад +7

      Thank you for your service.

    • @jamespaxton6395
      @jamespaxton6395 Год назад +6

      LEGEND

    • @kijabifilms7264
      @kijabifilms7264 Год назад +3

      Goat 🐐

    • @duncancurtis5108
      @duncancurtis5108 Год назад +2

      The past sucked,
      Police wot u doin,
      Pedro Lopez ratings.

  • @r.kai.v11
    @r.kai.v11 Год назад +149

    I love how clueless Simon is about this case in the beginning. Thank you Simon, Matt, and Jen for your amazing work!
    I appreciate Simon being sympathetic to Berkowitz’s mental illness, agreed with Simon in this case of incompetency. We love you Matt, your work is incredible!

    • @SmithySmithTheFifth
      @SmithySmithTheFifth Год назад +5

      It's always that bit better when he isn't. His reactions are more genuine and he's also got the joy of hearing a story fantastically told by expert writers for the first time!

    • @NICKDEVILS420
      @NICKDEVILS420 Год назад +6

      The strange thing is he does the biographies on some and then when he gets it on casual criminalist he goes sure i did a biography for this didn't I?

    • @bezllama3325
      @bezllama3325 Год назад +1

      @@NICKDEVILS420 He did do one for this guy,

    • @SmithySmithTheFifth
      @SmithySmithTheFifth Год назад +5

      ​@@NICKDEVILS420the thing is he has a writer for biographics, and en editor so can he doesn't need to prepare, so in all reality he may only read the script once just as we the viewer see it once.
      God knows I can barely recollect three year old biographics videos

    • @NICKDEVILS420
      @NICKDEVILS420 Год назад +2

      @AdamOBrien29 good point Adam. I struggle to remember what I did 3 days ago! 3 years would be a miracle!

  • @jimmygalpin6660
    @jimmygalpin6660 Год назад +53

    Just wanted to point out that after many years of worrying the Long Island serial killer has finally been arrested and hopefully will be brought to justice soon. Myself and many people out in my area can finally rest easy knowing at least one person is getting what they deserve.

    • @amemooress6291
      @amemooress6291 Год назад +3

      What! Really?!

    • @jace9985
      @jace9985 Год назад +11

      @@amemooress6291 There's been someone charged with three of the "main four" murders in the case, but it remains to be seen whether or not the other bodies discovered in the same vicinity are related or not.

    • @TheJoshestWhite
      @TheJoshestWhite Год назад +2

      Many serial killers have resided in LI. This one just worked local lol

    • @jrmckim
      @jrmckim Год назад +5

      I heard about it. Im waiting for more info from the case... looking forward to seeing this in court. Let's nail that bastard.

  • @me1123581321
    @me1123581321 Год назад +34

    When I was a kid, I used to confuse Son of Sam with the Zodiac killer. I thought it was the same person. The 70s were such an interesting and terrifying decade
    Edit: my recommendation would be to cover Samuel Little, another US killer, who has a fascinating history of incarceration.

    • @Bradleytosh
      @Bradleytosh Год назад

      I think they did a video on Samuel little

    • @me1123581321
      @me1123581321 Год назад

      @@Bradleytosh they did a short! A week ago. Thank you, I missed it entirely >_

    • @jace9985
      @jace9985 Год назад +2

      I do really hope some of the shorts will later be made into full-length scripts, even if they're a return to the old 15-minute shorter CC videos

    • @Bradleytosh
      @Bradleytosh Год назад

      There is multiple really good documentaries on Samuel little on RUclips

    • @DFloyd84
      @DFloyd84 Год назад +1

      With Berkowitz, Bundy, Gacy, Ramirez, Dahmer, et al running around, I would never want to get sent back to the Seventies.

  • @JohanVonTrollenspiel
    @JohanVonTrollenspiel Год назад +23

    If I remember correctly, the FBI profile unit doesn’t think Berkowiz is insane. They think he was faking it. That’s why the episode from Mindhunters where they interview him, he cracks and admits he made the dog story up, with a smile in his face. 1:04:30

    • @shadow6543
      @shadow6543 3 месяца назад

      It was a red herring, David Berkowitz was involved with a hippie death cult. Multiple shooters, Berkowitz didn’t write the Breslin letter.

    • @drunkoccult
      @drunkoccult 22 дня назад

      Yep--that scene was pretty much verbatim from John Douglas (profiler in question).

  • @Fishman550
    @Fishman550 Год назад +3

    That Coffey and Donut joke actually had me going before you stopped, I was like HIS NAME WAS JOE DONUT?!

  • @PositronWeaponD
    @PositronWeaponD Год назад +5

    That ending made me say "aww" out loud. It's always nice when anything can be a little ray of light in these less than pleasant stories.

  • @Jessica-ov4dj
    @Jessica-ov4dj Год назад +107

    As I recall, he was faking insanity, and didn't actually believe the dog talked to him. Curious to hear this take on the story.

    • @Bookwyrm86
      @Bookwyrm86 Год назад +23

      Agreed. He was just going for the insanity defense.

    • @ardenalexa94
      @ardenalexa94 Год назад +16

      @@Bookwyrm86 and he was/is addicted to attention

    • @zarasbazaar
      @zarasbazaar Год назад

      If you listen to Berkowitz in subsequent interviews you can see that he's a typical manipulative serial killer who loves lying to people.

    • @Bluesit32
      @Bluesit32 Год назад +3

      That's what I heard as well.

    • @a.r.t93
      @a.r.t93 Год назад +12

      The Mindhunter episode on him covers it pretty well

  • @fabwolves6461
    @fabwolves6461 Год назад +13

    Thank you Simon, Matt and Jen! :) this channel wouldn't be chaotic without you

  • @blessed_mourning
    @blessed_mourning Год назад +20

    Wonderful and heart-warming ending! You're a wonderful writer, Matt, and we always enjoy your renditions of these horrid tales!

  • @donaldbenjamin6358
    @donaldbenjamin6358 Год назад +4

    Love the shoutout to the Basement Crew at the end! Great script, thank you Matt, Simon, and Jen!

  • @tonysolino3131
    @tonysolino3131 Год назад +3

    I don't think I have seen or heard the Son of Sam story done so well. I also wanted to say well done to Matt for this and all the 20 scripts he did.

  • @droomzy
    @droomzy Год назад +33

    thanks for the new content Matt, Simon, Jen! Son of Sam's definitely an infamous name in the category of U.S. serial killers, & ironically I think I faintly remember Simon's Biographics video on him, which I'm sure Simon doesn't even remember himself 😂😂😂 the Satan angle of this case nearly reminds me of Richard Ramirez telling his victims to "hail Satan" if I remember correctly

  • @HappyGoLuckyMama
    @HappyGoLuckyMama Год назад +9

    Sweet! Another great episode from Simon and the gang to listen to while working!

  • @seanmorgan2356
    @seanmorgan2356 Год назад +32

    The mind is a bizarre thing. Kids often feel like if one of their parents isn't around, they often think it's their fault.
    I've only met my father once in my life. I was very young and it took me a very long time to realize that his absence was due to his issues and not because of me.

    • @jrmckim
      @jrmckim Год назад

      My son has only met his bio father once and doesn't remember because he was a baby.
      I married a good man that raised him as his own. Sometimes I thank God for unanswered prayers.

  • @twiztid_gamer
    @twiztid_gamer Год назад +5

    Thank you to all the writers, none of whom I consider lesser than another & thank you Jen for the great editing & Simon for keeping my attention & being entertaining when generally appropriate & respectful when necessary,

  • @nbarnes6225
    @nbarnes6225 Год назад +21

    He 100% made up that nonsense about the devil talking to him. There's a lot more than what is covered here (no fault to the writer, it's just super complicated). He's not mentally unwell. He's just a narcissistic misogynist.

    • @shadow6543
      @shadow6543 3 месяца назад

      He was in a Satanic cult, he didn’t do all the shootings. Didn’t write the Breslin letter.

  • @AnonXio
    @AnonXio Год назад +12

    What an unexpected, nice and completely unrelated ending. I have enjoyed your contributions Matt. Long may they continue. Thank you for your work. Thank you Simon. Thank you Jen.

  • @karlfoarile8056
    @karlfoarile8056 Год назад +6

    I was living in Queens at that time & dating a girl I met while a student at St. John's. One night I drove her home to her aunt's house where she lived, a few blocks from St. John's. We talked for a while & both nodded off. I woke up to a tapping on the car window. I looked up to see someone standing by the car with a pistol in his hand. I thought I was dead but then realized that it was a cop. Another uniformed cop with his gun drawn was by the passenger side window. I rolled down the window and the cop seemed as relieved as I was. They had been brought in by a neighbor who reported two young people slumped over in a car. They thought it was another son-of-sam slaying.Thankfully this was the closest I ever came to a mass murderer case!

  • @amandam8609
    @amandam8609 Год назад +16

    Congrats Matt! You’re a great writer, keep up the good work!

  • @george7red
    @george7red Год назад +2

    Thanks Matt/Simon/Jen for the excellent episode. My direct and extended family has lived in northeastern Queens for 50+ years, I live four blocks from Bowne Park today and some of my family still lives in Bayside and Bellerose. My mother was in her early twenties when this guy was running around and she had long, dark hair. The spectre of his random violence still affects many of the long time residents of these neighborhoods. I know a lot of people think of NYC = crime but neighborhoods like Bayside where several of the attacks took place have some of the lowest crime rates in the city, lower per capita than some small towns. They were and are middle to upper middle class, quiet neighborhoods that are dominated by parks and single family homes with lawns, not the dense buildings and crowds of western Queens and Manhattan. Quite literally nothing like this had ever happened here, and it changed the people who lived through it. Thank you for covering this one with your usual dedication and tact.

  • @LadyValkyri
    @LadyValkyri Год назад +5

    Good job, Matt! Another song: Green Jello (name changed to Green Jelly) with a song called Cereal Killer, they mention "Toucan, Son of Sam." Thank you, Simon. Hugs to all the basement folks.

  • @jasonhorn5976
    @jasonhorn5976 Год назад +8

    Yesss another episode!! It's probably one of my favorite fact boy channels

  • @mollymaukmystery
    @mollymaukmystery Год назад +5

    I've been waiting for this! It's a story near and terrifying to my family. My mom and aunts grew up in Yonkers. Aunts were away at college during his terrifying reign and grandma was happy about that (they were his types). However, my auntie (family friend) was terrified being a dark-haired young woman at the time and still in the area.
    My mom went to prom with a boy who lived in the same apartment complex as old Son of Sam here tho they didn't learn that out until later!
    All of them remember this time well.
    Wonderful job on the research Matt. Fabulous as always on the video and audio Jen. A great read thru Simon. Yall did this story and the victims justice.

  • @jordikostiuk8471
    @jordikostiuk8471 Год назад +6

    THANK YOU MATT 👏 You’re a fantastic writer and a great addition to this channel. We all appreciate your effort in making interesting informative videos, i for one thank you and Simon for making my days go by a lot quicker while I drive for hours on end. It really does make a difference in my life

  • @steve3291
    @steve3291 Год назад +9

    The competence thing hinges on knowing the difference between rights and wrong even if you have a mental illness that impairs you. Clearly this man knew the difference and was competent to be tried.

    • @MsSilverTulip
      @MsSilverTulip Год назад

      Incorrect. Criminal insanity means not knowing the difference between right and wrong. Competency simply means you are able to understand the court proceedings and assist in your own defence (most people who are criminally insane are still able to assist in their own defense).

  • @booksnnails
    @booksnnails Год назад +2

    Did I already listen to this on Spotify? Yes. Am I watching it again so I can see what Jenn did with the visual? You bet'cha!

  • @TerraUmbraVampWriter
    @TerraUmbraVampWriter Год назад +6

    I will point out, a friend of mine was adopted as a baby. She’s deeply affected by it and feels abandoned by her birth parents.

    • @schwaaard
      @schwaaard Год назад +2

      Yeah. It’s not that people blame themselves for the abandonment-it’s the fact that they were abandoned, period. Particularly when it’s by parents. These are, in an ideal world, the people who came together to bring someone into the world. The idea that they would discard someone they wanted, and purposefully came to gather to create, is understandably heartbreaking. Whether we like it or not, there is a profound connection between parents and their children, which is why parenting should never be taken lightly or abandoned.

  • @KleosAu
    @KleosAu 8 месяцев назад +1

    mate, I'm really enjoying all your channels. Mark from Australia

  • @bunnymad5049
    @bunnymad5049 Год назад +27

    Simon, a good thing to do is listen to his interview. He's mentally competent. Well, that's the impression he definitely gives, knowing right from wrong, pushing the "the devil made me do it". He was very calm, very articulate. I'll go with the doctors - there is illness, but he is competent. I felt there was something else there, but I'm not yet qualified to say.

    • @magical571
      @magical571 8 месяцев назад

      "was very calm, very articulate" i mean....being insane doesn't mean being a toddler who forgot how to write, or being schizophrenic in the way tv series portray it. A friend of mine has schisophrenic relatives and she herself lacks natural empathy (diagnosed), has bipolar on top, and the shizo part of her genes may manifest eventually. and she has never been able to act natural with any human or realize that she is being selfish or cruel. It truly is her using others. But to people like her that is only natural.
      With time, she learned in the most cognitive (aka, the most cold and emotionally detached way. which is the closest someone who lacks natural empathy can get to empathizing with others through training or therapy) of ways that it's not good, but not in the way you or me would understand it. She learned it's "bad" as in, it doesn't achieve what's best for her: being validated, or getting people agreeing to what she wants. and you can tell, after 14 years of being her only friend, that's absolutely true, you are more of a prop to her than a person, it's very hard to deal with someone like that, and it's frustrating, because it's both their fault as adults and their body's and raising fault too. Something just doesn't click. but it's very hard to prove or understand. and ultimately it brings into question wether or not intention truly matters. if you are abusive, you arw abusive, or if you killed, you killed.

    • @bunnymad5049
      @bunnymad5049 8 месяцев назад

      @@magical571 I'm not even reading that diatribe. Not past the first two sentences. You twisted what I meant and had a long-winded paddy - and you can keep it.

  • @willbryson8622
    @willbryson8622 Год назад +2

    I just want to say thank you Jen. Every video I watch is amplified by your edits. Simon's voice is great and makes the script listenable for hours and hours but the little inserts make them my favorite videos.

  • @Hammerhead547
    @Hammerhead547 Год назад +17

    Former Gambino Family underboss Sammy "The Bull" Gravano has said that the only time he was ever scared on the streets was when the son of sam was on the loose because no one knew what he looked like and he killed so randomly that anyone could be a target and not even know it.

    • @secretagent5954
      @secretagent5954 Год назад

      hes also a snitch so

    • @wingerding
      @wingerding 11 месяцев назад +3

      They were randomly targeted but i would say that the victims were all quite similar. I mean the women in the city literally started dying their hair because the victims were so similar.

  • @mateastman1765
    @mateastman1765 Год назад +1

    I love this channel! I've seen your other channels and they are great as well...but the way you interact with the script on this channel is just perfect. Thanks!

  • @rachelb4398
    @rachelb4398 Год назад +57

    I have a friend named Sam who is a Sam, Jr., and he has a grandson who is a Sam IV. He calls his grandson "Son of Sam"! It's hilarious and horrible at the same time, especially since my friend is also a Son of Sam

    • @RaderizDorret
      @RaderizDorret Год назад +12

      Wait until they get to Sam VII. Then that Sam's son can be the Son of the Seventh Sam.
      (Ok, that was lame. I'll see myself to the door.)

    • @terahkuy
      @terahkuy Год назад +2

      I just want to see the reactions as they all walk around wearing “Son of Sam” t-shirts. If Sam the 1st is still living, I guess his shirt would just say “Sam.” LOL!! Great family photo, too!

    • @StefanMedici
      @StefanMedici Год назад +4

      ​@@RaderizDorretbetter yet if the 7th Sam waits until his 7th son to name him Sam.
      Sam, the 7th son of Sam the 7th.
      ... I'll just follow you out the door.

    • @annemettefrederiksen7751
      @annemettefrederiksen7751 Год назад +1

      Good humour, dont ever change it 😂

    • @werebitch1313
      @werebitch1313 Год назад +2

      They actually used to make baby onesies which read "Son of Sam." 😂

  • @TCRP117
    @TCRP117 Год назад +1

    Really great episode once again. My days of not taking Simon’s opinions on pop culture seriously are certainly coming to a middle. Fantastic work from all involved. This is one of the best channels in the True Crime space on this platform.

  • @MTGBear
    @MTGBear Год назад +77

    Hey Simon and team just wanted to say your content is phenomenal and I am greatly looking forward to the awfulness of this episode

    • @MaddogMD82
      @MaddogMD82 Год назад

      I concur. Much love Simon! Also loving the current CTC release cadence. Please keep that up!!!

    • @ThousandManx
      @ThousandManx Год назад

      Hello from the future hope you enjoyed the newest episode on Albert Fish! Lmao awfulness doesn't even BEGIN to cover it 😂

    • @MTGBear
      @MTGBear Год назад

      @@ThousandManx halfways through that one...

  • @jeffdroog
    @jeffdroog Год назад +78

    Fun fact! I was literally hospitalized for having watched black mirror.I was watching the episode where the doctor had the ability to feel his patients pain,and the scene where he his causing pain to himself in the mirror caused me to have a stress seizure lasting over a minute,and then spent 24 hours in the hospital connected to heart monitors,and had an MRI done as well lol What a good show

    • @kathrynblakeley9823
      @kathrynblakeley9823 Год назад +7

      It was a fascinating show. also, today I learned that you could and have seizures from stress.

    • @Zeta9966
      @Zeta9966 Год назад +6

      Guess you don't play too many Frictional Games titles then

    • @jeffdroog
      @jeffdroog Год назад +9

      @Zeta9966 Nope! Lol My heart and brain just freak the fuck out lol Id love to be able to handle the cooler darker side of things,but my body just says no.

    • @Zeta9966
      @Zeta9966 Год назад +4

      @@jeffdroog Anticipatory horror is what does it for me. I've been playing Soma lately and it's like walking on eggshells. Heart rate always up

    • @bdkplaysx
      @bdkplaysx Год назад

      ​@@kathrynblakeley9823damn I gotta chill

  • @lisasaxton
    @lisasaxton Год назад +1

    I've been curious about this guy for AGES-- so thank you Matt for writing it! It has been an absolute pleasure to have you for a year and 20 scripts! Thank you Simon for your amazing tangents, and Jen for your amazing editing skills.

  • @PeachM0de
    @PeachM0de Год назад +3

    Thank you Matt and team for putting this together.

  • @fumanpoo4725
    @fumanpoo4725 Год назад +3

    A friend of mine's dad's name is Sam. Neither of them see the
    humor in my Son of Sam jokes.

  • @robs3405
    @robs3405 Год назад +20

    Would love to hear Simon read about Perry March. Simon would be completely dumbfounded how the guy didn't get caught sooner.

    • @sebswede9005
      @sebswede9005 Год назад +6

      Police: "Oh, look! An orgy of evidence. Must be nothing".

    • @SmithySmithTheFifth
      @SmithySmithTheFifth Год назад +4

      Simon ripping into the police is always golden

  • @briancross7835
    @briancross7835 Год назад +2

    My dad attended Army Basic Training with David Berkowitz in 1971 at Ft. Dix NJ.
    I remember seeing his photo in Dad's "yearbook" given out when Soldiers completed their training.
    Dad said he was really quiet and that was about it. He was the kind of guy you saw & then promptly forgot all about.

  • @pamelamays4186
    @pamelamays4186 Год назад +5

    Matt, after twenty awesome scripts you've definitely earned your spot in the Blazement.

  • @michaelhendricks9462
    @michaelhendricks9462 Год назад +1

    Congratulations, Matt, and thank you for the fantastic work.

  • @saeveth
    @saeveth Год назад +4

    Thanks Matt for your great stories! Looking forward to more, you’re a wonderful writer! ❤

  • @Zach5363
    @Zach5363 Год назад +2

    You continue to get better Whistler! Very much enjoy your shows

  • @Lady_Asylum
    @Lady_Asylum Год назад +4

    Matt, your scripts are wonderful! Don't sell yourself short ❤

  • @Jen1N.
    @Jen1N. Год назад +2

    Happy anniversary Matt!! Great job on this one. I wish you had delved just a little bit into the Sons of Sam doc. It makes a compelling case.

  • @wonky_shoebox7514
    @wonky_shoebox7514 Год назад +3

    Hi Matt, Simon and gang, thank you for your excellent work as always!
    Can I suggest maybe doing the great Canadian maple syrup heist, for both Simon's sanity and how amazing it was 😂

  • @audreymuzingo933
    @audreymuzingo933 Год назад +2

    Aw Matt you got Simon all verklempt at the end, I love it!

  • @maris5279
    @maris5279 Год назад +4

    Aw Matt, love all your stories ❤

  • @EmilyJelassi
    @EmilyJelassi Год назад +1

    Excellently researched and written Matt, as always! Congratulations on your 20th script! 🥳 You’re definitely not a lesser writer! Speaking for myself (and the rest of the audience, I think), I always really enjoy your scripts. What I really like about Casual Criminalist is that I know that whoever has written the episode’s script, it won’t be full of sensationalism or unnecessary gore. I also like that more attention is paid to the victims than to the murderer/criminal. And Jen, of course, elevates each episode with her editing.. thanks Jen!!
    Excellent job Simon and team!! 😊👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

  • @Zeta9966
    @Zeta9966 Год назад +9

    We need to get Simon some shock absorbing tech. His restless leg makes him vibrate endlessly.

  • @mssarah1101
    @mssarah1101 Год назад +1

    The end was my favorite part! It's nice to see the good human with all the dark. Great writing Matt and always great reading Simon

  • @mcevets135
    @mcevets135 Год назад +4

    Hey Simon and team, please consider making a CC about Robert Lee Yates. I knew one of his victims, so I'd like to see you cover him. I tried to watch a video from another true crime channel, and the killers name was repeated often, and the victims were only referenced by their first names. And I really appreciate how your team respects the victims, and in some cases refusing to even name the bellends responsible.

  • @christinecrawford
    @christinecrawford Год назад +1

    Congratulations on 20 scripts Matt! And happy first anniversary! You're a great writer and a great story teller and you fit right in with everyone like you were here from the very beginning. 😊

  • @maloryknoxx666
    @maloryknoxx666 Год назад +3

    We grew up in Queens. My oldest brother was dating his soon to be wife at the time. He said he remembers how creepy it was knowing that someone was stalking couples hanging out in cars. It's weird that was happening with all the mob activity.

  • @jasminema
    @jasminema Год назад +2

    when Simon said ":can you tell me how to get" my 70s child automatically goes "can you tell me now to get , how to get to Sesame Street" :P

  • @GIBBO4182
    @GIBBO4182 Год назад +7

    One of the more famous ones…there’s a Spike Lee film based around the Son of Sam that’s pretty good! Its called “Summer of Sam” it stars Adrian Brody and John Leguizamo (spellings may be wrong)

  • @joshbakowski9721
    @joshbakowski9721 Год назад +1

    Great work Matt!

  • @danielsantiagourtado3430
    @danielsantiagourtado3430 Год назад +4

    Love your work Simon and Matt! This Will be s good one!🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉

    • @riclund4513
      @riclund4513 Год назад

      Don't forget Jen. 🎉🎉🎉

  • @Free-Bodge79
    @Free-Bodge79 Год назад +1

    Well done Matt. And Slimone. Good stuff guys . You bring a refreshing and multi polar take, on all the subjects you cover. Keep keeping on 👍💛👊

  • @darthmartinez
    @darthmartinez Год назад +5

    Berkowitz obtained the revolver he used while he was visiting his army friend in the Houston Texas area. I believe Berkowitz got his friend to buy the gun for him.

  • @_1Marisa
    @_1Marisa Год назад

    Thanks! I'm sure this is cents when my South African money is converted 😔but I've been waiting for this one.

  • @remforrest
    @remforrest Год назад +4

    This is someone that I actual know alot about thanks to the Sigourney Weaver movie Copycat. I found his story perplexing compared to most other serial killers.

  • @anthonym.austin5346
    @anthonym.austin5346 Год назад +1

    We love you Matt!!! Love your stuff!

  • @crwydryny
    @crwydryny Год назад +3

    As someone who has lived with someone with schizophrenia I can attest to the hallucinations and paranoia. My ex used to claim our downstairs neighbour was listening to and spying on her... Ignoring the fact I had seen him leave hours earlier but no "he must have snuck back in" despite the fact the only way in was through the door directly below the window I was sat by.
    Then there was the people talking about her outside the front door... Apparently everyone walking past was talking about her... Yeah... Schizophrenia is a crazy thing

    • @ladygrndr9424
      @ladygrndr9424 Год назад +1

      I hope she got help. I have dementia to "look forward to", and there is little that scares me more than no longer being able to trust the world, myself, or especially my own brain. I'm watching my mother go through that right now, and at least she is only a danger to herself. My heart goes out to the people whose brains are lying, telling them they are hated and despised, that they need to strike back or self-harm to make the voices go away. Like that disorder that causes your brain to think your loved ones have been replaced by strangers/enemies...it's so freaky and horrifying.

    • @crwydryny
      @crwydryny Год назад +2

      @@ladygrndr9424 unfortunately no. Despite numerous attempts to help her she refused any help. She'd take meds for maybe a week, feel better and decide she didn't need them, or she'd claim there was nothing wrong with her, that she was just special because she could see "angels"
      Didn't help she has narcissistic personality disorder as well.
      Put up with a few years of abuse from her before it got to the point that I decided my own mental health was more important than trying to help someone who refused help and didn't care about anyone else

  • @jrmckim
    @jrmckim Год назад +2

    Congratulations Matt! You are one of my favorite writers. Dont sell yourself short!

  • @MikeTheTruthThatMatters
    @MikeTheTruthThatMatters Год назад +4

    there are some recent interviews with Berkowitz and he's remarkably normal and claims to deeply regret what happened... seems like an interesting case

    • @Bluesit32
      @Bluesit32 Год назад +6

      He doesn't regret doing it. He regrets being caught.

  • @lynnkay417
    @lynnkay417 Год назад +2

    Best Channel on RUclips! You all do a Phenomenal job, and make excellent, respectful approaches when the story turns dark. Thanks for this episode! Son of Sam is an interesting case!

  • @jameswisecarver
    @jameswisecarver Год назад +6

    13 year old bartender?? What!? Best summer job ever!!

  • @chrisbartolini1508
    @chrisbartolini1508 Год назад +1

    I grew up about half a mile from Berkowitz in Yonkers. Although he was long since imprisoned by the time I was born, it was always creepy waking past the building he lived.

    • @medhtebrahim3276
      @medhtebrahim3276 11 месяцев назад

      They changed the address of the building after it happened because people were always going by there

  • @matthewrosenthal753
    @matthewrosenthal753 Год назад +3

    “Mentally competent to stand trial” is not the same as being mentally healthy. Yes, he was diagnosed as Schizophrenic and that means he is mentally ill. However “Mentally competent to stand trial” means only that he understands the charges against and knows right from wrong. These conditions were met.

    • @secretagent5954
      @secretagent5954 Год назад

      wrong

    • @matthewrosenthal753
      @matthewrosenthal753 Год назад +1

      @@secretagent5954 That’s they way the courts see it. If you can understand the charges against you, and have the capacity to tell right from wrong you are mentally competent to stand trial. And that is what he was found.

  • @TheAvengeddonut
    @TheAvengeddonut Год назад +1

    Thank you, Matt for another stellar script!!

  • @schaefermmorgan1
    @schaefermmorgan1 Год назад +6

    Those were my teenage years. I also lived an hour and a half away from New York City in Milford Connecticut. I even hitchhiked through there a couple times. Knowing what I know now, in my sixties, God must have been watching over me very carefully!

    • @mom2mna
      @mom2mna Год назад +2

      Small world - I’m in Milford now.

  • @claudias1987
    @claudias1987 Год назад +1

    Thank you Matt ❤

  • @ClellBiggs
    @ClellBiggs Год назад +14

    Your impression of the mob (Italian at least) is correct, Simon. If they took out one of their own not only would they not kill their family they would make sure they were taken care of for the rest of their lives. Part of the reason is of course because they thought it was the right thing to do, but it also gave them plausible deniability. Why would the people that killed the person take care of their family? The Italian mob was clever.

    • @grilledleeks6514
      @grilledleeks6514 Год назад

      You are basing this opinion off movies you goofy goober. Yikes

    • @DoomJoy666
      @DoomJoy666 Год назад

      Yeah the mob is like strong armed union members and gangs are blood thirsty capitalists

  • @sarahtatom454
    @sarahtatom454 Год назад +1

    I recently found this channel and I have listened to probably more than is healthy in the last several days.
    Thank you for the stories…..I think?

    • @jennanail
      @jennanail Год назад

      Wait until you embrace the entire Whistlerverse.

  • @Daugueffxi
    @Daugueffxi Год назад +5

    Could have saved a lot of trouble if people had cats.

  • @nikospud860
    @nikospud860 Год назад +2

    Yet another amazing story, thank you to the writers of this channel, you really carry the show with Jen putting an amazing final flare to the show. Simon..... you're ok.
    I would like to reccomend a potential future topic, the "Who put Bella in the Wych Elm" case. One that features an unidentified body being discovered and a case which has remained unsolved to this day. Could she have been a world war 2 spy, a local sex worker, or maybe there was something more mystical involved. I wont spoil too much but would highly reccomend the case as a topic.
    Thanks again to everyone involved in the making of this channel, they make for amazing viewing and a fascinating insight into the human psyche.

  • @godwarrior3403
    @godwarrior3403 Год назад +10

    Imagine a serial killer being loose, your girl telling you she's worried about it, but you're so horny you drag her out and she gets killed by that very killer. Horrible. Any 20 year old dude could have been guilty of it but jeez, idk how you'd ever live with it. Just glad nothing like that happened with me and a girl

    • @xKinjax
      @xKinjax Год назад

      I was thinking the exact same thing as I listened to this and I just can't comprehend having such a massive lack of self preservation instinct if nothing else. I mean Jesus Christ there's a god damn serial killer on the loose. The media constantly talks about it and nothing else. The girl tells you twice that there's some jackass hiding nearby and you still insist to stay just because you're horny?! I don't think I could have ever looked a woman's family in the eyes if I did something like this.

  • @bradlevantis913
    @bradlevantis913 Год назад +1

    Thank you Matt for the well timed and needed joke about the basement. As always. Great script