David Berkowitz's Message to Would-Be Killers: An Interview with Michael Franzese

Meeting David Berkowitz

• 🤝 Michael Franzese, a former Colombo crime family caporegime and author, met with David Berkowitz after a mutual friend facilitated the connection.
• 💡 Berkowitz, who had become a person of faith, expressed a desire to meet Franzese after reading his book.

Berkowitz's Claims of Trauma and Beliefs

• 😈 Berkowitz claims he was traumatized by "demons" since childhood and that these experiences, combined with strange teachings about bringing about the end of the world, influenced him.
• ✝️ After becoming a Christian, Berkowitz felt his eyes were opened to understand how past events led to his actions.
• ⛓️ He acknowledges his fascination with darkness and his past involvement with devil worship and Satanism.

Berkowitz's Current State and Remorse

• 🔒 Berkowitz understands he will never be paroled and has even stopped attending parole hearings, recognizing he does not deserve to be released.
• 👨‍👩‍👧 He revealed that a significant trauma from his childhood was being told his adoptive parents were dead, only to later learn his birth mother was alive, which caused him distress.
• ✉️ Currently, Berkowitz receives hundreds of letters weekly from individuals contemplating similar violent actions, and he actively tries to discourage them.
• 📖 He engages in Bible studies with other inmates weekly, reflecting his commitment to his faith.