Demon Dog: The Terrifying Truth Behind The Notorious ‘Son Of Sam’
A neighbor's Labrador, a demonic voice, and the late 1970s killing spree that held New York City in a grip of terror.
It’s not just mysterious and unexplained stories that entrance a lot of folks, and a demon dog captured imagination as a result of tragic crime story. Possibly, it fascinated because it was real, at least to those who followed true crime at the time. Read on for more details.
Terrorized New York
If you were alive back in 1977, you might recall how New Yorkers felt terrified about going out. That happened because it was a particularly scary time. If you love weird and supernatural stories, then WEIRD DARKNESS: Paranormal & True Crime is a great YouTube channel to check out. Recently, apart from the demonic dog story, they also covered things like South American UFO stories. And the Bermuda Triangle.
The dog story, you might know, ended up labeling serial killer David Berkowitz as “Son of Sam.” Not a very nice guy, he liked killing and wounding innocent people, and six people died. 10 ended up with bad injuries. And the reason why? Well, he blamed his neighbor’s dog.
Harvey, An Unfortunate Dog
In his defense, the podcast reminded viewers that Berkowitz claimed:
His neighbor Sam Carr owned a dog named Harvey, a black Labrador. And Berkowitz insisted that this dog was possessed by a demon. A demon that commanded him to kill. He said the dog spoke to him, that it demanded blood, that he had no choice but to obey.
Chatting with a demon dog sounds very weird, and certainly entered the realm of the paranormal. And the unexplained. But, was he really ready for a lunatic asylum? Apparently, while he clearly didn’t seem to be the average Joe, he just invented the story.
Sitting In Prison
According to court records at the time, after his arrest for murdering 26-year-old Christine Puin, he stuck with his story. However, plenty of folks doubted the story. So, David Berkowitz didn’t get the insanity deal he hoped for. Alcatraz East reported that he ended up “sentenced to 25 years in prison for each murder, served in New York’s supermax prison, Attica Correctional Facility.”
What is interesting for those who enjoy the weirdest stories, is that when police searched his apartment after an arrest following a parking violation, they discovered “Satanic graffiti drawn on the walls.” But if you like the idea of a demonic dog, that wasn’t the case. Back in 1979, David Berkowitz confessed he made up the story hoping for court leniency.
One Finding God
Some stories seem the weirdest because of what happens in real life. Apparently, nearly a decade after his conviction, he found God, the good kind, and wrote about redemption. Well, not that it’s doing him much good, because he and presumably, the ghost of his demon dog remain incarcerated following an unsuccessful appeal in 2024.
What are your thoughts? Let us know in the comments below, and come back here often for all our stories about mysteries, the unexplained, and the sometimes not-so-mysterious events in the world.
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