I really don’t know about Berkowitz not being the sole shooter. The NYPD are quite adamant that he acted alone and apart from Berkowitz’s claims, which nobody’s been able to verify, there isn’t any evidence that he had accomplices.

That being said, though, he, along with the Monster of Florence and the Texarkana Phantom, are the closest equivalents there are to Zodiac.

While I am pretty familiar with Son Of Sam, I don’t know enough details to say with certainty, but I seem to recall Berkowitz making a statement that the girl in CA that was murdered in a church,and molested with a crucifix, was murdered by somebody in his cult, or an associate. I cant remember the details,but some peoplelinked that crime back to Zodiac.

UGH, my mind is fried as I have alot on my plate,maybe somebody can remember the details??? Obviously, the M.O. of the attacks (couples on lovers lanes),and the letters sent by the killer match Z. Hell, even Berkowitz’s physical description matched Z,although he certainly was NOT Zodiac. Maybe it was coincidence, or Berkowitz stole some of Z’s ideas.

Son of Sam was said to have a lot of similarities to the Manson murders, too. As a matter of fact it is claimed that Berkowitz and Manson answered to the same higher up. You can count Stanley Dean Baker in that group, too. Much of this is in Maury Terry’s "Ultimate Evil".

Yes, Morf, the death of Arlis Perry at Stanford was attributed to the same cult which Son of Sam was alleged to have been connected with.

An article from Bismark ND’s newspaper written about a year and a half ago. Lots on Son of Sam and Arlis Perry.

http://www.greatplainsexaminer.com/2012 … lis-perry/

The Ultimate Evil by Maury Terry

Postby Victor » Sun Jun 30, 2013 12:02 pm
Has anyone read The Ultimate Evil by Maury Terry which makes a strong case for a connection between
the Charles Manson "Family" in SoCal and "The Son of Sam" in NY which evidence also reveals was a group effort?
Though a different case, maybe not entirely, this book explains the working of a group effort presented to be "the lone nut".

And I suspect the "Badlands" Z. letter could be a sly reference to Minot, ND which is also mentioned in this book.

Read reviews:
http://www.amazon.com/The-Ultimate-Evil … 0553276018

An online copy here:
http://www.scribd.com/doc/48609819/The-Ultimate-Evil

An article from Bismark ND’s newspaper written about a year and a half ago. Lots on Son of Sam and Arlis Perry.

http://www.greatplainsexaminer.com/2012 … lis-perry/

Great article Seagull,thanks! Some stuff to think about for sure

Good article, but a lot reminds me of Graysmith’s books. Twists and turns that we don’t know are true.

Even the Son of Sam murders don’t seem "cultish" to me. Why would Berkowitz lie…because he was a crazy killer. They tend to do that.

What about Arlis Perry’s murder was cult like? Because of "candles"? Could it be she was just murdered and raped by someone who didn’t have anything to do with the devil?

I have read in the past that rumors of cult-satan style murders are very rare…sacrifices, etc..if any. Maybe they should look into that guy who killed Jenny Read!

The one detail about Arlis’s murder that really grabs me is that she was killed by being stabbed with an ice pick behind the ear. Who does that, who knows that someone could be killed that way and who carries an ice pick with them? It’s like something out of the movies.

The fact that Arlis was in a church when killed is going to invite speculation of a satanic or cult killing whether or not it’s true.

It’s like something out of the movies.

Probably more accurate than you think. Find the movie, find the method.

The one detail about Arlis’s murder that really grabs me is that she was killed by being stabbed with an ice pick behind the ear. Who does that, who knows that someone could be killed that way and who carries an ice pick with them? It’s like something out of the movies.

The fact that Arlis was in a church when killed is going to invite speculation of a satanic or cult killing whether or not it’s true.

The church janitor who grabbed it out of the freezer? Some nut-job that’s for sure. I just think, like you mentioned, the fact it happened in a church invites speculation.

I researched ice pick killings..was surprised with what I found. Not too uncommon. A couple in the 70’s of young girls and also of young familiy–the Dad was convicted but blamed "Manson types".

A scary world we live in…

I really don’t know about Berkowitz not being the sole shooter. The NYPD are quite adamant that he acted alone and apart from Berkowitz’s claims, which nobody’s been able to verify, there isn’t any evidence that he had accomplices.

That being said, though, he, along with the Monster of Florence and the Texarkana Phantom, are the closest equivalents there are to Zodiac.

There is a witness who knew Berkowitz from around the area who has gone on record and swears that on the night that one of the S.O.S shootings occurred, she was walking down her street and as she was making her way along the side walk, David Berkowitz was standing near a vehicle looking anxious. She knew and recognized him and as she got closer to him, she states that she heard several shots ring out sounding roughly 2 or 3 streets away, at which point she heard a car screech away, followed quickly by David who, seconds after the report’s rang out, got into his car and drove away at high speed.

There is other evidence to support the theory that D.B did not act alone, and several investigators have gone on record to say so.

Here is a report by ‘Dateline’…

"What most don’t know about the Son of Sam case is that from the beginning, not everyone bought the idea that Berkowitz acted alone. On the list of skeptics, police who worked the case, even the prosecutor from Queens, where five of the shootings took place. In addition, Berkowitz himself, in a little known interview done years after the killings, claimed there were other shooters, naming names. But perhaps most surprising is what Dateline recently learned, that the arrest of David Berkowitz didn’t actually close the Son of Sam case. In Berkowitz’s home town it is still not officially closed.

"The witness sketch from the first Bronx shooting bears a clear resemblance to Berkowitz. The sketches from other shootings, where Berkowitz claimed someone else pulled the trigger, indeed look like someone else. They come from the shooting Berkowitz said John Carr committed. District Attorney Santucci, of Queens, where five of the S.O.S attcks occurred, said “ I believe David Berkowitz did not act alone, that in fact others did cooperate, aid and abet him in the commission of these crimes. In fact, it has crossed my mind that this 44-caliber pistol was passed around among a number of people." He says his ex boss, even though convinced by the evidence of a conspiracy, never had enough to take it to court and put one of the NYPD’S most famous cases on trial, but he felt obliged for the public’s interest to keep the case open.’
Berkowitz: “I was there, at all of them. And in the area, and scouting, and I had a part. I’m responsible for my involvement in those things, and, you know, definitely guilty.”

Here is a report by ‘Dateline’…

"What most don’t know about the Son of Sam case is that from the beginning, not everyone bought the idea that Berkowitz acted alone. On the list of skeptics, police who worked the case, even the prosecutor from Queens, where five of the shootings took place. In addition, Berkowitz himself, in a little known interview done years after the killings, claimed there were other shooters, naming names. But perhaps most surprising is what Dateline recently learned, that the arrest of David Berkowitz didn’t actually close the Son of Sam case. In Berkowitz’s home town it is still not officially closed.

"The witness sketch from the first Bronx shooting bears a clear resemblance to Berkowitz. The sketches from other shootings, where Berkowitz claimed someone else pulled the trigger, indeed look like someone else. They come from the shooting Berkowitz said John Carr committed. District Attorney Santucci, of Queens, where five of the S.O.S attcks occurred, said “ I believe David Berkowitz did not act alone, that in fact others did cooperate, aid and abet him in the commission of these crimes. In fact, it has crossed my mind that this 44-caliber pistol was passed around among a number of people." He says his ex boss, even though convinced by the evidence of a conspiracy, never had enough to take it to court and put one of the NYPD’S most famous cases on trial, but he felt obliged for the public’s interest to keep the case open.’
Berkowitz: “I was there, at all of them. And in the area, and scouting, and I had a part. I’m responsible for my involvement in those things, and, you know, definitely guilty.”

The difference between the sketch of Son of Sam and a picture of David Berkowitz is IMO striking.

Which is either proof that there may be some merit to the interesting but unproven theories in the book "Ultimate Evil" about a group involved in the case OR proof that witness statements and artist renderings often don’t match up closely with the actual suspect.

At night,in the right lighting, I could see the similarity between Berkowithz & the sketch. I wonder if we are dealing with a similar sketch situation at Washington & Cherry??