No Parole For 'Son Of Sam' Killer

"Son of Sam" serial killer David Berkowitz has again been denied parole, this time in a hearing lasting less than 10 minutes, state officials said Friday.

"You caused irreparable harm to many victims and society was gripped in fear because of your acts," stated the summary of the hearing provided Friday by the state Division of Parole. The board noted that Berkowitz had a good record in prison programs and "excellent disciplinary record," but the brutality of his acts require him to stay behind bars.

Berkowitz's second denial by the state Parole Board, made Wednesday and announced Thursday, means the man who terrorized New York City in 1977 will serve two more years in prison before he is again eligible for parole, according to the state Correctional Services Department.

The parole denial was first reported by the New York Daily News in Friday's editions. Parole board officials offered no explanation for the denial. Berkowitz attended the hearing, but no transcript or summary of the proceeding was immediately released.

Berkowitz, 51, formerly of Yonkers, is serving six consecutive 25-years-to-life sentences at the maximum-security Sullivan state prison in Fallsburg. The former postal employee murdered six people and wounded seven others beginning July 29, 1976. But it wasn't until the fourth attack in January 1977 that police noticed a pattern and dubbed Berkowitz the ".44-caliber killer."

He left a note at the sixth crime scene that read: "I am a monster. I am the Son of Sam." Sam was a neighbor of the killer. Berkowitz said he was taking demonic orders through Sam's dog.

Berkowitz has since said that he became a Christian. His Web site is mostly filled with Christian-themed messages of remorse and "how poor choices led to the horrific murders he committed."

In a 2002 letter to Gov. George Pataki, Berkowitz stated he has "no interest" in parole and "I can give you no good reason why I should even be considered for parole."

Berkowitz is automatically considered for parole by the board every two years under state law.

Berkowitz isn't allowed to post messages to the Web site from prison. Instead he provides typewritten messages that are posted.

"This should be stopped," Michael Lauria, father of 18-year-old victim Donna Lauria, told the Daily News. "He's telling the world: `Ha, ha!' I'm in jail and I got a Web site' ... He should stay in his 4-by-6 cell and rot."

Berkowitz's journal entry dated May 2 on his Web site states there is a "gnawing pain in my soul that never goes away," but indicates he may eventually be interested in parole after all.

He states that he telephoned his father for eight minutes on his father's birthday.

"I would love to undo my horrible past and have the chance to relive my life, this time never doing wrong."

"If I had a chance to live my life over again, I would make sure that I honor my parents. I would never again be a source of grief and heartache for them," the entry stated.

By Michael Gormley