Overview

• “Conversations with a Killer: The Son of Sam Tapes” premiered July 30 on Netflix, combining rare 1980 prison interviews by Jack Jones with a newly recorded 2024 phone conversation.
• Archival recordings reveal Berkowitz tracing his anger and sense of alienation back to adoption revelations and early childhood trauma.
• In the 2024 interview, Berkowitz expresses deep remorse for his murders and tells his younger self to “run for your life” and seek help.
• Although the NYPD confirmed in June 2024 that Wendy Savino was his first victim, Berkowitz disputes having shot her in the new series.
• Audiences and critics are reappraising the case’s psychological motives, media sensationalism and lasting legal changes prompted by the Son of Sam killings.