Charles Manson and David Berkowitz

Charles Manson is one of the most infamous figures in the history of American crime. Born Charles Milles Maddox on November 12, 1934, to an unmarried 16-year-old mother, he was raised mainly in an orphanage and reform school. He had a troubled childhood, and by the age of 13, he was already a thief and eventually ended up in prison several times. His time behind bars shaped him as a person, introducing him to the underside of American culture and philosophy.

Manson spent most of his early adult life as a drifter, using illegal means to get by, such as pimping and selling stolen property. He also interacted with people of all backgrounds and beliefs, creating a network of contacts that would later prove important. In 1965, Manson got involved with an affluent follower and soon gained control of several properties in the Southern Californian desert. Here, Manson was able to create and build upon his own bizarre philosophy, later referred to as "The Manson Family."

Manson's philosophy combined a number of different aspects from the religion of Scientology to free-love ideals. He began to view himself and his Family as a cult, and he specifically targeted young, vulnerable runaways from California in order to join his cause. Within the Family, the women were majorly influenced by the charismatic cult-leader and were, in many cases, more devoted to him than the men.

Manson had big dreams for his Family, but his ambition was cut short on August 9, 1969, when members of the Family murdered five people at the home of Sharon Tate. They were following Manson's orders as part of an effort to get revenge against someone who had crossed him. Further murders were carried out by the same five members over the next two nights. Following an intense investigation, the murders were linked to Manson and his Family and in December of that year, Manson and three of the murderers were arrested.

Manson was indicted for seven counts of murder, found guilty and was eventually sentenced to death. Although his sentence was later converted to life in prison, Manson remained in prison until his death on November 19, 2017, aged 83.

Manson's notoriety increased after his death, thanks in part to his cult-like influence and the gruesome nature of the Tate murders. His life story and the events he set in motion still have an enduring impact on the American public. Manson is remembered as a cultural icon, with his name standing as a permanent reminder of the power of manipulation and criminality.

The infamous serial killer David Berkowitz, also known by his various nicknames such as Son of Sam and the 44th Caliber Killer, has been a source of fascination since first his arrest in 1977. Berkowitz terrorized New York City with a yearlong killing spree that led to six deaths and seven wounded victims. The psychological and criminological fascination that still exists surrounding Berkowitz and his reign of terror can be attributed to multiple factors, but it begins with his personal history.

David Berkowitz was born on June 1, 1953 to Nat and Pearl Berkowitz. He was adopted shortly after by Nathan and Pearl Berkowitz who, after Pearl was forced to give up her own son when Nat left her for another woman. David was raised in the Bronx, a section of New York City, his childhood and early life were relatively normal. He was an average student and developed an interest in cars, specifically customized muscle cars, at a young age. In 1971, he joined the Army and served in the United States Army Security Agency and the 44th Tactical Missile Brigade in the Ramasun Station in Thailand.

In 1974, after being discharged from the Army, he moved back to his adopted parents in the Bronx, where he soon began to exhibit odd and destructive behavior. He began violence towards his family and lashing out at people in his neighborhood. After his adopted mother died in 1976, his mental health deteriorated even further and his erratic behavior began escalating.

In 1976, Berkowitz began his deadly spree, randomly killing people and seriously wounding others with a .44 caliber revolver. His victims were often young women and couples, who were usually shot at close range in public places. The murders would usually take place around the same time and he was seen at the most recent crime scenes, which made him an easy target for the police. His modus operandi was also unusual and he was also seen wearing a hood or mask during some of his attacks, which earned him his various nicknames.

He was eventually arrested in August 1977 after a letter he penned to the press was traced back to him. After his arrest, he took police on a wild ride, confessing to all of his murders and giving them detailed information about the crimes, but he also made claims that he was part of a cult and that he was taking orders from the devil.

The trials of David Berkowitz took place in 1977-78 and he was sentenced to 25 years to life in prison. Over the years, he has rehabilitated himself and turned to religion, he even changed his name to “Son of Hope” to reflect his newfound faith. He has since dedicated himself to helping others, particularly children in prison and is also known for his prison writings, in which he expresses great regret for his actions.

In conclusion, David Berkowitz remains one of the most notorious serial killers in history and will likely remain so for years to come. He has