A new Netflix docuseries, Sons of Sam: A Descent into Darkness, takes a look at New York City in 1976 and 1977 when New Yorkers were terrorized by admitted serial killer David Berkowitz. This new series explores a long-held theory by journalist Maury Terry that Berkowitz did not act alone.

“For anybody who grew up in New York City, 'Son of Sam' was the case,” said director Joshua Zeman. “And I'm just a real fan of New York City in the 1970s; the sex, the sin, the debauchery, the crime. It was just such a fascinating and interesting time.”

What You Need To Know

  • Sons of Sam: A Descent into Darkness takes a look at the case against David Berkowitz and a theory that he did not act alone in the killings

  • The theory, authored by New York City journalist Maury Terry, is examined in a new docuseries on Netflix

  • The docuseries creator says sketches support a theory that more than one person was involved in the killings that took place in New York during the “Summer of Sam"

Zeman uses never before seen archival footage and Terry’s 1987 book, The Ultimate Evil, where Terry laid out his theory that a satanic cult was also involved in the shootings. Zeman said Terry paid a personal price for his theory.

“This is a guy who spent 40 years going down the rabbit hole and never got back out. In this case it destroyed his marriage, some of his friendships, and eventually his health,” said Zeman.

New York City police saw Terry as a crackpot, but Zeman claims Terry was onto something.

“Maury was, in some ways, the original armchair detective,” said Zeman. “You know, he was a scrappy New Yorker from Yonkers, kind of an outsider in a way, and he basically questions the big city narrative. To his unbelievable credit, discovers Berkowitz didn’t act alone. Eventually, the police call him a crackpot.”

Berkowitz called himself the “Son of Sam” in letters he wrote to local newspapers. When arrested, he told police that he was told to commit the crimes by a demon that lived inside his neighbor’s dog. That neighbor was Sam Carr, who happened to have two sons, John and Michael. John died in 1978 from a gunshot that was ruled a suicide. Michael died in 1979 in a single-car crash on the West Side Highway. Terry believed their deaths were suspicious and also pointed out how John matched police sketches. 

“One of the biggest problems is the sketches just don't add up,” said Zeman. “Berkowitz looks like one of them, which happens to be the one that he admits to. But the ones he says I wasn't the shooter, he doesn't look like those other people. He looks exactly like John Carr,” said Zeman. “Could this really be true? Could Maury, this one guy, be right? And the answer is yes.”

Sons of Sam: A Descent into Darkness is streaming on Netflix now.