Episode 403: Sons Of Sam, Part 1

Episode 403: Sons Of Sam, Part 1

From The First Degree by Alexis Linkletter, Jac Vanek

May 20, 2026 · 35 min

About this episode

Episode 403 discusses the infamous 'Son of Sam' serial murders and the obsession of a reporter questioning the official narrative.

In the early hours of July 29th, 1976, an 18-year-old woman sits in her car outside her house chatting with a friend following a night out in New York City. The aspiring emergency medic’s life is brutally cut short when a man suddenly fires through the window, killing the young woman. Her friend is wounded and survives, but over the coming year, five more people will lose their lives to the man initially dubbed ‘the .44 caliber killer’. The city lives in the grip of sheer terror until August 1977, when 24-year-old David Berkowitz is arrested. He soon confesses and later pleads guilty, sentenced to life in prison. But questions remain. Not everyone believes there was one killer. And for one reporter, the case becomes a decades-long obsession. In episode 403, Jac and Alexis discuss the infamous ‘Son of Sam’ serial murders, and how one man’s relentless persistence in questioning the official narrative to uncover the truth completely and utterly consumed him. 🎟 Catch up to FOUR bonus episodes per month plus full video episodes over on Patreon: patreon.com/thefirstdegree 📸 Instagram: instagram.com/thefirstdegree 🕺 TikTok: tiktok.com/@thefirstdegreee 👤 Facebook…

People in this episode

Hosts: Jac Vanek, Alexis Linkletter

Topics covered

  • true crime
  • serial murders
  • New York City
  • David Berkowitz
  • investigation
  • media obsession

Keywords

  • Son of Sam
  • David Berkowitz
  • true crime
  • serial killer
  • New York City
  • 1970s
  • murder investigation

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