Retired detective Mike Lorenzo, collaborating with Son of Sam expert Manny Grossman, is urging the New York Police Department to reopen a cold case from 1970, suggesting a potential link between the murder of 16-year-old Margaret Inglesia in the Bronx and notorious serial killer David Berkowitz. This renewed call for investigation posits that the unsolved shooting, which occurred five years before Berkowitz’s infamous spree terrorized New York City, bears striking resemblances to the methods of the man known as the Son of Sam. Lorenzo, whose father was involved in the original Berkowitz investigation, believes critical evidence may have been overlooked, warranting a fresh examination of the decades-old file.
On October 18, 1970, Margaret Inglesia was tragically shot multiple times while walking home from a party on East 169th Street in the Morrisania section of the Bronx. She sustained one bullet wound to the front and two to the back, according to witness accounts from the period. This fatal incident was not isolated; it represented the sole homicide in a series of six sniper attacks perpetrated by an unidentified assailant on the very same block over a two-month period that year, with no arrests ever made in connection with any of the shootings.
Lorenzo, who served two decades with the Yonkers Police Department before his 2008 retirement, contends that Berkowitz, then 17 years old, was geographically and circumstantially positioned to commit the crime. From June 1970 to June 1971, Berkowitz worked merely a mile from the attack site at his father’s business, Melrose Hardware, prior to enlisting in the U.S. Army. Furthermore, evidence discovered after Berkowitz’s 1977 arrest, including 100-yard shooting targets found in his residence, is cited by Lorenzo and Grossman as an indication that he might have been refining long-distance shooting proficiencies well before his documented killing spree.
While the theory presents compelling points, notable differences exist between the Inglesia case and Berkowitz’s confirmed attacks. The Bronx sniper utilized a .22-caliber rifle, whereas Berkowitz’s notorious 1976-1977 killings were carried out with a .44-caliber revolver, often fired at close range through car windows. Despite these discrepancies, Lorenzo firmly argues that the similarities in modus operandi and geographical proximity outweigh the variations in weaponry and specific execution, asserting that “shooting into a car is sniping too.”
New York City in the 1970s was already grappling with severe financial strain and soaring crime rates, but a pervasive fear escalated dramatically between July 1976 and August 1977 with the emergence of the “Son of Sam” killer. This faceless gunman systematically targeted young women and couples across the Bronx, Queens, and Brooklyn, leaving a trail of terror and taunting authorities with chilling handwritten letters dispatched to police and the media. The city held its breath as the investigation unfolded, desperate for an end to the random violence.
David Berkowitz, a Yonkers postal worker, was ultimately identified as the perpetrator who murdered six individuals and wounded seven others during his reign of terror. After more than a year of intense investigation, false leads, and mounting public panic, a crucial parking ticket discovered near the scene of the final shooting led detectives directly to Berkowitz’s vehicle. He was arrested on August 10, 1977, and subsequently convicted in 1978 on six counts of second-degree murder and seven counts of attempted second-degree murder, receiving a sentence of 25 years to life, which he continues to serve at Shawangunk Correctional Facility.
This is not the first instance where Lorenzo and Grossman have delved into unexamined aspects of the Son of Sam case. Their collaborative efforts previously led to the identification of Wendy Savino as a previously unrecognized Berkowitz victim, who miraculously survived a 1976 shooting in the Bronx after being struck five times while seated in her car. This significant discovery underscores their methodical approach and their commitment to uncovering overlooked details within the complex Berkowitz narrative.
Grossman detailed how he uncovered Savino’s connection, locating a sketch she had drawn of her assailant that bore an “exact match” to Berkowitz, alongside a police report detailing the characteristics of a Son of Sam shooting. He then contacted Savino, who reportedly confirmed she had identified Berkowitz as her shooter immediately following his arrest in 1977, stating she “never forgot his face.” These findings were later presented to retired NYPD First Grade Detective Robert Klein, who corroborated that Savino had indeed been shot by Berkowitz, despite Berkowitz’s subsequent denial during a prison interview.
Grossman stresses that the Inglesia case demands a thorough re-evaluation, irrespective of whether Berkowitz is ultimately proven to be the killer. He views it as a significant, forgotten case that merits renewed attention from law enforcement, emphasizing that a perpetrator remains at large. The duo’s persistent advocacy highlights a broader commitment to justice for victims whose cases may have been overshadowed or misattributed in the past.
Interest in the Son of Sam crimes has experienced a notable resurgence in recent years, fueled in part by a popular Netflix docuseries that revisited Berkowitz’s chilling acts through never-before-heard prison recordings and extensive archival footage. This renewed public and media scrutiny provides a timely backdrop for Lorenzo and Grossman’s efforts, potentially offering a fresh opportunity to apply modern investigative techniques and perspectives to a cold case that has lingered for over five decades.
