My Testimony

“Eventually I crossed that invisible line of no return. After years of mental torment, behavioral problems, deep inner struggles and my own rebellious ways, I became the criminal that, at the time, it seemed as if it was my destiny to become.”

— David Berkowitz, ariseandshine.org

“Now I was age 22 and this evil force was still reaching out to me. Everywhere I went there seemed to be a sign or a symbol pointing me to Satan. I felt as if something were trying to take control of my life. I began to read The Satanic Bible by the late Anton Lavey who founded the Church of Satan in…”

— David Berkowitz, ariseandshine.org

“My parents could not reach me, not even with all of their love. Many times I saw them break down and cry because they saw that I was such a tormented person.”

— David Berkowitz, ariseandshine.org

“In 1975, however, I met some guys at a party who were, I later found out, heavily involved in the occult. I had always been fascinated with witchcraft, satanism, and occult things since I was a child. When I was growing up I watched countless horror and satanic movies, one of which was Rosemary's Ba…”

— David Berkowitz, ariseandshine.org

“When I was in public school, I was so violent and disruptive that a teacher, who had become so angry at me, grabbed me in a headlock and threw me out of his classroom.”

— David Berkowitz, ariseandshine.org

“Occasionally this same evil force would come upon me in the middle of the night. When this would happen I felt an urge to sneak out of the house and wander the dark streets. I roamed the neighborhood like an alley cat and would creep back into the house by climbing the fire escape. My parents would…”

— David Berkowitz, ariseandshine.org

“Thoughts of suicide often came into my mind. Sometimes I spent time sitting on a window ledge with my legs dangling over the side. We lived on the 6th floor of an old apartment building. When my dad saw me doing this he would yell at me to get back inside….I also felt powerful urges to step in front…”

— David Berkowitz, ariseandshine.org

“During this period of my life I was also plagued with bouts of severe depression. When this feeling came over me, I would hide under my bed for hours. I would also lock myself in a closet and sit in total darkness from morning until afternoon. I had a craving for the darkness and I felt an urge to f…”

— David Berkowitz, ariseandshine.org

“My mother, who has long since passed away, had not control over me. I was like a wild and destructive animal. My father had to pin me to the floor until these attacks stopped.”

— David Berkowitz, ariseandshine.org

“Ever since I was a small child, my life seemed to be filled with torment. I would often have seizures in which I would roll on the floor. Sometimes furniture would get knocked over. When these attacks came, it felt as if something was entering me.”

— David Berkowitz, ariseandshine.org