Jewish Serial Killer "Born Again"

Andy Kahn is a victim advocate who has David Berkowitz, aka, the Son of Sam serial killer, as his pen pal. The once famous Jewish postal worker (and night time murderer) says he is now a born again Christian and deeply regrets his past.

"The past is such a painful memory ... It was all a terrible nightmare. I got into something so evil," one letter reads. "I would give my life if I could go back into the past to have prevented this from happening."

He signs off: "I will keep you in my prayers. Sincerely yours, David Berkowitz."
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The pen pal relationship began with a simple form letter.

In Kahan's office, manila folders bulge with the stories of families ripped apart by murder. Files detail the sorrow of parents mourning slain children, the outrage of unrepentant killers set free.

Kahan says he is driven by the desire to wring some good from even the worst evil. He's a tireless crusader against serial killer memorabilia who has a drawer filled with items like a lock of Charles Manson's hair and a Jeffrey Dahmer doll. So when Kahan (pronounced 'Khan') wanted to ratchet up his campaign against the sellers of "murderabilia," he decided to go straight to the killers themselves.

Kahan sent out four-paragraph form letters to 20 serial killers, including Manson and Berkowitz: Did they know that their autographs, drawings, letters and other personal belongings were being sold through online auction sites? Did they approve of the practice? Were they making money from the sales?

Twelve responded to the Oct. 12, 2000, letter. Manson sent Kahan's letter to a murderabilia dealer who auctioned it off on eBay. But only Berkowitz seemed to embrace the cause.

"Dear Mr. Kahan," Berkowitz wrote in his Oct. 26 reply. "I am very bothered and troubled by what these auction sites are doing ... I am willing to help in any way I can."

Berkowitz included a notarized statement disavowing involvement in any sale of murderabilia — and swearing regret for the murder spree in which he killed six women and shot seven others.

"Most of these letters and other writings were written during a very dark and tormented part of my life, and how I wish with all my heart that those horrific and tragic 'Son of Sam' shootings never happened! It was a nightmare for me and for those whose lives were hurt and devastated by my actions." So began the unlikely collaboration.

"We're the ultimate odd couple," says Kahan.

Berkowitz knows that many people on the outside will be skeptical, suspicious of his motives. But he says his conversion is sincere. He takes no psychiatric medication. More than anything, it seems, he wants to clear up a misconception about the Son of Sam Law. Contrary to rumors at the time, Berkowitz insists he never planned a book, and never wanted to profit from his crimes.

"I'm always accused of something, but this time I'm actually innocent," he says with a smile — still that same Mona Lisa-type smile. See Chick's THE BULL.