The infamous 'Son of Sam' serial killer is coming up for parole and he now has thousands of supporters who say he's no longer a threat to society. In this special report David Berkowitz tells me exclusively what he plans to do when he goes before the parole board.

The infamous serial killer David Berkowitz, also known as the 'Son of Sam', will soon be up for parole for the fifth time. Berkowitz says he’s since found God and his supporters believe he’s no longer a threat to society. That’s why many fear he may soon be released from prison.

This week Berkowitz sent a letter exclusively to me explaining what he plans to do during his upcoming parole hearing. We’ve also obtained provocative prison journals from the serial killer and interviews never before released to the general public.

56 year old David Berkowitz has spent the past 33 years in prison and is currently housed at the Sullivan Correctional Facility in Fallsburg, New York. For years he has become disenchanted with speaking with reporters. In a letter in September 2009 he writes,"interviews for the most part were disappointing and never turned out as I had hoped."
However, Berkowitz has chosen to write to me for the past six months.

The man known as the Son of Sam says he has become a Born again Christian and proclaims, “I had a personal encounter with God almighty right inside the prison house.”
But there was nothing spiritual about his 13 month shooting spree in 1976 when he killed 6 people - leaving 7 wounded.
When arrested Berkowitz plead guilty and was sentenced to 6 consecutive life terms but after serving only 25 years state law allows him a chance for parole every two years.

\    

Now that his 5th parole hearing is coming up in May, the Son of Sam swears he’s a changed man, “Today God has said you are now the Son of hope.”

Betty Allen is a Christian who has befriended Bekowitz “He is a totally different human being and that’s what Jesus Christ does in our lives.”  That apparent religious transformation has helped Berkowitz to gather intense support from Church groups and people from across the nation.

In a letter dated February 24th, 2010 Berkowitz tells me about the support he's received from the public. He writes:

“Everyone from college students to those in the military have gotten insight, inspiration, etc. It’s good to touch lives and give people some hope.”

New Yorkers who were there during the Son of Sam murders say they’ll never forget the terror they felt during that time. That chilling effect has left them with strong opinions on whether Berkowitz should ever be released from prison.

"Leave him there in that cage that’s where he belongs," Nina Soffer recalls how Berkowitz targeted women with dark hair. “Women were buying blonde wigs, they were dying their hair blonde I was a platinum blonde for a week."

Berkowitz says he has hurt enough people and has decided what he’ll do during his parole hearing in May. He chose to send this letter exclusively to me, two months before releasing it to his Parole Officer. It states:

“Please be advised that I am not seeking parole consideration at this time.” signed David Berkowitz.

People like Jeffrey Degan says they are not so convinced, “I think he’s a very clever manipulating human being."  Degan and Soffer both lived in New York City at the time of the murders and have since moved to Miami. When asked if Berkowitz should ever be released from prison, Soffer adamently replied. “I think it’s pretty difficult to cure somebody of psychosis, which is what he’s got."

The Son of Sam blames his rage on his involvement with a Satanic cult, "I really thought I was some kind of soldier in a Satanic army and we had determined to bring NYC to its knees.”

Berkowitz feels his previous drug and alcohol use, childhood problems, tendencies to vandalize buildings and set fires all lead up to his killing spree. He says, “ If I could go back I would take that gun and throw it right in the sewer.’

In the past couple of years Berkowitz has begun writing lenghty prison journals. He opines on everything from biblical scriptures to current events.  His latest entry warns kids about singer Susan Boyle.
He writes

“Little children, keep yo:urselves from idols. , Susan Boyle has become an overnight sensation and an idol. But idols come, and they go. We’ve become a nation of people worshippers.”

Berkowitz also refers to the bible's Book of Revelations which states Satan is set to take over the world, he writes:

“Everyone is going to be electronically tracked and monitored. And so tyrannical will this international body be that those who refuse to go along with it will be put to death.”

Soffer contends,“he has transferred his fantasies into religious ones but those fantasies and that disconnect from reality still exists.

Prison officials say Berkowitz has been a model inmate for the past two decades. His last disciplinary action was back in 1989 for having an unauthorized bible in his cell.

The family members and survivors of the Son of Sam's killing spree say they'll never be able forgive him.

In 1977 Stacy Moskowitz and her boyfriend Robert Violante, both 20, were in Violante's parked car . They were kissing when Berkowitz fired several gunshots into the car, striking both victims in the head. Moskowitz died several hours later in the hospital. Many years later Stacy's mother wrote several letters to Berkowitz saying she moved beyond the intense pain he has caused but she can’t forgive him for what he did. Tragically, since Stacey’s death her entire family has died including her mother, younger sister and her father. The mother and daughter had health issues and the father died of a heart attack.

Link to Mike Mason's Television Report on WPIX-TV: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gNPKnRiq-BE&feature=related

Two important safety recalls on School Buses

RECALL #1
___________________________________________________
Vehicle Make / Model: Model Year:
BLUE BIRD / ALL AMERICAN 2010
Manufacturer: BLUE BIRD BODY COMPANY Mfr's Report Date: JUL 22, 2009
NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID Number: 09V286000 NHTSA Action Number: N/A


Component: STRUCTURE:BODY
Potential Number of Units Affected: 35

Summary:
BLUE BIRD IS RECALLING 35 MODEL YEAR 2010 ALL AMERICAN SCHOOL BUSES MANUFACTURED FROM MAY 13 THROUGH JUNE 17, 2009. INSUFFICIENT RIVETS WERE INSTALLED IN THE REAR HEADLINER PANEL. THESE BUSES FAIL TO CONFORM WITH THE JOINT STRENGTH REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 221, "SCHOOL BUS BODY JOINT STRENGTH."
Consequence:
BUS PASSENGERS MAY SUSTAIN INJURIES IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy:
BLUE BIRD WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPAIR THE BUSES FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN ON OR ABOUT AUGUST 25, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT BLUE BIRD AT 1-478-422-2242.

Notes:
BLUE BIRD'S RECALL CAMPAIGN NO. R09PL. OWNERS MAY ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), OR GO TO HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV .

Follow link below for more info: http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/recalls/results.cfm?rcl_id=09V286&searchtype=quicksearch&summary=true&refurl=email



RECALL #2
_______________________________________________

Vehicle Make / Model: Model Year:

THOMAS BUILT BUSES / MVP-EF 2010

Manufacturer: DAIMLER TRUCKS NORTH AMERICA Mfr's Report Date: JUL 22, 2009
NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID Number: 09V287000 PE09023
NHTSA Action Number: PE09023

Component: STRUCTURE
Potential Number of Units Affected: 35

Summary:
DAIMLER TRUCKS IS RECALLING 35 MODEL YEAR 2010 MVP-EF AND HDX THOMAS BUILT TRANSIT BUSES MANUFACTURED FROM OCTOBER 22, 2008 THROUGH MARCH 25, 2009 THE EMERGENCY EXIT PUSH-OUT WINDOW MAY BE INSTALLED IMPROPERLY RESULTING IN BINDING OF THE WINDOW.

Consequence:
IN THE EVENT OF AN EMERGENCY EVACUATION, BINDING EMERGENCY EXIT WINDOWS MAY DELAY EVACUATION AND MAY INCREASE THE RISK OF PERSONAL INJURY TO THE VEHICLE OCCUPANTS.

Remedy:
DAIMLER TRUCKS WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPAIR THE BUSES FREE OF CHARGE. REPAIRS WILL BE PERFORMED BY DAIMLER TRUCKS DEALERSHIPS. THE SAFETY RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN ON OR ABOUT SEPTEMBER 24, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DAIMLER TRUCKS TOLL-FREE AT 1-800-547-0712.
Notes:
DAIMLER TRUCKS RECALL CAMPAIGN NO. FL-555. OWNERS MAY ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), OR GO TO HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV

Mike Mason
305-527-3088
Mike@MikeMason.Biz
www.MikeMason.Biz
Investigative Reporting Video Resume: http://bit.ly/Z512e
Blog: http://investigativereportermikemason.blogspot.com/

Housing Market and Journalistic Integrity both in Decline

Housing Market and Journalistic Integrity both in Decline

"You can blame the media for the crappy real estate market." That's what a fellow Realtor told me the other day and, lately, I would have to agree. As a Realtor, I would love to see the newspapers print some good articles about the housing market, something with a positive spin. Instead, I saw first-hand how the Herald used information to spin a web of deceit.

Before I get into that I should tell you something about myself. Before becoming a Realtor, I worked as an Investigative Television Reporter. In 2004 I won Columbia University's ‘Alfred DuPont Award'. It is the television equivalent of the Pulitzer - which Columbia presents to print journalists. I've also won many other National Awards including Emmys, Edward R. Murrows, Investigative Reporters & Editors, Associated Press, etc. I'm not trying to brag, I only want to point out that I thoroughly understand how the news business works. I can write a ‘juicy' story but I also believe journalism must be factual, ethical and balanced.

That's why I was so disappointed to read the front page article in the Miami Herald on Sunday March 9th. The story was written by reporter Jenny Staletovich, whom I had helped with a previous real estate article. When she contacted me earlier this year to ask if I would help her compile this new story I said I would.

This particular article profiled South Floridians who were renting because they were too afraid to purchase a home in the current market. Jenny interviewed me on January 20th. I also provided her with two of the people profiled in the report including my current tenants; Kellie and Madsen Marcellus. The Marcellus' are both attorneys at the Miami-Dade public defenders office and, at the time, they were renting my home in Miami Shores. The story included the couple's photo and a caption stating "Kellie and Madsen Marcellus are too anxious about the risk of price declines to buy a home. The family continues to rent in Miami Shores."

Problem is, when the story ran the Marcellus' were already packing their bags to move into the new home they purchased in Pembroke Pines. If the reporter had called them for an update she should have known this...but why let facts get in the way of a good story?

The article also states "Owners who can't sell have become unintended landlords, desperate to bring in money to cover their mortgage payments."

In my case that's not true. I purchased my home as an investment. I decided to sell it last year and soon received two offers close to the asking price. I later decided to keep the home knowing the value would eventually increase. I rented it to the Marcellus' and I'm not one of those desperate and "unintended landlords".

I also gave Jenny some pros and cons of buying in this market. Some of the pros include: Prices and Mortgage Rates are the lowest in years and the recent tax amendment provides doubled Homestead Exemptions and a portability provision.

None of that information was included in the report, there wasn't even one positive statement from anyone.

The day after the report I e-mailed Jenny to ask what happened. She replied, "I'm sorry. You wouldn't believe how many versions that story went through. It was almost twice as long when I turned it in. You were in it, but it was totally impenetrable."

So Jenny basically said the information was cut out during the editing process. I don't think it's ethical for Journalists and Editors to manipulate content in order to support a negative slant.

Unhappy with Jenny's reply I immediately wrote a letter to the Editor voicing my concerns. A few days later, n March 14th , I was contacted by Nancy Ancrum, another reporter for the Herald. She said the paper would print my letter that week if I ‘trimmed' it down from 850 words to around 400. I did this and sent it right back to her. Several days passed and my letter never ran. I called Nancy several times and, on March 20th , Business Editor Lisa Gibbs contacted me. Lisa said they were also alarmed to find out the Marcellus' had purchased a home. Lisa said, "In our fact-checking process, Jenny did contact the couple right before the article ran to confirm all the details and they sadly declined to tell us of their news. They told Jenny later that they were afraid to jinx the transaction since they hadn't yet closed."

I then called the Marcellus' to ask whether this was true. They said Jenny did contact them prior to the report but it was well before they had closed on their home and they claimed Jenny only asked if they were still renting my home. They also stated they never told Jenny they were afraid to 'jinx' their chances of buying the home. Could these public defenders have lied to the reporter? I don't know. Maybe Jenny didn't press them hard enough for specific details. The bottom line is that the report contained false information and if it had been reported correctly, the entire focus and tone would have been different and less supportive of the banner headline.

Lisa Gibbs also responded to my concern that I was not one of those desperate and ‘unintended Landlords'. She writes, "that statement was certainly not meant to describe you, it was part of a section that set out to describe in general terms various characteristics of the current real estate landscape."

I told Lisa I knew this statement wasn't directed at me - how could it? I wasn't even included in the article. My point is that two of my clients were featured in the report focusing on homeowners and their tenants. I was the homeowner of the tenants profiled in the story. My particular situation obviously didn't support the angle of the report and wasn't included - just another example of how the Herald purposely omitted certain facts. I think the Herald spent more time refuting my letter than they did investigating their initial report. I know it's difficult for journalists to admit they're wrong.

When I was an Investigative Reporter in Tampa, I aired a report criticizing the City Attorney and Mayor. The next day the Attorney called my News Director to say we had gotten our facts wrong and he demanded a retraction. I reviewed my information and found a couple of my facts were indeed wrong even though the majority of the report was accurate. My report contained complicated financial and legal documents and I also rushed it to air without triple checking all of the details. My News Director made me do another report retracting the story and I had to be "on-camera" each time I corrected a mis-stated fact. I was so embarrassed but I learned something very important; one wrong fact compromises the integrity of the entire report.

Compiling a good report is like constructing a house. A reporter begins with facts to build a solid foundation. Reporters then shop around for the materials they need to support a certain angle or focus but their report should always contain an opposing viewpoint. This maintains a sense of balance and keeps the structure of the report from leaning too far to one side.

I don't watch local television news anymore but I do read the newspapers. I expect them to be unbiased and neutral. If the Miami Herald had simply printed my letter I would not have written this one. Maybe the Herald is more concerned with selling papers than getting it right, after all, scare tactics & sexy headlines sell. It's funny, the BBT is both a free newspaper and believes in a ‘free press'...what a concept!

In the newsbiz they say "If it bleeds it leads" and the housing market certainly needs a Band-Aid. What it doesn't need is another sucker punch from the local media. One negative report can impact consumer behavior. As long as sensational headlines sell many homes will not.

I'm sure the Marcellus' enjoyed being featured in the newspaper and they probably saved the article for their scrapbook. Maybe they had some extra copies and used them as packing material for the move....wouldn't that be ironic?

Investigative Reporter Mike Mason
305-527-3088
Mike@MikeMason.Biz

Craig's List Real Estate Scam could be used against you!

Craig's List Real Estate Scam - your ad could be used against you

Not only am I an Investigative Reporter but I am also a licensed Realtor in the state of Florida. Last month I listed a beautiful rental home in Belle Meade which is in Miami's chic and trendy 'Upper East Side'. I posted the home on the multiple listing service (MLS) and also posted it on Craig's List. Belle Meade is one of the most upscale gated communities in the area and homes are not at all cheap. The home I listed had 3 beds, 2 baths and a separate living and family room, amazing landscaping, everything updated with high-end upgrades. Bottom line: it was very nice.

We were asking $2900 per month, which is reasonable for that home in that area. About a week later I was in a short meeting and when I came out I checked my voicemail to find a dozen messages from potential tenants who all seemed extremely interested in the home. Such a quick and overwhelming response is very unusual. I figured either the market had suddenly shot up faster than a dope-sick heroin addict or I was just very lucky. I returned the first call and spoke with a minister from out of state who was relocating his family to Miami. He said he had seen the home advertised on Craig's List.

The minister happily stated, "The home has everything I ever wanted; a great location, perfect condition, and of course the price! I just can't believe it's only $900 per month!"
I realized he was obviously mistaken so I quickly interrupted him, "I'm sorry sir but the price is not $900 it's $2900 per month."

"Not according to Craig's List" he stated adamantly.

I assured him the home was indeed $2900 and I then logged onto Craig's List. My original ad was there but there was also another one that looked exactly the same but the price was only $900 per month. The person who posted it obviously copy and pasted my description and photos and posted a similar ad. The fake ad stated that anyone who was interested had to contact Mike Mason by email. Whoever wrote this ad even made it look like tenants were dealing directly with me, the true listing agent. These scammers slyly designed an email address which contained my first initial and my last name;mmason***@yahoo.com however, my real email address is Mike@MikeMason.Biz .

The only reason the minister was able to contact me is because he also 'Googled' the address of the home and was linked directly to my website. All of the other prospective tenants who contacted me did the same - otherwise they would have dealt directly with the Nigerians.

I wonder how many others didn't think to Google the home's address and only spoke with the bogus broker. I later heard from some of those people and this is what they said:

The broker responded quickly by emailing them a rental application which looked like it could have been written by a 5 year old - complete with misspelled words and horrible grammar. After the tenants filled it out they were told to mail it to the broker along with a $900 retainer fee (which was the first month's rent). The broker said once he received the money he would mail the keys to the tenant. And guess where the tenant was told to mail the check? Nigeria. That should be a huge red flag! There are innumerable reports about scams originating in Nigeria...I guess this is one of their latest.

I would venture to say that most people would never fall for this but it seems there are some who do. People who are not 'computer savvy' may think that everything on Craig's List is legitimate. In fact, anyone can essentially post anything they want to since the site is so loosely monitored. I know that when renters and homebuyers see an amazing deal like this they get excited and emotional and just want to jump on it before someone else does.

I contacted NBC-6 here in Miami and they did a consumer report warning people about this scam. The real estate market doesn't need any more bad press - the market has already been beaten up enough. Hopefully people out there will remember the old saying "if it looks too good to be true it probably is."


Investigative Reporter Mike Mason
305-527-3088
Mike@MikeMason.Biz

Top Investigative Reporter Mike Mason seeks full time position.
I have won the most prestigious awards in the industry including: Alfred I. duPont, National Edward R. Murrow, Emmy Awards, Investigative Reporters & Editors, SPJ's, AP's and many more.

I am now seeking a full-time position.
Contact Mike
305-527-3088
Mike@MikeMason.Biz