The case of Margaret Inglesia, a 16-year-old girl who was tragically shot and killed in the Bronx in 1970, has resurfaced with new speculation that the notorious Son of Sam serial killer, David Berkowitz, may have been involved. Retired Yonkers detective Mike Lorenzo and Berkowitz expert Manny Grossman are urging the NYPD to reopen the case, suggesting that Berkowitz, then 17 years old and working at his father’s hardware store nearby, could have been the sniper responsible for Inglesia’s death.
Inglesia was walking home from a party when she was struck by three .22-caliber bullets, ultimately succumbing to her injuries. The Bronx sniper, responsible for a series of shootings on the same block that year, never faced justice for Inglesia’s murder. Lorenzo and Grossman point to Berkowitz’s proximity to the crime scene and his possession of 100-yard targets found at his home as potential evidence of his involvement.
While there are differences between the Bronx sniper shootings and Berkowitz’s later crimes, such as the use of a different gun and modus operandi, Lorenzo and Grossman believe the similarities are worth investigating. They have a track record of uncovering Berkowitz’s previously unknown victims, including Wendy Savino, who was shot by Berkowitz in 1976.
Savino, who survived the attack despite sustaining multiple gunshot wounds, identified Berkowitz as her shooter shortly after his arrest in 1977. Retired NYPD Detective Robert Klein corroborated Savino’s account, despite Berkowitz’s denial of the crime during a prison interview. Berkowitz was ultimately convicted of multiple murders and attempted murders, serving a life sentence in prison.
Lorenzo and Grossman are adamant about revisiting the Inglesia case, regardless of Berkowitz’s potential involvement, as they believe it deserves a fresh look to uncover the truth and bring closure to the victim’s family. They hope to shed light on this forgotten tragedy and potentially bring justice to Inglesia and other victims of unsolved crimes.
