The Newly Confirmed First Victim of the Son of Sam

For more than a year, commencing in July 1976, an unrelenting assailant brought New York City to a standstill, indiscriminately firing rounds from a .44 caliber revolver at unsuspecting individuals. Although the terrifying narratives of his six confirmed homicides have been extensively chronicled, a lesser-known account has recently been found — that of Wendy Savino, the newly confirmed initial victim who miraculously endured the onslaught of this infamous serial killer.

The Fateful Encounter

It was a chilly April evening in 1976 when a talented performer, Wendy Savino, was caught in a smiling stranger’s crosshairs. As she sat in her brand-new Jaguar, meticulously fastening her seatbelt, a young man with a heart-shaped face and a widow’s peak approached her vehicle. His disarming demeanor and friendly smile initially put Wendy at ease, but in a split second, her world was shattered by the loud blasts of a .44 caliber bullets fired from a Bull Dog revolver.

A Barrage of Bullets

The first shot tore through Wendy’s chest, exploding her lung in a violent burst. Instinctively raising her arm, she was struck again, the bullet ripping through her flesh and slamming into the dashboard before piercing her right eye—a third round sliced through her shoulder, creating a gaping wound in her windpipe. Wendy’s body was now a sea of agony, her life ebbing away with each ragged breath she painfully took.

A Survivor’s Resilience

Wendy recounts all these years later the gunman stood laughing at the gruesome scene he had created. Wendy said. My survival instincts kicked in, and I played dead; I held my breath and peeked through my one remaining eye, trying to sear the image of the assailant into her memory. As the shooter walked away and the footsteps faded, she mustered every ounce of strength to crawl across the gravel parking lot, leaving a trail of blood in her wake until she reached the safety of a nearby restaurant.

The First Sketch

Despite her harrowing ordeal, Wendy’s determination to tell police what her attacker looked like was unshakable. She clearly described the smiling gunman to the authorities, creating a stunningly accurate sketch. Little did she know that this sketch, this critical piece of evidence, would take decades to confirm that the Son of Sam nearly murdered her.

The Summer of Sam

In the months that followed, New York City descended into a state of abject terror as the “Son of Sam” killer continued his ruthless rampage. Women with long, dark hair — the apparent targets of the deranged gunman — took drastic measures to alter their appearance, hoping to avoid becoming his next victim. As the body count rose, the city’s residents lived in constant fear, uncertain of where or when the killer would strike next.

The Breakthrough

It wasn’t until August 1977 that the relentless investigation yielded a breakthrough. A parking ticket led detectives to the doorstep of 24-year-old David Berkowitz, and the discovery of a .44 caliber handgun in his possession sealed his fate. Berkowitz’s chilling confession not only revealed his delusional belief that he was carrying out the orders of a demonic entity but also confirmed Wendy Savino as his first victim. This revelation had eluded authorities for decades.

The Aftermath: A Life Forever Altered

For Wendy, the physical and emotional scars inflicted by the “Son of Sam” would never fully heal. Robbed of her passion for performing, she found herself grappling with the aftermath of the attack, forced to send her children into hiding for their safety. The once-vibrant woman who had graced stages with her contortionist and trapeze artistry now faced a life forever altered by the actions of a deranged individual.

Seeking Closure

Despite the passage of years, Wendy’s quest for closure remained elusive. It wasn’t until recently, when the New York Police Department officially acknowledged her as the first victim of the “Son of Sam,” that she finally gained a sense of validation. Manny Grossman, a dedicated researcher, played a pivotal role in uncovering Wendy’s forgotten case file, buried beneath a mountain of evidence from the killer’s rampage.

A Survivor’s Message

Her message to others who have endured similar tragedies is unwavering positivity and perseverance. “You have to be positive,” she says. “If you become negative, even just through an injury or surgery, you won’t lift if you’re miserable and negative. You’ve got to believe that you can do it.”

Confronting the Perpetrator

As the “Son of Sam” killer, David Berkowitz periodically comes up for parole, Wendy’s anger towards him remains as raw as the day he shot her. If given the chance to confront him, she would unleash a torrent of emotions, calling him a “rotten bastard” for robbing her of her dreams and shattering the lives of countless others. Her fury is a testament to the profound impact his actions have had on her life and the lives of all his victims.

A Beacon Survival

In the face of unimaginable trauma, Wendy Savino stands as a beacon of survival, her story a testament to her indomitable spirit. Her harrowing encounter with the “Son of Sam” killer has become an indelible part of criminal history, serving as a reminder that even in the darkest of moments, the light of hope can never be extinguished. Through her unwavering courage and determination, Wendy has emerged as a symbol of survival, which can inspire others to find strength in the face of such adversity.