Naman Shrestha
Netflix’s ‘Conversations With a Killer: The Son of Sam Tapes’ is a three-part true crime documentary series that chronicles the horrific crimes of the serial killer, David Berkowitz, who filled the streets of New York with terror for more than a year. Fortunately, not all of his attacks were successful, as quite a few managed to escape from the clutches of death after he tried to kill them. One of the shooting survivors was Carl Denaro, whose life was turned upside down after the incident.
Carl Denaro Had to Replace a Part of His Skull After Getting Shot
On the night of October 23, 1976, 20-year-old Carl Denaro was busy enjoying his time with 18-year-old Rosemary Keenan in Flushing, Queens, unaware of the fact that something life-changing would happen to him. With dreams of making a name for himself in the Air Force, he had met Rosemary that night at a local bar, after which they started making out in his Volkswagen Beetle at a nearby park. That’s when David Berkowitz showed up and shot at them with a .44 caliber revolver. While Rosemary wasn’t hit with any bullets, Carl was struck on the head.
Fortunately, he managed to survive the life-threatening attack, and the doctors used a metal plate to replace a part of his injured skull. However, his dreams of joining the Air Force were shattered due to the injury. When Berkowitz was finally arrested and sentenced for his violent crimes, Carl breathed a sigh of relief. As years rolled by, he started doubting whether it was actually the serial killer who pulled the trigger that night.
Carl Later Claimed the Shooting Was Not Carried Out by David Berkowitz
By July 2017, Carl Denaro had done plenty of research on David Berkowitz and came to the conclusion that he was shot by a woman on the night of October 23, 1976. He explained in an interview with People, “I believe other people were involved. He (Berkowitz) had help, and I am not alone in thinking this. Berkowitz, in an interview, comes right out and says he did not shoot Carl Denaro and claims that it was a woman.” Over the years, he reached out to the serial killer and wrote several letters to him to arrange a meeting, but Berkowitz reportedly backed out later.
In hindsight, Carl claimed that he didn’t “see any upside to meeting with him. An apology from him would be a hollow apology, anyway.” A few years later, he claimed that he was shot by an “occult priestess” and not the Son of Sam, who also denied shooting him years after his original claim. In May 2021, he told Newsweek, “During the ‘Son of Sam’ rampage, I got my information about the case like everyone else, the evening news, the New York Post, and the Daily News. At the time, I had no reason to think that the attacks were the work of a cult. I read The Ultimate Evil…and started thinking there might be something to this.” Nearly five decades later, Carl is still waiting for the truth about that night.
Carl Denaro Seemingly Leads a Retired Life Today
Carl Denaro graduated from Queensborough Community College with a major in Electrical and Electronics Engineering in 1975. Not much is known about his career after the shooting incident. More than three decades later, in August 2008, he became the Owner/Manager of Veritas Telecom Consulting LLC for over two years. In the following years, he also served as the Construction Site Fire Safety Manager for two different agencies — Total Safety Consulting LLC and MD Carlisle Construction. From August 2017 to July 2022, Carl was employed at Calero-MDSL as a TEM Audit Analyst.
On March 2, 2021, Carl also became a published author as his book ”The Son of Sam’ and Me: The Truth About Why I Wasn’t Shot By David Berkowitz,’ which he co-authored with True Crime author Brian Whitney, was published. In the book, he talks about how an NYPD ballistics detective claimed that he was shot by a “90-pound weakling or a woman.” It seems that he has retired from work and spends most of his time pursuing his passion.
Where is Carl Denaro Now?
Carl Denaro has come a long way since the fateful night of October 23, 1976, that changed his life forever. He thankfully survived the shooting, but it had a significant impact on his physical as well as mental health. However, he chose not to let the scars and trauma dictate his future and focused on moving forward with grace and determination to build a life. Though it has been nearly five decades since then, he is still standing tall, grounded by the warmth of his family and friends. Over the years, he tied the knot with Joanne in the presence of their loved ones. Not just that, the two then welcomed a beautiful daughter into the world, whom they named Casey Denaro.
Unfortunately, Joanne passed away in May 2021, leaving behind a sea of people who adored her deeply. Her demise naturally devastated Carl and Casey, but they somehow managed to go on with their lives, as that is what she’d have wanted. Yet, in their own way, they celebrate her life and keep her memories alive in their hearts. From what we can tell, Carl has found love again and appears to be in a relationship. Having said that, he has kept the identity of his partner away from the public eye. The Middletown, New York native has since relocated and currently resides in Floral Park, where he has built a great life for himself.
In July 2025, Carl also attended the local Sunflower Fest 2025 and likely treated himself to good music, food, and vibes. He enjoys attending musical shows or shaking a leg at parties with his loving partner. Now an empty-nester, the author continues to share a close-knit bond with Casey, and they often meet up to create wonderful memories. The father-daughter duo are each other’s biggest cheerleaders. At almost 70 years of age, Carl is leading a fulfilling life, spending most of his time surrounded by the affection of all those he loves and who love him.
Read More: Judy Placido: What Happened to the Son of Sam Survivor?
