'Son Of Sam' David Berkowitz Denied Parole, But Says Jesus Has Forgiven Him

David Berkowitz, a.k.a. the "Son of Sam," was denied parole again last week, but the notorious serial killer didn't even bother turning up for his hearing.

And now, his lawyer is explaining why.

“David told me that the reason he has never sought freedom from the parole board by attending parole hearings is because ‘Jesus has already freed my heart, soul and mind and has forgiven me,'" Mark J. Heller told the New York Post's Page Six.

Heller told the Post that while Berkowitz was raised Jewish, he joined Jews for Jesus in prison, where he's served as a minister’s assistant.

Berkowitz is serving a life sentence for killing six people and injuring seven more in 1976 and 1977. At one point during the killing spree, Berkowitz wrote to columnist Jimmy Breslin, signing the letter "Son of Sam." Once caught, he claimed to have been taking orders from a demon in possession of his neighbor's dog, Harvey.

The dog's owner was a man named Sam Carr.

Berkowitz, who turns 61 on June 1, also claimed to have been involved in a Satanic cult. His next chance for parole will come in 2016.