THE LOST SON OF SAM LETTERS

Lovers or Friends?

One of Sam's letters begins with the line, "How's my favorite Popcorn Eaten criminal? ... This morning I awoke to find two shiny apples on my cell bars and a little note from the Big 'GARY EVANS.' ..."

Evans and Sam were, some have suggested, lovers. I am not so sure they were lovers and cannot make that leap, but I know for certain that there was a mutual respect between them and they remained great friends until Evans said one word that made Sam never speak to him again (I'll get to that in a minute).

Further along on page one of the letter, Sam lists several rules he had developed for the inmates who hung around his cell area.

"I fined [a fellow inmate] ten dollars payable to DaveTown," he writes, "... and wrote him up for breaking the following DaveTown rules: 1) Parking a smelley, stinky mop in front of my house and leaving it there. 2) No smoking in front of Dave's house ... 3) No loitering in front of Dave's house without an invitation. 4) No retards in front of Dave's house. 5) No talking shit in front of Dave's house."

"DaveTown Rules" excerpt

It is amazing, really, when you read these letters and think this was how a world famous serial killer spent his days. Or, reading Sam's Web page today, one has to wonder, is this how a born again Christian acted when the light of God supposedly touched him?

In the second part of the letter, Sam goes on to speak of an inmate who "broke every one of those rules." Then he tells Evans about a "jerk who fell off a six floor roof and lived to tell about it, due to his fabulous training." Using his natural charm, Sam wrote, "Listen, if you send me a few munchies—fine, great. But don't send me cash." When Sam was shipped off to another part of the prison, he missed Evans, that much is clear. "See you on Oak Island," he ended, "with your moles ... there's popcorn buried in those treasure chests. ... yours truly, The Great Mouse-kit-eer." As a post script, "Don't forget to visit Dave Town, Exit 1 on the Thruway ... more directions later."

What is Sam actually saying here? Is there some sort of hidden affection in his words?

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1. Author's Note
2. The Phone Call
3. Road Trip
4. Tan Socks
5. It Always Comes Down to Money
6. The Thief
7. Uncle Bill
8. Gary Charles Evans
9. Trust
10. American Family
11. Closet Life
12. The Handcuff
    Key
13. Nothing New
14. Son of Sam
15. Clinton State Prison
16. The Chosen One
17. A True Lady's Man
18. Lipstick and Candy
19. Cryptic Language
20. A Friendship Blossoms
21. Body Image
22. Lovers or Friends?
23. The Great Berko
24. Sir Evans and
    the White Knight
25. Deathwork
26. Sam the Prophet
27. Back at the Office
28. A Friendship Ends
29. Son of Sam Feature Story