Joel David Rifkin (born January 20, 1959) is an American serial killer, who was sentenced to 203 years in prison for the murders of nine women between 1989 and 1993, though it is believed he had up to 17 victims. As a result, 118 falls into the intelligent category. You may know him as the real-life embodiment of Lex Luthor, that rich bald guy, or that, The NBA markets its stars better than any other sports organization in North America. Only 4 of the 10 sets of remains have been identified. Sign up forOxygen Insiderfor all the best true crime content. His biological parents were college students and remained unknown to him. Animal behavior studies, neurological tests, and functional brain imaging are used to examine the case of a serial killer, Joel Rifkin, who confessed to murdering 17 women. Otherwise, the two more or less vanished from view. He spent more than four years in solitary confinement, then was transferred to the Clinton Correctional Facility in Clinton County, New York. Among his victims during this year were prostitutes Barbara Jacobs, Mary Ellen DeLuca and Yun Lee. Remains found on June 29, 1993, near John F. Kennedy International Airport. As the learning disorder continued to go unnoticed and untreated, Rifkin suffered at the hands of bullies and was continuously pushed out of any social circle he tried to join. [2] He was implicated in Balch's murder after his arrest in 1993. He was adopted at 3 weeks old and was what you would call a "nerd." He looked gawky, was horrible at sports, had a stutter along with other learning disabilities and was just socially awkward. Berkowitz said the 1,675-square-feet home at 1492 Garden St. was sold to a family whose identity has not been disclosed. When researching different, famous serial killers one in particular stood out: Joel Rifkin. $322,000 $102,500 lower than the asking price. Despite the fact that Rifkin had been caught in 1994, police were able to piece together the pieces of the puzzle by obtaining a detailed description of how he murdered 17 prostitutes, which allowed them to apprehend Rifkin. Joel Rifkins mother was a stay-at-home mom who was very involved in her childrens lives. Some of the victims were even brought to the East Meadow home in Long Island that he shared with Jeanne and Jan, where he murdered the women; he also dismembered some of the bodies at the residence. Chris Camacho, a former Los Angeles police officer, provided critical assistance in saving Shapiro. Some may find them disturbing and hard to watch or listen to, but there is a separate group of people who love exploring this not-so-pleasant side of the genre. Others are victims of traumatic abuse from parents, guardians, and/or peers while growing up. Instead of treating him like a potential asset to the team, his track teammates dunked his head in the toilet bowl, hid his clothes, and called him a lard a**. Meanwhile, someone stole Rifkins camera soon after he signed up for the yearbook staff, and while he worked hard to get the senior yearbook published, he was rewarded for his efforts by not being invited to the year-end wrap party. Childhood And Early Life American serial killer Joel David Rifkin was born on the 20 January 1959. All three are classified by serial-killer experts as organized killers. Between the years of 1989 and 1993 Joel "The Ripper" Rifkin went on a "killing spree" (biography.com 2015). [17], Prison officials decided in 1996 that Rifkin was so notorious that his presence in the general prison population could be disruptive. HENRY ZEBROWSKI . Biography. The average IQ is in the range of 50 to 60. According to reports, he has an IQ of 170. He started using the vehicle to troll for prostitutes in nearby Hempstead, and later Manhattan. In 1965, the family moved to East Meadow, Long Island, where Rifkin enrolled in Prospect Avenue Elementary School. Otherwise, the two more or less vanished from view. Body found on June 28, 1993, on the floor of Rifkin's pickup truck, This page was last edited on 20 February 2023, at 22:50. Rifkin was killing people for the pure purpose of killing them. By January 1996, Rifkin was scheduled to serve at least 183 years for seven slayings, with 10 counts outstanding. While Jan and Jeanne stayed mostly silent during the court proceedings, even as reporters staked out their now-infamous home, his sister did speak to New York Post reporter Andrea Peyser. From 1989 to 1993, hed cruise the streets, pick women up, and strangle them before disposing of their bodies throughout the greater metropolitan area. Joel David Rifkin (born January 20, 1959) is an American serial killer convicted of the murder of 9 women (although it is believed he killed as many as 17), mostly drug addicted prostitutes, between 1989 and 1993 in New York City. The East Meadow home of Joel Rifkin, one of the nation's most notorious serial killers, has been sold, according to Laffey Real Estate in New Hyde Park. Joel Rifkin, from East Meadow, N.Y., in 1996. When police arrested Joel Rifkin during a routine traffic stop in 1993, there didn't seem to be anything too peculiar at first the Long Island native was, after all, simply caught driving without a license tag. He ended up turning himself in after the murder of his mother and given life in prison. He did not focus on his studies and did not understand the meaning of the words, which resulted in his dyslexia diagnosis. Remains found on May 25, 1992, in Patterson, New York. As a teenager, Rifkin desperately tried to fit in. Joel Rifkin had been adopted by Bernard Rifkin and Jeanne Rifkin when he was an infant, according to Robert Mladinichs 2001 book, From the Mouth of the Monster: The Joel Rifkin Story.. He is believed to have killed up to seventeen victims between 1989 and 1993 in New York City and on Long Island, New York. As part of his job or interests, he has access to, or a stockpile of, burlap sacks. Rifkin would go on to strangle 17 women, most of whom were drug addicts or prostitutes. Joe Gatto: From High School Graduate To Impractical Jokers Star, Exploring The Benefits Of College Now Classes For High School Students, The Power Of Speech: Exploring The Mandatory Speech Classes In Arkansas High Schools, Teaching With A High School Diploma: Exploring The Possibilities And Requirements. Joel Rifkin, who is the focus of Oxygens new special Rifkin on Rifkin: Private Confessions of a Serial Killer, targeted sex workers in New York City. Joel David Rifkin (born January 20, 1959) is an American serial killer who was sentenced to 203 years in prison for the murders of nine women between 1989 and 1993. Its a steal, he added, in reference to the home selling well below the market price. .css-m6thd4{-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;display:block;margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;font-family:Gilroy,Helvetica,Arial,Sans-serif;font-size:1.125rem;line-height:1.2;font-weight:bold;color:#323232;text-transform:capitalize;}@media (any-hover: hover){.css-m6thd4:hover{color:link-hover;}}Idaho Murders: What Led Police to Bryan Kohberger, Adnan Syed: A Complete Timeline of His Trial, Appeal and Killing of Hae Min Lee. Rifkin, who murdered 17 women in a four-year period, would sometimes bring his victims to the Long Island house he shared with his mother and sister. All I can say is I love my brother. The remains of as many as 10 people have been found. I love him [] itll probably be distorted I cant trust anyone, she said when Peyser questioned her as she left her home, according to Maria Eftimiades 1993 book, Garden of Graves: The Shocking True Story Of The Long Island Serial Killer Joel Rifkin.. Inspired by what he had just viewed, he began fantasizing about strangling sex workers, and these fantasies would soon involve thoughts of bondage, rape, and a gladiator type thing with two girls that would fight to the death, as Rifkin later admitted to his biographer Robert Mladinich. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. He is most likely a white male in his mid-20s to mid-40s. Joel Rifkin: American serial killer (1959-), Murderer, Serial killer, Criminal, From: United States of America. He described all 17 murders, writing out the names he remembered and even sketching maps to help police find those victims still missing. The summertime disappearances suggest several characteristics. Rifkin murdered 17 prostitutes between 1994 and 1998, at random and without explanation. criminal profiler, said of the Long Island mystery killer, He likes the suffering of others.. He has demonstrated social skills. She was described as being crestfallen and in shock by the outlet. And then Joel Rifkin's like, 'Well that killed 17 of them.'. As with other serial killers, the disturbing truth is that we will likely never know for certain why Rifkin is the way he is. Learn about Joel Rifkin Net Worth, Biography, Age, Birthday, Height, Early Life, Family, Dating, Partner, Wiki and Facts. We strive for accuracy and fairness.If you see something that doesn't look right,contact us! As troopers came up to the car, they detected a strong odor from the back of the truck. Here's What We Know About Serial Killer Joel Rifkin's Childhood. That would be reflected in his relationship and jobs. His camera was immediately stolen, and he was excluded from the wrap party at the end of the year. It featured interviews with Rifkins family, friends, and law enforcement officials, as well as archival footage and photos. Mickey Katz was a musician -- a clarinetist and a saxophone player -- in bands around the east. Instead of treating him like a potential asset to the team, his track teammates dunked his head in the toilet bowl, hid his clothes, and called him a "lard a**." For Joel Rifkin's bullies, it apparently wasn't enough that he was made to feel like a social pariah for joining clubs despite his outcast status. Rifkin was eventually caught by state troopers in Wantagh after a wild car chase in June 1993. He dismembered the corpse as before, but this time he placed the body parts in buckets weighted with concrete and tossed the remains into the East River and a Brooklyn canal. How Much Money Does Jeff Bezos Make Per Hour? In 1994, he was sentenced to 203 years in prison for the murders of nine women . The burlap sacks provide another clue. Those four victims, who were found in December, were all in their 20s and had worked as prostitutes. Joel Rifkins Relationship With His Dad, Explained, Why Joel Rifkin Collected Trinkets From His Victims. CNN's Chris Cuomo interviewed Rifkin for his Inside Evil series and unsurprisingly concluded that the answer is likely a complex combination of both. Link your TV provider to stream full episodes and live TV. While Joel Rifkins home life seemed pretty ordinary apart from his allegedly strained relationship with his father, school was a war zone in comparison for the awkward young boy as he became a popular target for bullies in middle school, per ThoughtCo. He would actually get sexual pleasure out of the murder.. . However, after Rifkin tried to flee and ended up crashing his car into a pole, the body of a missing sex worker was discovered in the trunk of the vehicle; Rifkin would later confess to killing a total of 17 women over a span of four years, offering details such as the names of the victims and the locations where he dumped their body parts. Tali Shapiro was kidnapped by Abraham Alcala in 1944 and held captive for 26 days. Rifkin moved Bresciani into the garage, leaving her body in a wheelbarrow in the summer heat for three days. Thats quite a bit worse than average. Most murders, theres an additional motive to it. He had a troubled childhood. Profiling serial murderers is far from a precise science. For the moment, he is known in law enforcement jargon only as Unsub, or unknown subject. In June 1993, Rifkin strangled hooker Tiffany Bresciani and drove her back to his mother's home, stopping at stores along the way for rope and tarp, while Bresciani's corpse lay in the backseat of his mother's car. Bernard would never learn his sons role in 17 deaths, as he died in February 1987 after overdosing on barbiturates following a battle with prostate cancer. Rifkin was ultimately sentenced to 203 years in prison, where he remains to this day. Despite an Intelligence Quotient of 128, Biographysaid Rifkin struggled in school due to undiagnosed dyslexia. By the time he got home, she was wrapped in tarp and concealed in the trunk. Joel Rifkin wasn't academically gifted, nor was he gifted athletically. They got into a fight literally where Colin Ferguson because he was truly very crazy, he was like, 'I killed six devils, you just killed people.'. Remains found on October 1, 1991, in Cornwall, New York. Im not either. Jan and Jeanne regularly showed up for Joel during the trial, though, as New York magazine noted in its August 1993 issue. That apparently overcame the history.". Identity remains unknown. Nevertheless, the host did argue that Rifkin's nature was driven by his nurture and appeared to suggest that the killer's murderous impulses were at least partially innate. After the trial, the two vanished from the public eye. . Thirdly, Rifkin experienced a rough childhood marked by bullying from other boys . Your email address will not be published. Joel Rifkin, no doubt already fighting feelings of abandonment (he was adopted by a Jewish family), was subjected to social ostracization pretty much from his first day of school. Joel Rifkin's birth parents were both young college students, his biological father an army veteran. He joined the track team with hopes of making friends, but his teammates frequently tormented him. Crime News is your destination for true crime stories from around the world, breaking crime news, and information about Oxygen's original true crime shows and documentaries. Three years later they also adopted a daughter, Jan. Its a really beautiful area, said Berkowitz, whose real estate firm has listed the property ever since the home was first placed on the market close to a year ago. Jim Clemente, a retired F.B.I. HENRY ZEBROWSKI. Joel didnt murder his first victim, a sex worker named Heidi Balch, until two years later. If you or anyone you know is having suicidal thoughts, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255). Inside the Mind of a Killer By ABC News Oct. 27, 2002 -- Joel Rifkin strangled 17 prostitutes in four years, at random and without remorse. Discover Joel Rifkin's Biography, Age, Height, Physical Stats, Dating/Affairs, Family and career updates. [11] Investigators determined in 2013 that Balch and the woman he described as his first victim were the same person. While Joel Rifkin's home life seemed pretty ordinary apart from his allegedly strained relationship with his father, school was a war zone in comparison for the awkward young boy as he became a popular target for bullies in middle school, per ThoughtCo. Investigators have said they believe that the four women were killed shortly after they were reported missing. Remains found on July 14, 1991, in the Hudson River. And now, a new killer may be following in his murderous . People / Joel Rifkin. Biography. Joel David Rifkin (born January 20, . He received his undergraduate and graduate degrees from UCLA and NYU, respectively. His adoptive father, Bernard Rifkin, was of Russian Jewish descent and . In 1972, inspired by the .css-47aoac{-webkit-text-decoration:underline;text-decoration:underline;text-decoration-thickness:0.0625rem;text-decoration-color:inherit;text-underline-offset:0.25rem;color:#A00000;-webkit-transition:all 0.3s ease-in-out;transition:all 0.3s ease-in-out;}.css-47aoac:hover{color:#595959;text-decoration-color:border-link-body-hover;}Alfred Hitchcock film Frenzy, Rifkin became fixated on the idea of strangling prostitutes. The killers attraction to a single out-of-the-way area suggests to several experts that he has an intimate knowledge of Jones Beach Island in general and Ocean Parkway in particular. Mr. Shulman, a 42-year-old postal worker from Hicksville, was convicted of killing and dismembering five prostitutes after he was arrested in 1996. As further noted, this was due to an undiagnosed case of dyslexia. After Tiffany failed to return, Rubinstein called the police with a description of the 1984 Mazda pickup truck that Rifkin drove. He also bounced from school to school, earning poor grades, until he finally dropped out in 1984. Young Rifkin had a difficult time trying to fit with his peers and was often the target of school bullying. Joel Rifkin (January 20, 1959) Serial killer who is believed to have murdered at least 17 prostitutes in New York and Long Island. Investigators believe that the deaths of the four prostitutes were the work of a serial killer, but they have not publicly declared a connection between the first four bodies from December and the unidentified ones that were found more recently. Looking at the backgrounds of serial killers, many of them show certain traitsas children that could predict their future behaviors in adulthood. Rifkin sued, arguing that his solitary imprisonment was unconstitutional. Joel Rifkin was adopted just three weeks after his birth on January 20, 1959, and most accounts suggest that he was raised by a loving, middle-class family. Best Known For: American serial killer Joel Rifkin killed 17 women in the 1990s before the police pulled him over for a missing license plate and discovered his latest victim in his trunk. Punishment and Conviction: In 1994, Joel Rifkin - who was represented by John Lawrence - was convicted of murdering 9 individuals and sentenced to life incarceration within the Attica Correctional Facility in the State of New York; although he is eligible for parole in the year 2197, his sentence is considered to be a 'natural life . In this exclusive sneak peek from April 10's new Oxygen special, Rifkin on Rifkin: Private Confessions of a Serial Killer, Joel Rifkin detailed a murder he committed. He was convicted of murder the following year and later pleaded guilty to additional counts of murders. Joel Rifkin - The Drifter, Joel the Ripper killed at least 9 victims between 1989 and 1993. This is someone who can walk into a room and seem like your average Joe, said Scott Bonn, an assistant professor of sociology at Drew University in Madison, N.J., and a serial-killer researcher. According to Oxygens new special on murderer and serial killer Joel Rifkin, he murdered 17 women. Director John R. Hand Writer John R. Hand Stars Arnold Odo Fernando Cano Bri Bynon McGregor See production, box office & company info Watch on Prime Video She was completely unaware of the corpse, she testified at a pre-trial hearing, according to a 1993 Times article. A routine traffic stop brought him to justice in 1993 and he eventually confessed to 17 murders, but his disturbing legacy continues to fuel questions about the nature of the murderous mind and its true origins. He kept detailed notes on each murder, detailing his method and motive. Years after those gruesome murders took place, Rifkin's legacy remains intact as one of the most prolific and shocking serial killers of his era. Astrological Sign: Aquarius, Article Title: Joel Rifkin Biography, Author: Biography.com Editors, Website Name: The Biography.com website, Url: https://www.biography.com/crime/joel-rifkin, Publisher: A&E; Television Networks, Last Updated: August 21, 2019, Original Published Date: April 2, 2014. Several identified killers have been suspected at one point of being the Gilgo Beach Killer or having a connection to him: Joel Rifkin. Tiffany was with her boyfriend, punk rock musician Dave Rubinstein. Joel Rifkin was a serial killer who was convicted of murdering nine women in New York City during the 1980s and 1990s. Rifkin had difficulty fitting in with his peers and became a frequent target of school bullies. Joel David Rifkin (born January 20, 1959) is an American serial killer. Anyone can read what you share. But that didnt stop him from trying to fit in, as he joined the track team and yearbook staff, only to fall victim to cruel pranks. Joel David Rifkin (born January 20, 1959) . Pearl Fernandez Murdered Her Son. All I can say is I love my brother. [13][15][16], He was found guilty of nine counts of second-degree murder in 1994, and sentenced to 203 years up to life in prison. Hes not evil. Rifkin strangled his victims and brought some of the bodies to the home, where he would dismember them. New York State Police escort Joel Rifkin, 34, a landscaper from East Meadow, to a holding cell after charging him with second-degree murder in East Farmingdale, L.I. For Rifkin, his ideal world was a macabre one that was defined by murdering and raping women. This begs the question of what may have turned him into such a dangerous individual by the time he started his killing spree in 1989. Joel Rifkin estimated Net Worth, Biography, Age, Height, Dating, Relationship Records, Salary, Income, Cars, Lifestyles & many more details have been updated below. Once arrested Rifkin immediately confessed to 17 and was convicted of murdering 9 female prostitutes in the New York, NY area. Joel Rifkin had been adopted by Bernard Rifkin and Jeanne Rifkin when he was an infant, according to Robert Mladinich's 2001 book, "From the Mouth of the Monster: The Joel Rifkin Story." His parents were described as kind, loving people by those who knew them they even once forbade their kids to have toy guns, the New York Times reported in 1993. As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. Tiffany Brescianis body was discovered in the trunk of his car after he crashed into a pole. Sound familiar, fellow geeks? According to Camacho, Alcala said, Wait a minute, give me my pants. Well take three seconds now, I said. Joel Rifkin had been adopted by Bernard Rifkin and Jeanne Rifkin when he was an infant, according to Robert Mladinich's 2001 book, "From the Mouth of the Monster: The Joel Rifkin Story." His . Joel David Rifkin (born January 20, 1959) is an American serial killer convicted of the murders of nine women (although it is believed he killed as many as 17), mostly drug-addicted prostitutes, between 1989 and 1993 in New York City. Remains found on September 23, 1991, in the East River off Randalls Island. [9] Her remains were not identified until 2013. He is the one who laughs when a cat gets run over or a kid falls off his bike. Rifkin confessed to all 17 killings. Joel Rifkin was someone who was used to being invisible. He was placed in solitary confinement at the Attica Correctional Facility for 23 hours a day over the course of four years. What would it be like to learn your loved one was capable of multiple brutal murders? He is believed to have killed up to seventeen victims between 1989 and 1993 in New York City and on Long Island, New York. He then dismembered the corpse with an X-acto knife, removing her identity by severing her fingertips and removing her teeth with pliers. Between 1989 and 1993, Rifkin kidnapped and murdered 17 women in and around New York and New Jersey. Cops, noticing a horrific odor coming from the vehicle, investigated and found the body of Tiffany Bresciani in the trunk. He could be using them either because they are part of his killing ritual or because they are the easiest cover he can find. Conrad Hilton Sr.'s, When it comes to working martial arts actors, Donnie Yen is one of the biggest names in America, The WWE's cast of characters has included vampires like Gangrel; creepy kid's show host Bray, Jeff Bezos. My guess, Mr. Rifkin told the newspaper, is it would be someone like a landscaper, contractor or a fisherman., Bright, Careful and Sadistic: Profiling Long Islands Mystery Serial Killer, https://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/22/nyregion/long-island-serial-killer-gets-a-personality-profile.html. Njegova bioloka stara sta ga 14. februarja 1959, ko je bil star tri tedne, dala v posvojitev. For Joel Rifkins bullies, it apparently wasnt enough that he was made to feel like a social pariah for joining clubs despite his outcast status. Aside from his bad grades and lack of coordination, his poor posture, elongated face, and the fact he wore prescription eyeglasses made him easy pickings for just about everyone he interacted with, even the otherwise nerdy kids who would normally get picked on regularly. Required fields are marked *. In 1989, he killed his first woman. Subscribe to Patch's new newsletter to be the first to know about open houses, new listings and more. Rifkin actually admitted to killing 17 victims, with some of the murders. Your email address will not be published. His parents were unwed college students who gave him up for adoption shortly after his birth on January 20, 1959. An unemployed landscaper, Rifkin was arrested in July 1993 and later convicted of the serial murders of more than 17 prostitutes. Although he often hired sex workers in Brooklyn and Manhattan, he lived in East Meadow, a suburban town on Long Island. Mr. Rifkin, now 52, is an inmate at the Clinton state prison in Dannemora, N.Y., near the Canadian border. He had been flagged down by police while driving because he didnt have a license plate. Ron Rifkin and Joel Grey attend the Reception Celebrating Joel Grey's New Book "1.3 - IMAGES FROM MY PHONE" at Michael's on June 3, 2009 in New York. Childhood exposure to mercury is known to increase the risk of prostate cancer as an adult. Frustrated with athletics, Rifkin joined the yearbook staff. Some of the victims were taken to his East Meadow home by his parents, where he lived with them on Long Island. He moved to Manorville in 2003, but knew the area . HENRY . Mr. Shulman died of natural causes in 2006 while serving life without parole. Exploring Factors Benefits And Drawbacks. Three weeks later, Bernard and Jeanne Rifkin adopted young Joel. The closing price was $322,000, which is $102,500 lower than the originally listed price. Joel David Rifkin (born January 20, 1959) is an American serial killer who was sentenced to 203 years in prison for the murders of nine women between 1989 and 1993. peoplepill id: joel-rifkin. When police arrested Joel Rifkin during a routine traffic stop in 1993, there didnt seem to be anything too peculiar at first the Long Island native was, after all, simply caught driving without a license tag. Jeanne did remain in her East Meadow home, despite the shocking horrors that occurred there, until her death on March 10, 2010, according to her obituary; there is no mention of her notorious son and his brutal killings in her home. When New York's most prolific killer was inside Attica Penitentiary -- a maximum security campus of New York State prison in the town of Attica -- he agreed to talk to his former college friend and retired NYPD detective Robert Mladinich. In real life, Joel Rifkin's early years could have been worse.