Sometimes hed throw them in the Hudson River or dispose of them in mine shafts. [2][32] Kuklinski was held on a $2million bail bond, and made to surrender his passport. [76] The film was directed by Ariel Vromen and also stars Winona Ryder, Ray Liotta, Stephen Dorff, and Chris Evans. They grabbed Hoffa in Detroit. Richard Leonard Kuklinski (/kklnski/; April 11, 1935 March 5, 2006), also known as The Iceman, was an American criminal and convicted murderer. Kuklinski told the man he could have 30 minutes to pray to God to see if God would come and intervene. The Rockland County medical examiner found ice crystals inside the body on a warm September day. [73], In contrast, "Bad Richie" who would appear at irregular intervals: sometimes one day after another, other times not appearing for months was prone to unpredictable fits of rage, smashing furniture and domestic violence. Assassin? Richard Kuklinski is born Dec 10, 1949. By LOST Rogue 89. Mr. Kuklinski disclosed the killing of Detective Calabro on the second HBO documentary on his life, in 2001. So I told him he could have a half an hour to pray to God, and if God could come down and change the circumstances, hed have that time. Often his targets were people who annoyed him, someone he felt had slighted him in some small way. [5] Describing the murder, Kuklinski said he parked his van on the side of a narrow road, forcing other drivers to slow to pass. Richard Kuklinski Research Papers 1278 Words | 6 Pages. December 1986 was Kuklinskis downfall, he was caught at the age of 51, and was sentenced to life in 1988. Local cave enthusiast Richard Kranzel also queried the idea of flesh-eating rats, saying "The only rats I encountered in caves are 'cave rats,' and they are reclusive and shy creatures, and definitely not fierce as Kuklinski claims. Because of his sheer number of kills, as well as his approach to killing, many believe he should be considered a . In the eighth grade, he dropped out of school, and that same year, at the age of 14, he beat the town bully to death. However Sammy have denied recruiting Kuklinski. More information on Richard Kuklinski can be found here. He was transferred to a secure wing at St. Francis Medical Center in Trenton, New Jersey. Corrections? Richard Leonard Kuklinski ( / kklnski /; April 11, 1935 - March 5, 2006), also known as The Iceman, was an American criminal and convicted murderer. These guys watch too many movies. At a press conference, New Jersey state Attorney General W. Cary Edwards characterized the motive for the murders as "profit" and said He set individuals up for business deals, they disappeared, and the money ended up in his hands.[2], At trial, Kuklinski's former associates including Percy House and Barbara Deppner gave evidence against him as did ATF Special Agent Polifrone. [66], Michael Shannon played Kuklinski in the 2012 film The Iceman loosely based on Anthony Bruno's book The Iceman: The True Story of a Cold-Blooded Killer. Kuklinski was particularly clever when it came to avoiding the authorities. It wasnt too nice. At the time, the police thought it was homeless people attacking and killing each other. Kuklinski continued to carry out assignments for DeMeo and the Gambinos, and his willingness to murder without hesitation disturbed even his criminal colleagues, who began to refer to him as the devil himself.. Richard Kuklinski was a notorious serial killer, self-proclaiming that he killed anywhere between 100-200 people. [5] At the request of Kuklinski's family, noted forensic pathologist Michael Baden reviewed his autopsy report. Still, she claimed that she never suspected he was a killer. [3] In 1993, in response to his claims, Hudson County Prosecutor said new charges against Kuklinski were possible since the Prongay murder was still an open investigation, and they would assess whether there was enough evidence to prosecute him. https://www.britannica.com/biography/Richard-Kuklinksi, Crime Museum - Biography of Richard Kuklinski. He isn't taking my calls. He stayed away from drugs and prostitutes, and he never bought what the mob was selling he was an employee, not a client. There have been more recent cases of such unspeakable violence such as last year's Aurora shootings. I don't believe he killed a hundred people. This is a list of notable male murderers whose name begins with the letter K. On one occasion, Richard Kuklinski recalled preparing to kill a man who was begging and praying for his life. Richard Kuklinski was born on April 11, 1935, in Jersey City. Richard Kuklinskis wife Barbara with their daughter during a press conference at their lawyers office. [29], Deppner's corpse was discovered May 14, 1983, after a bicyclist riding Clinton Road in a wooded area of West Milford, New Jersey, spotted the corpse surrounded by vultures. They lived a suburban, relatively affluent life of backyard barbecuing in Dumont, N.J. He gave interviews to prosecutors, psychiatrists, reporters, criminologists, and newscasters anyone who wanted to talk to him. [6] Anna was a zealous Catholic and believed that stern discipline should be accompanied by a strict religious upbringing. Kuklinski urged them to lay low and rented them a room at the York Motel in North Bergen, New Jersey. | A former mobster's POV, "Gravano: Heading to Trial for Allegedly Ordering Cop Killed", "Hit Man Implicates Hit Man In '80 Slaying, Authorities Say", "Self-styled 'Ice Man' was Jimmy Hoffa's killer -- or colossal liar", "Date me or I'll kill your mother -- Ex-wife of notorious 'Ice Man' talks about years with mob killer", New Jersey Department of Law & Public Safety - Division of Criminal Justice 1987 Annual Report, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Richard_Kuklinski&oldid=1137986953, 5 (2 sons from first marriage; 2 daughters and 1 son from second marriage), Stanley Kuklinski (born Stanisaw Kukliski) and Anna McNally Kuklinski, This page was last edited on 7 February 2023, at 12:08. As well as working with the Genovese family he also worked for Newarks DeCavalcante crime family and New York Citys Five Families, including the Gambinos. [41], During his incarceration, Kuklinski granted interviews to prosecutors, psychiatrists, criminologists, and writers. Richard Kuklinski, 70, a Killer of Many People and Many Ways, Dies By Douglas Martin March 9, 2006 Richard Kuklinski, whose lust for publicity nearly matched the blood lust he displayed. He then went on and nearly beat to death the remaining six gang members ("Meet Notorious Contract Killer Richard Kuklinski.").". The defence theorized Deppner was responsible for the murder of Smith, and there was no cause of death determined for Deppner. Richard Leonard Kuklinski (April 11, 1935 March 5, 2006) was an American contract killer and serial killer who was convicted of murdering five people, though he likely killed at least several dozen more. The cops pointed guns at their heads. In 1988 he was found guilty of charges related to the murders of Smith and Deppner. In 2003, he received an additional 30-year sentence after confessing to the murder of a police officer named Peter Calabro. [31][2][32] The ATF was involved due to Kuklinski's firearm sales. Kuklinski also discovered a lucrative market for tapes of pornographic movies; copying and distributing pornography was a regular source of income for him. He lay in a snowbank behind his van until Calabro came by at 2 AM, then stepped out and shot him in the head with a sawed-off shotgun, decapitating Calabro. On the night he died, hospital staff called Barbara and asked if she wanted heroic measures taken on her ex-husband. He added it was best to dump the body to avoid trouble with the police, then forget about the incident. Kuklinski had placed it in a 55-gallon drum and left it near the Chemitex chemical plant in Jersey City. He was 70. amzn_assoc_ad_type = "smart"; amzn_assoc_title = "Richard Kuklinski"; He regarded his mother as a "cancer" who destroyed everything she touched. Then, in the 1950s, Richard Kuklinski got involved with the mafia. Detective Pat Kane believed the Iceman killer murdered as many as 300 men, saying, He killed who he wanted, whenever he wanted.. [24], Prosecutors charged Kuklinski with five murder counts and six weapons violations, as well as attempted murder, robbery, and attempted robbery. But God never showed up and he never changed the circumstances and that was that. Later in life during an interview, he admitted to feeling empowered after committing his first murder. 1 Sourced Quote. I was just a murderer.. The police were unaware to what was occurring, they were under the impression that local bums were killing each other. While in prison, Kuklinski gave numerous interviews to psychiatrists, criminologists, journalists, and writers, telling the story of his life and providing detailed descriptions of how and why he committed dozens of murders. "[1] Newspaper reporters sensationalized Kuklinski's frequently used moniker of "Iceman" in headlines. He started young, killing cats and other animals for the fun of it and to feel "empowered". Richard Kuklinski was born on April 11, 1935. Other times he killed at random, just for the sake of killing. However, in 2013, the Philadelphia Inquirer noted the caves have had a lot of visitors since Kuklinski's time, and no human remains have been discovered. He became an all-purpose criminal, trafficking illegal pornography, staging robberies, and beating those who the mob felt needed a warning. They welcomed two sons into this world Richard Jr. and David before things between them seemingly spiraled out of control, leading to divorce. [27] Between February and May 1983, Deppner was killed by Kuklinski. [24] Warrants were also issued for the arrest of two other gang members, Gary Smith and Daniel Deppner. Richard Kuklinski, byname The Iceman, (born April 11, 1935, Jersey City, New Jersey, U.S.died March 5, 2006, Trenton, New Jersey), American serial killer who was convicted of four murders in 1988 and of a fifth in 2003, though in a series of media interviews he later confessed to having killed at least 100 more and to having worked as a hit man . Richard Kuklinski: Died On This Day in 2006, Aged 70 Hayley Dean Richard 'The Iceman' Kuklinski known as 'The Iceman' due to the fact he would often freeze his victims to obscure their time of death, was described as one of the most violent contracted hitmen who worked for numerous prominent Mafia crime families. Dietz stated he believed Kuklinski suffered from anti-social personality disorder plus paranoid personality disorder. Under New Management: By Order of The NCS, Placido Rizzotto: Assassinated On This Day in 1948, The Cars of the Most Famous Gang Leaders and Mafia Bosses. He participated in two documentaries about his life and spoke candidly about the things he did and why. [11] His father worked as a brakeman on the Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad. Kuklinskis reputation eventually spread to the elite of the organized crime world, particularly the notorious DeCavalcante family, who hired him for his first major gang killing. Barbara described him as a "wholesale distributor" and said he employed an accountant. House agreed to inform on Kuklinski and was placed in protective custody. He grew up to become a Mafia hitman, known as "The Iceman" for often freezing his victims to obscure their time of death. Richard Kuklinski was one of the most diabolical, and notorious, confessed contract killers in American history. Calabro was rumored to have mob connections and was investigated for selling confidential information to the Gambino family. [3] However, author Jerry Capeci, who has written extensively about DeMeo and the mafia, doubts Kuklinski killed DeMeo or had close ties to the DeMeo crew. Whilst in prison, he granted interviews with writers, psychiatrists and criminologists, he lapped it up, enthusiastically and excitedly telling all those that spoke to him that he had killed up to 200 men. But in the 1980s, after 25 years of working as a hitman for the mafia, Kuklinski started his own crime ring and he began to make mistakes. [51] Bruno noted that in 1986 Anthony Indelicato was convicted of Galante's murder and Kuklinski was not mentioned during the trial. The body of Daniel Deppner, another member of the burglary ring, was found the following year; he had also been poisoned.The body of Paul Hoffman, who disappeared in 1982 after trying to buy prescription drugs from Kuklinski, was never located. Kuklinski was set to testify against him. [2] Malliband was reportedly carrying $27,000 at the time. [71] Merrick also remembered a number of road rage incidents involving her father. [5] In 1988, he was convicted of four murders and sentenced to life imprisonment. Kuklinski was convicted for the murder of 5 known victims four of which are Paul Hoffman, Louis Masgay, Gary Smith, Daniel Depper. Patterson was away at the time, but Kuklinski possessed keys to the apartment. His elder brother died from the abuse suffered at the hands of their father. [40][22] Kuklinski was ineligible for parole until 2046, when he would have been 111 years old. RICHARD KUKLINSKI, DEFENDANT. He had married a woman named Linda, who was nine years older than him. Born in New Jersey in 1935, Kuklinski had a troubled childhood and was known for his violent outbursts and lack of empathy. Kuklinski's lawyer argued Kuklinski had no history of violence, and only projected a "tough image," including his statements to ATF Special Agent Polifrone. At the age of 13, he beat a local bully to death and disposed of the body in an icy river. Hoffman hoped to make a big profit by purchasing stolen Tagamet, a popular drug to treat peptic ulcers, to re-sell through his pharmacy. Throughout their marriage, Richard Kuklinski had used the faade of the suburban family man - an usher at Mass every Sunday, barbecues by the pool in the summer, annual trips to Disneyworld -. "[54], Kuklinski claimed he dumped bodies in caves in Bucks County, Pennsylvania and fed a victim to rats in the caves. Law enforcement officials said Kuklinski had large sums of money in Swiss bank accounts and a reservation on a flight to that country. Kuklinski was skilled at disposing of bodies, he would remove anything that would trace the victim, such as fingers and teeth, then he would dump their bodies in rivers or mine shafts. The infamous burglar, rapist and serial killer pillaged his way across America in the early 1900s like a one-man blitzkrieg, raining down chaos everywhere he lay his hat. [67], In his 2001 HBO interview, Secrets of a Mafia Hitman, Kuklinski said he knew who killed former Teamsters union president Jimmy Hoffa. [49][50] Anthony Bruno felt Kuklinski's participation in the killing of Castellano was "highly unlikely". She didnt know that by the time they met, the man who doubled as the Iceman killer had allegedly already committed about 65 murders. Richard Kuklinski, otherwise known as "Iceman," is considered one of the most unique serial killers in American history today. Dwayne was born to Richard Kuklinski's second wife. 17, of Atlantic Highlands, was . [6][7], After his murder convictions, Kuklinski gave interviews to writers, prosecutors, criminologists, and psychiatrists. He tested Polifrone's (purported) cyanide on a stray dog, using a hamburger as bait, and saw it was not poison. Back to Organized Crime Get inside the mind of a violent psychopath in a novel described by serving British detective Scott M as the 'best book' he'd read as it helped him understand his 'clients' better! Eventually, he was hired as a hit man, carrying out assignments from several crime families, including the Genovese, Gambino, and DeCavalcante organizations. 7 Pages. Richard Kuklinski was a prolific hitman, who was given the nickname 'The Iceman,' because of his unique method of freezing his victims' corpses. Retired special agent Dominick Polifrone helped nab the murderer in a joint operation by the New Jersey Attorney General's office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms.He spent 18 months in guise as Dominick Provenzano, a drug-dealing . [75] On June 6, 1984, Kuklinski filed for personal bankruptcy listing debts of $160,697, and assets of only $300. Polifrone told Kuklinski he wanted to hire him to murder a wealthy Jewish cocaine dealer, and recorded Kuklinski speaking in detail about how he would do it. Richard Kuklinski was born in his family's apartment on 4th Street in Jersey City, New Jersey, to Stanley Kuklinski (n Stanisaw Kukliski; December 22, 1906 January 1977), a Polish immigrant from Karwacz, Masovian Voivodeship. Listen above to the History Uncovered podcast, episode 43: Richard Kuklinski, The Iceman, also available on, Marianne Barcellona / The LIFE Images Collection / Getty Images. wish I could say, I was surprised. Heartbreaking Jacob Riis Photographs From How The Other Half Lives And Beyond, The True Story Of Balto, The Husky That Helped Save An Entire Alaskan Town From Certain Death, What Stephen Hawking Thinks Threatens Humankind The Most, 27 Raw Images Of When Punk Ruled New York, Join The All That's Interesting Weekly Dispatch. Kuklinski also confessed to killing Hoffman, but prosecutors decided not to go to trial as they had a weak case and additional life sentences would not have impacted Kuklinski's prison stay. In September 1983, a man's body was found, trussed with tape and wrapped in plastic bags, in a wooded area of Rockland County, New York, just three miles north of the New Jersey border. [41], Kuklinski claimed he was paid to kill Calabro by Gambino crime family soldier (later underboss) Sammy "The Bull" Gravano, and The Bull provided the murder weapon. Then check out these photos that capture life in the 1980s mafia. Three documentaries, the last featuring interviews of Kuklinski by forensic psychiatrist Park Dietz, aired on HBO in 1992, 2001 and 2003 . Instead, he beat Hoffman to death with a tire iron. Born on April 11, 1935, Richard "The Iceman" Kuklinski committed his first murder when he was 14. He did it to thwart any efforts by forensic teams to determine the period of death since the bodies would still be fresh. Copyright The National Crime Syndicate 2014 - 2023. [4] He stated that he lured Hoffman into a rented garage and tried to shoot him, but the gun jammed. [61] Her brothers were regarded as "key suspects," but the crime remained unsolved. [2] His body was stored in a freezer, then discovered fifteen months later. [5][22] He was incarcerated at Trenton State Prison. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. [2] Officers discovered a firearm in the vehicle, and she was charged with possession of a firearm because she was a passenger. Getty Images / Ed Clarity / NY Daily News. (POLL). His crime career began after he took a job at a film lab and sold pornographic movies to the Gambinos. His death toll was widely believed to be between 100 and 200 men. 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