Is Joel Rifkin Still Alive? Who is Joel Rifkin?
by Rubaditsha | Updated Jun 13, 2023
Who is Joel Rifkin?
Joel David Rifkin, born on January 20, 1959, is an American serial killer who was convicted and sentenced to 203 years in prison for the murder of nine women between 1989 and 1993. However, it is believed that he may have had as many as 17 victims.
Rifkin's early life was marked by his adoption and the challenges he faced growing up. His biological parents, both young college students, placed him for adoption when he was just three weeks old. He was then adopted by an upper-middle-class couple living on Long Island.
During his school years, Rifkin struggled academically due to learning disabilities, and his poor social skills made him unpopular with his classmates. He eventually graduated from East Meadow High School in 1977. He went on to attend Nassau Community College, the State University of New York at Brockport, and the State University of New York at Farmingdale, but he did not complete his degree. Instead, Rifkin pursued a career as a self-employed landscaper.
Tragedy struck Rifkin's family when his father, Bernard, took his own life on February 20, 1987. Bernard had been battling prostate cancer for several months before overdosing on medication.
Rifkin's criminal activities came to the attention of law enforcement on August 22, 1987, when he was arrested during a sting operation targeting sex workers in Hempstead, New York. He had offered money to an undercover female police officer.
Is Joel Rifkin Still Alive?
Joel Rifkin is still alive. After being convicted of nine counts of second-degree murder, he was sentenced to 203 years in prison. He is currently serving his sentence at the Clinton Correctional Facility in Dannemora, New York.
Joel Rifkin's crimes took place in the late 1980s and early 1990s. He targeted primarily women, many of whom were sex workers. Rifkin's modus operandi involved killing his victims and then disposing of their bodies in various locations across the tri-state area. He used methods such as dismemberment and dumping bodies in rivers or other secluded areas. Rifkin's crimes went undetected for a significant period of time, with some of his victims' remains not being identified until years later.
Rifkin's final known victim was Tiffany Bresciani. Her boyfriend, Dave Rubinstein, provided crucial information to the police that led to Rifkin's arrest. On June 24, 1993, Bresciani left with Rifkin in a pickup truck, and when she didn't return, Rubinstein reported her missing. Four days later, Rifkin was pulled over by state troopers, and Bresciani's body was discovered in the truck he was driving.
During his trial, it was revealed that Rifkin had committed the murders out of "psychosexual sadism." He expressed an obsession with the Alfred Hitchcock film "Frenzy" and admitted to deriving sexual gratification from scenes depicting women being strangled.
Due to his notoriety, Rifkin has been kept separate from the general prison population for security reasons. He spent over four years in solitary confinement before being transferred to the Clinton Correctional Facility. Despite his confinement, he has occasionally been consulted by newspapers for insights into other serial killers who operated in the Long Island area, where he also carried out his crimes.
Joel Rifkin Documentary
The documentary "Rifkin on Rifkin: Private Confessions of a Serial Killer" explores the life and crimes of Joel Rifkin, who is known as New York's most prolific serial killer. It is part of Oxygen channel's "Serial Killer Week" and focuses on the recorded conversations between Rifkin and Robert Mladinich, a former NYPD detective who visited Rifkin at Attica Correctional Facility.
The documentary delves into the correspondence between Mladinich and Rifkin, which began after Rifkin's arrest. Mladinich, who had been an active police officer at the time, waited until he retired to avoid interfering with the investigation. He was shocked to learn that someone he knew and considered a nice person could commit such heinous crimes. The letters between Mladinich and Rifkin continued until they finally met face-to-face in 1999.
Throughout the documentary, viewers gain insight into Rifkin's troubled childhood. He was described as meek and mild-mannered but struggled with confidence and lacked natural athletic ability. He also faced bullying, which left him angry and isolated. Despite his unassuming appearance, Rifkin became a serial killer, targeting sex workers.
Rifkin's modus operandi involved picking up numerous sex workers, and he eventually dropped out of college. His fantasies of strangling women grew more frequent, leading him to commit a series of murders. The documentary reveals the names of some of his victims, including Tiffany Bresciani, Julie Blackbird, Lauren Marquez, Mary Catherine Williams, Barbara Jacobs, Yun Lee, Maryann Hollomon, Leah Evens, Violet O'Neill, Mary Ellen DeLuca, Lorraine Orvieto, Iris Sanchez, Jenny Soto, and Anna Lopez. Rifkin specifically selected victims who wouldn't immediately draw attention if they went missing, and he disposed of their remains in various locations across New York.
The recorded conversations between Mladinich and Rifkin show a calm and matter-of-fact demeanor from Rifkin when discussing his crimes. He displayed no remorse and showed no desire to bring his victims back. Rifkin acknowledged his lack of empathy and humanity, expressing a willingness to undergo brain scans and speak with mental health professionals to better understand his own deficiencies.
Rifkin's killing spree came to an end in 1993 after a traffic violation led to the discovery of Bresciani's body in the back of his pickup truck. During questioning, Rifkin admitted to the other murders he had committed.
In 1994, Rifkin was sentenced to life in prison. Years later, DNA evidence confirmed the identity of his first known victim, "Susie," as Heidi Balch. However, two of Rifkin's victims remain unidentified.
The documentary aims to shed light on the dangers of associating with individuals like Joel Rifkin, who have experienced emotional and physical brutality and may pose a threat to others. It serves as a reminder for people to be vigilant and aware of those who may have a dark side lurking beneath their seemingly benign exterior.
Is Joel Rifkin Still Alive:FAQs
Joel Rifkin is an American serial killer who was convicted for the murders of nine women between 1989 and 1993. It is believed that he may have had additional victims, possibly up to 17.
Joel Rifkin was adopted by an upper-middle-class couple on Long Island when he was three weeks old. He faced challenges in school due to learning disabilities and struggled with poor social skills. Rifkin graduated from East Meadow High School in 1977 and attended several colleges but did not earn a degree. He later became self-employed as a landscaper.
Rifkin was arrested on August 22, 1987, during a sting operation targeting sex workers in Hempstead, New York. He offered money to an undercover female police officer, leading to his arrest.
Clinton Correctional Facility
31, 1939 in New York, NY, Rifkin was raised in an Orthodox Jewish home by his immigrant parents, Herman and Miriam.