However, being a true story, i was impressed with how fast moving the book was. Richard leonard kuklinski was an american killer who was sentenced for the murder of five people. His father was a brakeman for the railroad and his mother worked in a meat packing plant. The chilling tale of the iceman is well told chicago. Facebook gives people the power to share and makes the world more open and connected. This is a book for anybody who is interested in the darker side of the mind. Both parents were physically abusive to richard and to.
They were produced by hbo and released in 1992 and 2001, respectively. He wormed his way into barbaras affections and took her virginity. Iceman richard kuklinski the most prolific hitman in. Nov 22, 2017 richard iceman kuklinski april 11th, 1935 march 5th, 2006 was a convicted murderer and notorious contract killer. Meet the undercover cop who brought the iceman to justice by jane ridley. He thought nothing of killing someone for merely annoying him. Now, after 240 hours of facetoface interviews with kuklinski and his wife and daughters, author philip carlo tells his extraordinary story. Speaking in the monotonous drone of a man who has numbed himself with remorseless brutality, kuklinski was first interviewed in 1991, five years after receiving consecutive life sentences for multiple. The perpetrator turns out to be one richard kuklinski, an unusually vicious and prolific serial killer who boasts he has about 100 murders to his credit. Richard kuklinski, byname the iceman, born april 11, 1935, jersey city, new jersey, u. He grew up to be a mafia hitman, known as the iceman for frequently immobilizing his casualties to confuse their time of departure. April 11, 1935 march 5, 2006 was an american murderer and hitman. Park dietz born 1948, a renowned forensic psychiatrist and fbi consultant, interviewed the real protagonist of this story, richard kuklinski, at the maximum security prison in trenton, united states.
Richard kuklinski was born on april 11, 1935, in jersey city to an aggressive alcoholic father and a stern religious mother, both of whom beat him regularly. Hbo producer gaby monet both my wife and i read this book. Richard kuklinski was born, the second of 4 children, on april 11, 1935, to poor polish parents in a low income area in jersey city. The iceman is a 2012 american biographical film on the true story of longtime notorious hitman richard kuklinski. Starting from his teen years he finds the power that derives from holding someones life in your hands utterly irresistible. For thirty years, richard the iceman kuklinski led a shocking double life, becoming the most notorious professional assassin in american history while happily hosting neighborhood barbecues in suburban new jersey. Apr 17, 2016 richard kuklinski was born, the second of 4 children, on april 11, 1935, to poor polish parents in a low income area in jersey city. The iceman hitman richard kuklinski serial killers. Not being italian, he was never part of the notorious crime family, but he might as well have. From that point on, richard kuklinski was roys favorite enforcer. A throwback to the spinechilling murder scenes of richard.
Richard kuklinski biography facts, childhood, family of. Confessions of a mafia hitman are two documentaries that feature the mafia hitman richard kuklinski. Richard the iceman kuklinski biography famous people. I think he was a sociopath with comorbid paranoid personality disorder ppd with an extreme sense of compartmentalization. Theres a lot of debate going back and forth about richard kuklinski s criminal life. Prior to the film, kuklinski gave numerous interviews about his life and his criminal acts.
Murderpedia, the free online encyclopedic dictionary of murderers. He enjoyed summer barbecues by the pool and volunteered as an usher at mass every sunday. Jul 17, 20 was mafia assassin richard kuklinski full of sh. One evening in 2012, merrick kuklinski attended the premier of a film about her late father, richard, the notorious new jersey killer and reputed mafia hit man. Philip carlos the ice man spent over six weeks on the new york times bestseller list. Rather than ever showing shame or remorse of any kind, kuklinski reveled in the attention until his dying day. Both parents were physically abusive to richard and to his brothers, beating them constantly. Richard kuklinski was a family manhusband to barbara and father to two daughters and one son. For thirty years, richard the iceman kuklinski led a shocking double life.
Richard kuklinski claimed that he was one of the hitmen who killed the infamous mobster and the boss of the bonanno crime family, carmine galante. He was given the nickname the iceman by authorities after they discovered that he had frozen the body of one of his victims in an attempt to disguise the time of death. Because of his sheer number of kills, as well as his approach to killing, many believe he should be considered a serial killer. I am reading his book, and i went to invistage further on the murders he claims. The iceman is an appropriate title for this pair of hbo specials, because the words of former mafia enforcer richard kuklinski will chill you to the bone speaking in the monotonous drone of a man who has numbed himself with remorseless brutality, kuklinski was first interviewed in 1991, five years after receiving consecutive life sentences for multiple murders. In a tawdry account, barbara kuklinski describes 25 years of abuse at the hands of her husband, a convicted new jersey hit man who claims to have killed dozens of times. Jan 01, 1993 the prose and dialogue is very common to that of other crime thrillers. After being detained in 1986, he became enamored with the limelight, giving interviews to writers and shrinks, spilling regarding the myriad ways he had killed his victims and bragging about exactly how. For 30 years, richard the ice man kuklinski led a double life beyond anything ever seen on the sopranos, becoming one of the most notorious professional assassins in american history while hosting neighbourhood barbecues in suburban new jersey. For 30 years, richard the ice man kuklinski led a double life beyond anything. This certainly serves as the what for contract killer richard kuklinski. He was sammy the bull gravanos partner in the killing of paul castellano. But on the street, kuklinski was the iceman, a professional hit man and a lethal scam artist, a man so heartless. Confessions of a mafia contract killer, offers several stories of kuklinski disposing of a body or bodies in an unnamed bucks county cave.
Richard the iceman kuklinski, one of the most prolific contract killers ever to have worked for the mafia. Kuklinski was married at the time, with two young sons and had once sliced off his first wifes nipples during a violent attack. For thirty years, richard the iceman kuklinski led a shocking double life, becoming the most notorious. The reason is a lot of errors came up either before or after his death in 2006. In 1970, joseph stole a dog from a local 12yearold girl. Confessions of a mafia contract killer book online.
Richard the iceman kuklinski parlayed his penchant for violence into a hitman contract for some of the most prominent mafia crime families, and is believed to have killed between 100200 men. In 1988, he was sentenced to life imprisonment after being convicted of killing two members of his burglary gang and two other associates. Richard kuklinski was a hitman who worked for the mafia. Iceman convicted in murders, will appeal upi archives. The iceman richard iceman kuklinski april 11, 1935 march 5, 2006 was the most dangerous contract killer in america, employed by the crime families of new york and new jersey. Dec 19, 2008 is richard the ice man kuklinski a liar. That is the claim in a new book based on hundreds of hours of interviews with the.
Sammy the bull says he did not kill calabro, demeo did not know kuklinski and have used him as a hitman, he did not kill castelano, or galante. Married to the iceman as the iceman, a film about the serial killer richard kuklinski, is released, his widow barbara tells her true story to adam higginbotham. Apr 26, 2014 richard kuklinski, americas most treacherous serial killer and a mafia hitman who is believed to have killed more than 150 people was born on april 11, 1935 in jersey city, new jersey to stanley kuklinski and anna mcnally and had two brothers and a sister. Richard walked up to a man walking a dog and shot him in the back of the head.
The film, titled the iceman, stars the rangy michael shannon as kuklinski, and the waifish winona ryder as his wife, barbara. He worked for several italianamerican crime families, and claimed to have murdered over 200 people over a career that lasted thirty years. He took the credit for over 200 murders while working for various mafia families, including the murder of jimmy hoffa. The true story of richard kuklinski, the notorious contract killer and family man. Mafia torturer the story of richard kuklinski, the iceman. I cant say i am saddened by his death, but one of my main subjects is no longer around. United states richard kuklinski was born richard leonard kuklinski on april 11th 1935 in jersey city, new jersey, us. He had been in staying in a locality for his life and no one ever got a clue about his double life including his wife. He claimed that he was a contract killer for the mafia, along with being involved with teamsters jimmy hoffas disappearance and other things that. Conversations with a killer and the iceman confesses. Richard the iceman kuklinski was shaped by violent childhood, says criminologist with over 100 murders, richard kuklinski was the most prolific hitman in mafia history richard ice man kuklinski, contract killer in new york city from 1954 to he was convicted of only five murders despite having been suspected of hundreds more.
Richard kuklinski earned his place in the serial killer hall of fame by killing for the east coast mafia as well as killing as his violent temper urged him on. Richard kuklinski was one of the most diabolical, and notorious, confessed contract killers in american history. Then, a week before christmas 1986, he was arrested as he pulled into the driveway of his home. In 2003, he received an additional 30year sentence after confessing to the murder of a mobconnected police officer. A favorite among all the seven east coast crime families, richard ice man kuklinski. For thirty years, richard the iceman kuklinski led a shocking double life, becoming the most notorious professional assassin in american history while happily. Join facebook to connect with richard kuklinski and others you may know. For thirty years, richard the iceman kuklinski led a shocking double life, becoming the most. A dedicated family man, rich spent his free time with his wife and children. Richard kuklinski is the apocryphal bullied kid who rises to be the one holding the gun. From the research conducted, new insight was gained into both richard kuklinski and the extended uses of the various psychopathy models. Apr 22, 2006 when richard kuklinski died in a prison hospital wing in new jersey last month there were few mourners.
Serial killer richard kuklinski aka the iceman, the polack, was active for 38 years between 19491986, known to have 6 confirmed 100 possible victims. Richard kuklinski was convicted wednesday of murdering two criminal associates who allegedly were poisoned with cyanide. Mar 26, 20 richard leonard the iceman kuklinski april 11, 1935 march 5, 2006 was an american contract killer. Richard kuklinski wife, police mug shot of richard. About the book richard kuklinski, aka the ice man, will go down as one of the most vicious killers in history. Confessions of a mafia hitman top documentary films. He was famously given the nickname iceman for his method of freezing a victim which masked the time of death. While we were reading the book, neither one of us spoke to the other for days. With a body count well above 200, kuklinski was a killer motivated by greed with a hairtrigger temper. Another film about kuklinski, based on philip carlos book the ice man. The book is similar to murder machine which describes the police sting of the demeo crew. If you can passed the fact that the author is deeply in love with kuklinski then this is a fantastically amazing book. Apr 23, 2014 the iceman is a documentary about a prolific mafia hitman named richard kuklinski. Each page is manually curated, researched, collected, and issued by our staff writers.
Although accounts vary, kuklinski claimed to have murdered over one hundred fifty individuals during his thirtyyear career, including. The iceman is an appropriate title for this pair of hbo specials, because the words of former mafia enforcer richard kuklinski will chill you to the bone. John gotti hired him to torture and kill his neighbor. Neither his wife nor daughters had any clue about his real profession being a mafia assassin for hire.
Bucks county was apparently where kuklinski did some of his most gruesome dirty work. When you finish the ice man, youll feel as if you know the guy. Richard kuklinski, aka the notorious mafia iceman contract killer, was able to commit acts of mindmelting brutality without blinking. Richard kuklinski, the ice man of the title, has told his story before in a variety of forums, including books and videos. 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. Richard leonard the iceman kuklinski april 11, 1935 march 5, 2006 was a polishamerican criminal, convicted murderer and alleged mafia hitman.
This serial killer was active in the following countries. Richard leonard the iceman kuklinski with his family. Richard kuklinski was a very interesting man to say the least, his family life, his secret life of murder and his long list of petty crimes and schemes. Released in 2012 at the venice film festival, the film was directed by ariel vromen, and stars michael shannon as kuklinski, winona ryder, chris evans, and ray liotta. Richard kuklinski was born in his familys apartment on 4th street in jersey city, new jersey, the film also stars winona ryder as kuklinski s wife. May 03, 20 meet the undercover cop who brought the iceman to justice by jane ridley. Richard kuklinski, the story of the mafias most prolific. Having taken his first life aged he claimed to have personally committed as many as 250 murders.
Revisiting the spinechilling murder scenes of richard kuklinski, the notorious contract killer, who claimed to have killed between 100 to 250 people. Richard kuklinski philip carlo mafia gangster, the iceman. He was a serial killer who died of natural causes in prison in march, 2006. For all the gritty details he loved to share, keep reading to learn 15 terrifying facts about the iceman killer richard kuklinski. He was nicknamed the iceman after he was found to have frozen one of his victims in an effort to disguise the time of death. Confessions of a mafia contract killer by philip carlo this was a highly disturbing glimpse into the double life richard kuklinski lead. Richard leonard kuklinski was an american murderer and hitman. Mar 06, 2008 top mafia hit man, and doting father, for 30 years, richard the ice man kuklinski led a double life beyond anything ever seen on the sopranos, becoming one of the most notorious professional assassins in american history while hosting neighbourhood barbecues in suburban new jersey. Superior court of new jersey, law division bergen county. Ive had richard ice man kuklinskis claims on my mind for some time now, and with the fbi recently scouring detroit for jimmy hoffa and a movie starring michael shannon as kuklinski being released in may, this seems as good a time as any to examine what the. Kuklinski promoted his own notoriety by appearing in two hbo documentaries as well as meeting with writers, psychiatrists and criminologists. Confessions of a mafia contract killer by philip carlo, it states, his younger brother, joseph, also grew up to be a killer like richard but not to the same extent. Driver, formerly a producer of tvs americas most wanted, splices segments from his prison interviews of hit man richard kuklinski with the reminiscences of his wife, barbara.
Online shopping from a great selection at books store. Richard the ice man kuklinski led a double life beyond anything ever seen on the sopranos, becoming one of the most notorious professional assassins in american history while hosting neighborhood barbecues in suburban new jersey. From author anthony brunos interview with richard the iceman kuklinski. Richard kuklinski murderpedia, the encyclopedia of murderers. The book follows the life of richard kuklinski, a contract killer for the new york mafia kuklinski earned the nickname iceman because he experimented disguising the time of death of his victims by freezing their corpses in an. This is the story of another undercover police sting this time removing richard kuklinski and his car theftmurder crew. Louis free, the heartland radio show what philip carlo did was capture the heart and soul of richard kuklinski. The true story of a coldblooded killer anthony bruno, an american prolific crime novelist the bad books, the loretta kovacks ones with espresso and fudge names, amongst others, recreates richard kuklinsis life, with the investigation in parallel.
A favorite among all the seven east coast crime families, richard ice man kuklinski conducted his business with coldhearted intensity. Secrets of a mafia hitman also known as the iceman. Confessions of a mafia contract killer by philip carlo. After his conviction, kuklinski took part in a number of interviews during which he claimed to have murdered from 100 to 250 men. Spurofthemoment vacations, expensive jewelry for the girls, and new cars for his teenage son were the norm. Richards younger sister roberta was probably the only one who grew up to be normal. Richard kuklinski, a suspect in several murders, is arrested by undercover agents at a truck stop off the new jersey turnpike, mark. Ive never read any biographies before, but im glad that the 1st one i picked up was the ice man. Responsible for well over 200 murders, he is the man who claims a direct link to the killing of jimmy hoffa and he is one of the reasons for john gottis rise to power. Richard was put to the test when roy selected a target at random on the street and ordered richard to kill him. Confessions of a mafia contract killer by carlo, philip isbn. He wasnt a nice man and he wasnt an asset to society, bruno said.
His fathers beatings were so rough that they killed kuklinski s older brother, who authorities were told fell down the stairs. On the numerous murders described graphically in the book,the majority are crew enforcement type where kuklinski kills crew members. Brunos book on richard kuklinski follows the undercover investigation led by fbi agent dom polifrone and his infiltration of the iceman killer. Readers expecting insight into the mind of kuklinski, a man who claims to have murdered over one hundred people, will the iceman reads much more like a crime novel than it does a work of nonfiction. He could recall his stomachchurning murders without expressing the slightest hint of emotion. It was concluded that richard kuklinski was a psychopath due to his exhibiting almost every core trait associated with psychopathy. Those are among the sensational claims made by richard ice man kuklinski in an upcoming book that graphically details his decadeslong chain of oftenhorrific murders. He was deeply involved in his family life and did all to protect them, but had sometimes violent behaviou.