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[uneasy music]
[overlapping voices]
4
00:00:17,425 --> 00:00:20,302
[foreboding music]
5
00:00:20,304 --> 00:00:22,354
- I heard joel rifkin's name
on the radio.
6
00:00:23,474 --> 00:00:26,641
- A 34-year-old new york man
will be in court this morning.
7
00:00:26,643 --> 00:00:29,519
Joel rifkin has told police
he's a serial killer.
8
00:00:29,521 --> 00:00:32,531
- I remember gasping that
that was my college friend.
9
00:00:32,533 --> 00:00:35,317
He looked so harmless.
I had to have answers.
10
00:00:35,319 --> 00:00:38,203
[dramatic music]
11
00:00:38,205 --> 00:00:40,664
♪ ♪
12
00:00:53,721 --> 00:00:56,379
- There were plenty of kids
in the hall who were scary,
13
00:00:56,381 --> 00:00:57,848
But joel was not.
14
00:01:00,219 --> 00:01:02,636
- I was trying to figure out
how the joel that I knew
15
00:01:02,638 --> 00:01:05,138
Became a deadly killer.
16
00:01:05,140 --> 00:01:07,682
- He's riding around all night
looking for girls,
17
00:01:07,684 --> 00:01:10,569
And then he's butchering
the bodies next door?
18
00:01:10,571 --> 00:01:12,321
- And no one knew.
19
00:01:15,567 --> 00:01:18,735
- So he was invisible,
certainly, to law enforcement.
20
00:01:18,737 --> 00:01:22,030
- As a youngster,
he'd be accosted, assaulted.
21
00:01:22,032 --> 00:01:23,624
- Where does that go
psychologically?
22
00:01:32,918 --> 00:01:35,418
- I never got to say goodbye
to my friend
23
00:01:35,420 --> 00:01:37,346
Or to even understand
what happened to her.
24
00:01:42,678 --> 00:01:45,720
- He felt no guilt,
no remorse, no pain.
25
00:01:45,722 --> 00:01:46,888
- He was a monster.
26
00:01:46,890 --> 00:01:51,944
♪ ♪
27
00:01:51,946 --> 00:01:54,896
[suspenseful synth music]
28
00:01:54,898 --> 00:02:01,787
♪ ♪
29
00:02:06,076 --> 00:02:09,795
- New york city in the late
'80s and the early '90s,
30
00:02:09,797 --> 00:02:11,413
Crime was rampant.
31
00:02:11,415 --> 00:02:14,249
- Policeman was shot dead
in his patrol car.
32
00:02:14,251 --> 00:02:16,585
- There were
more than 2,000 murders a year.
33
00:02:16,587 --> 00:02:20,255
- This has reached
epidemic proportions.
34
00:02:20,257 --> 00:02:23,592
- It is a crack epidemic
which police say is causing
35
00:02:23,594 --> 00:02:26,019
An increase in murder
and other violent crime.
36
00:02:27,314 --> 00:02:29,264
- Parents--they were terrified
37
00:02:29,266 --> 00:02:31,057
To have their children
move there.
38
00:02:31,059 --> 00:02:34,603
Back then,
I was a police officer,
39
00:02:34,605 --> 00:02:36,771
And it was frightening for me,
so I can't even imagine
40
00:02:36,773 --> 00:02:39,741
What it must have been like
for the populace back then.
41
00:02:47,576 --> 00:02:50,502
[dramatic music]
42
00:02:50,504 --> 00:02:54,247
♪ ♪
43
00:02:54,249 --> 00:02:56,583
- It was a quiet night.
44
00:02:56,585 --> 00:02:59,511
There was really no one
on the road.
45
00:02:59,513 --> 00:03:02,005
It was approximately
3:15 in the morning.
46
00:03:02,007 --> 00:03:06,468
We observed a pickup truck
in the center lane.
47
00:03:06,470 --> 00:03:10,147
As we got closer, we realized
there was no license plate.
48
00:03:12,935 --> 00:03:15,977
We turned on the lights
to initiate a car stop.
49
00:03:15,979 --> 00:03:17,321
The pickup truck
did not pull over.
50
00:03:18,815 --> 00:03:20,523
We pulled up alongside of him.
51
00:03:20,525 --> 00:03:21,858
He just kind of slowly
looked over,
52
00:03:21,860 --> 00:03:26,163
Just had a very blank look
on his face.
53
00:03:26,657 --> 00:03:28,823
Possibly he was intoxicated,
54
00:03:28,825 --> 00:03:31,501
So I pointed to him to pull
over to the side of the road.
55
00:03:31,995 --> 00:03:33,662
We thought he was pulling up
onto the shoulder,
56
00:03:33,664 --> 00:03:37,341
At which time, he exited
the southern state parkway.
57
00:03:38,210 --> 00:03:42,504
He just wasn't stopping,
and at that point,
58
00:03:42,506 --> 00:03:44,172
I called in that
we were in pursuit.
59
00:03:44,174 --> 00:03:46,549
[suspenseful music]
60
00:03:46,551 --> 00:03:48,009
♪ ♪
61
00:03:48,011 --> 00:03:51,063
He was getting faster
and faster,
62
00:03:51,065 --> 00:03:53,723
Up to 90 miles an hour.
63
00:03:53,725 --> 00:03:57,477
We started getting
into tighter, windier roads.
64
00:03:57,479 --> 00:04:00,021
We stayed right behind him.
65
00:04:00,023 --> 00:04:02,282
There's clearly
something he's hiding.
66
00:04:04,403 --> 00:04:06,495
He was debating
which way to turn.
67
00:04:07,364 --> 00:04:10,991
At the last minute,
he decided to go left.
68
00:04:10,993 --> 00:04:14,703
He drove up onto the sidewalk
and struck a light pole...
69
00:04:14,705 --> 00:04:17,497
[glass shattering]
70
00:04:17,499 --> 00:04:20,676
Knocking down the pole,
and the pursuit was over.
71
00:04:22,421 --> 00:04:24,546
I approached
white male subject
72
00:04:24,548 --> 00:04:26,214
With his hands up.
73
00:04:26,216 --> 00:04:28,591
I opened the door,
74
00:04:28,593 --> 00:04:31,561
Grabbed him out,
and put the cuffs on him.
75
00:04:34,891 --> 00:04:37,693
I asked him his name,
his address, date of birth.
76
00:04:39,896 --> 00:04:43,857
He said his name
was joel rifkin,
77
00:04:43,859 --> 00:04:46,118
And that's when
I noticed the smell.
78
00:04:47,070 --> 00:04:49,571
As we looked into
the back of the truck,
79
00:04:49,573 --> 00:04:50,664
There was a blue tarp.
80
00:04:55,287 --> 00:04:58,580
The decision was made
to pull back the tarp,
81
00:04:58,582 --> 00:05:01,416
And we could see the head
and shoulder of a female
82
00:05:01,418 --> 00:05:03,093
Deceased for several days.
83
00:05:06,423 --> 00:05:08,214
- That was the first time
joel rifkin raised
84
00:05:08,216 --> 00:05:10,058
To the level
of anyone's attention.
85
00:05:11,636 --> 00:05:14,220
He wasn't on our radar.
Prior to this,
86
00:05:14,222 --> 00:05:16,389
He was invisible,
certainly to law enforcement.
87
00:05:19,436 --> 00:05:21,144
My job at the scene
is to take control
88
00:05:21,146 --> 00:05:22,195
And supervise
the investigation.
89
00:05:24,158 --> 00:05:25,774
I directed
that they take him back
90
00:05:25,776 --> 00:05:28,151
To the state police
headquarters in farmingdale.
91
00:05:28,153 --> 00:05:32,331
Our goal was to lock him in
to the victim we had,
92
00:05:32,333 --> 00:05:34,074
And rifkin was cooperative.
93
00:05:34,076 --> 00:05:37,002
He couldn't deny that he had
the body in the vehicle.
94
00:05:37,004 --> 00:05:38,495
And that's when
they started to ask--
95
00:05:38,497 --> 00:05:40,997
- "well, has this ever
happened before?"
96
00:05:40,999 --> 00:05:46,294
And joel rifkin answered,
"well, what if it did?"
97
00:05:46,296 --> 00:05:48,963
- Is it more than 10,
less than 20?
98
00:05:48,965 --> 00:05:51,591
He kind of leaned back
in the chair and said,
99
00:05:51,593 --> 00:05:52,934
"one or 100,
what's the difference?"
100
00:05:56,857 --> 00:05:58,857
I knew what serial murderers
were.
101
00:05:58,859 --> 00:06:01,184
I certainly never thought
I was gonna meet one.
102
00:06:01,186 --> 00:06:05,364
- This is just getting
crazier and crazier.
103
00:06:05,366 --> 00:06:08,617
What is going on here?
Who is joel rifkin?
104
00:06:10,987 --> 00:06:12,821
[desolate music]
105
00:06:12,823 --> 00:06:14,373
[radio tuning]
106
00:06:14,375 --> 00:06:16,825
- Two troopers
on uniformed night patrol
107
00:06:16,827 --> 00:06:18,210
Stopped a pickup truck
108
00:06:18,212 --> 00:06:20,754
That contained the body
of a female victim.
109
00:06:21,206 --> 00:06:23,289
- I was driving out
to long island
110
00:06:23,291 --> 00:06:25,875
When I heard joel rifkin's name
on the radio.
111
00:06:25,877 --> 00:06:28,962
- There was an arrest
of joel rifkin.
112
00:06:28,964 --> 00:06:30,839
- I remembered gasping.
113
00:06:30,841 --> 00:06:34,434
I immediately realized that
that was my college friend.
114
00:06:37,514 --> 00:06:39,681
We were both
journalism students
115
00:06:39,683 --> 00:06:42,401
At the state university
of new york at brockport.
116
00:06:43,311 --> 00:06:47,856
I had received
my very first paid assignment
117
00:06:47,858 --> 00:06:52,026
For a boxing magazine
featuring a local fighter.
118
00:06:52,028 --> 00:06:54,821
The journalism department
recommended joel rifkin
119
00:06:54,823 --> 00:06:58,366
As the wonder kid
of the photography department.
120
00:06:58,368 --> 00:07:01,161
We drove the 30 miles
or so to the fight.
121
00:07:01,163 --> 00:07:03,204
I remember thinking, "you know,
122
00:07:03,206 --> 00:07:05,707
This guy is really unique.
He's really cool."
123
00:07:05,709 --> 00:07:07,250
There were a lot
of commonalities.
124
00:07:07,252 --> 00:07:08,635
We were both long island kids.
125
00:07:11,098 --> 00:07:13,047
This assignment
for the boxing match
126
00:07:13,049 --> 00:07:15,049
Was on a Friday night.
127
00:07:15,051 --> 00:07:17,102
Joel wound up getting
some phenomenal shots.
128
00:07:22,058 --> 00:07:24,559
We saw each other
a couple of times after that,
129
00:07:24,561 --> 00:07:27,446
But the semester
was soon over.
130
00:07:27,448 --> 00:07:30,231
When I went back
for the spring semester,
131
00:07:30,233 --> 00:07:31,733
I had hoped to see him.
132
00:07:31,735 --> 00:07:33,234
I asked around.
133
00:07:33,236 --> 00:07:35,370
I found out
that joel dropped out.
134
00:07:37,908 --> 00:07:41,242
When I heard about his arrest,
I was dismayed
135
00:07:41,244 --> 00:07:44,421
Because that differed so much
from the joel that I knew.
136
00:07:44,956 --> 00:07:47,248
This guy
had so much potential.
137
00:07:47,250 --> 00:07:51,419
I had just assumed that he was
out there conquering the world
138
00:07:51,421 --> 00:07:53,254
While I was just a cop.
139
00:07:53,256 --> 00:07:56,090
I had lots of questions.
140
00:07:56,092 --> 00:07:59,644
I wanted to know everything
there was to know.
141
00:07:59,646 --> 00:08:03,056
I fired off a letter to joel
at attica prison,
142
00:08:03,058 --> 00:08:05,725
And I said, "I was taken aback
by what you did.
143
00:08:05,727 --> 00:08:08,269
I'd love to learn more
about your motivations."
144
00:08:08,271 --> 00:08:10,489
I was curious
145
00:08:10,491 --> 00:08:13,658
If he had that secret life
when I knew him,
146
00:08:13,660 --> 00:08:16,611
How long he'd been conducting
that secret life.
147
00:08:16,613 --> 00:08:18,613
How did it all go wrong?
148
00:08:18,615 --> 00:08:20,707
Did it go wrong
before I even met him?
149
00:08:23,286 --> 00:08:25,337
When joel rifkin
responded to me,
150
00:08:25,339 --> 00:08:27,005
He told me
that he remembered me.
151
00:08:27,007 --> 00:08:28,507
We had some
pretty friendly letters,
152
00:08:28,509 --> 00:08:30,500
And then 7 years
after he was arrested,
153
00:08:30,502 --> 00:08:32,260
I went up to see him.
154
00:09:37,694 --> 00:09:41,404
- He was very kind of
disarmingly friendly,
155
00:09:41,406 --> 00:09:43,531
Very open, honest and candid.
156
00:09:43,533 --> 00:09:47,910
What drove a guy that I once
considered a friend to murder?
157
00:09:47,912 --> 00:09:52,832
And how could joel have gotten
away with this for so long?
158
00:09:52,834 --> 00:09:54,759
Anything I asked him,
nothing was off limits.
159
00:10:03,770 --> 00:10:06,054
- As a cop,
sometimes you can sense
160
00:10:06,056 --> 00:10:07,939
That people are relishing
161
00:10:07,941 --> 00:10:11,351
Telling you
about their antics,
162
00:10:11,353 --> 00:10:13,436
But joel was so unemotional
about this
163
00:10:13,438 --> 00:10:14,937
And so matter of fact.
164
00:10:14,939 --> 00:10:17,949
There was this complete
disconnect from reality.
165
00:10:23,438 --> 00:10:27,125
[ominous music]
166
00:10:31,539 --> 00:10:33,289
- I spoke to my college friend
joel rifkin
167
00:10:33,291 --> 00:10:37,627
At attica prison in 1999
168
00:10:37,629 --> 00:10:40,421
Because I just couldn't
reconcile the fact
169
00:10:40,423 --> 00:10:45,226
That the joel rifkin I knew
became this invisible killer.
170
00:10:45,929 --> 00:10:47,929
When joel talked
about his childhood,
171
00:10:47,931 --> 00:10:51,816
I expected him to get
a little more emotional,
172
00:10:51,818 --> 00:10:54,819
But he was pretty
much matter of fact.
173
00:10:56,106 --> 00:11:00,441
What I found most interesting
was, unlike most people
174
00:11:00,443 --> 00:11:02,985
That have a desire
to harm others,
175
00:11:02,987 --> 00:11:05,154
There was no bed-wetting.
176
00:11:05,156 --> 00:11:07,949
There was no purposeful harm
of animals.
177
00:11:07,951 --> 00:11:10,660
There was no fire-starting.
178
00:11:10,662 --> 00:11:13,004
So he really is unique.
179
00:11:13,006 --> 00:11:17,125
His behaviors did not reflect
any of the normal patterns
180
00:11:17,127 --> 00:11:19,260
Of such a nefarious criminal.
181
00:11:20,505 --> 00:11:23,464
He talked about him
and his sister being adopted
182
00:11:23,466 --> 00:11:26,300
From a jewish agency
in new york,
183
00:11:26,302 --> 00:11:29,262
And I remember him saying,
you know,
184
00:11:29,264 --> 00:11:31,523
Sort of self-deprecatingly
185
00:11:31,525 --> 00:11:34,308
That the dream came true
for his parents
186
00:11:34,310 --> 00:11:37,195
When they adopted a boy
and a girl.
187
00:12:03,673 --> 00:12:07,300
- Joel's family settled
in east meadow, long island.
188
00:12:07,302 --> 00:12:11,062
- It was joel and his sister,
and his parents, ben and jean.
189
00:12:11,064 --> 00:12:12,638
East meadow was
190
00:12:12,640 --> 00:12:15,859
A quintessential
middle class place to grow up.
191
00:12:17,645 --> 00:12:20,521
- It wasn't just looked upon
as a middle class home.
192
00:12:20,523 --> 00:12:22,023
It was looked upon
193
00:12:22,025 --> 00:12:25,860
As the future of which
dreams were made.
194
00:12:25,862 --> 00:12:28,154
It was their piece
of the american pie.
195
00:12:28,156 --> 00:12:30,915
- They were our neighbors.
We were in the same class.
196
00:12:30,917 --> 00:12:33,326
I used to walk
to school with him.
197
00:12:33,328 --> 00:12:36,755
- Joel was just a regular kid
who was extra quiet,
198
00:12:36,757 --> 00:12:39,540
Really polite, nice, sweet,
199
00:12:39,542 --> 00:12:41,709
The kind of guy
who's in his own world,
200
00:12:41,711 --> 00:12:43,544
Doing his own thing.
201
00:12:43,546 --> 00:12:45,421
- Joel came to my bar mitzvah,
202
00:12:45,423 --> 00:12:46,881
But at the same time,
he's different.
203
00:12:46,883 --> 00:12:48,558
He didn't really fit
with anyone.
204
00:12:50,845 --> 00:12:52,887
- For joel, living
in east meadow,
205
00:12:52,889 --> 00:12:56,182
What he perceived to be
his inferiorities
206
00:12:56,184 --> 00:12:58,100
Took center stage.
207
00:12:58,102 --> 00:13:00,153
It was not
a blissful existence for him.
208
00:13:21,251 --> 00:13:23,918
- While we might have been
throwing the ball,
209
00:13:23,920 --> 00:13:26,420
He was looking at the sidewalk
210
00:13:26,422 --> 00:13:28,848
With a magnifying glass
at a bug or something.
211
00:13:29,759 --> 00:13:32,260
I do remember joel
being called turtle.
212
00:13:32,262 --> 00:13:34,554
He had always seemed like
he was kind of a little slower
213
00:13:34,556 --> 00:13:35,721
And a step behind.
214
00:13:35,723 --> 00:13:37,816
- It became readily apparent
215
00:13:37,818 --> 00:13:40,059
That he couldn't play sports.
216
00:13:40,061 --> 00:13:44,063
- Joel would be probably
the last person to be picked,
217
00:13:44,065 --> 00:13:46,741
And I know that
that frustrated his father.
218
00:14:03,009 --> 00:14:05,459
- His father had been
an athlete in college,
219
00:14:05,461 --> 00:14:09,797
So joel didn't quite meet up
to his level
220
00:14:09,799 --> 00:14:14,969
Of what the father
wanted his son to be.
221
00:14:14,971 --> 00:14:16,470
- That caused
a tremendous amount
222
00:14:16,472 --> 00:14:18,472
Of frustration for joel
223
00:14:18,474 --> 00:14:22,360
And kind of retarded
his development
224
00:14:22,362 --> 00:14:24,979
As far as, you know,
feeling good about himself.
225
00:14:24,981 --> 00:14:26,823
It went into his schoolwork
as well.
226
00:14:28,443 --> 00:14:30,034
Joel had a very high iq--
227
00:14:30,036 --> 00:14:33,321
128 was the exact number--
228
00:14:33,323 --> 00:14:35,323
But he didn't concentrate well
229
00:14:35,325 --> 00:14:37,325
Unless something
really interested him.
230
00:14:37,327 --> 00:14:40,286
His father, who was scholarly,
231
00:14:40,288 --> 00:14:41,880
Would sit at the kitchen table
with him
232
00:14:41,882 --> 00:14:43,464
And pore over the homework.
233
00:15:11,027 --> 00:15:14,028
- That was the first person
to interview rifkin in prison,
234
00:15:14,030 --> 00:15:16,989
And he said he was tortured
by the fact
235
00:15:16,991 --> 00:15:19,542
That he couldn't live up
to his father's expectations.
236
00:15:21,755 --> 00:15:24,705
- The mother embraced him
and pulled him
237
00:15:24,707 --> 00:15:28,426
To her favorite hobbies:
Photography and horticulture.
238
00:15:39,389 --> 00:15:40,721
- He did a lot of photography,
239
00:15:40,723 --> 00:15:42,682
And he was actually
very good at it,
240
00:15:42,684 --> 00:15:45,234
But at the same time,
something is amiss.
241
00:15:48,189 --> 00:15:52,733
- Joel described to me
the bullying that he endured.
242
00:15:52,735 --> 00:15:56,737
He would walk home from school.
He'd be accosted, assaulted.
243
00:15:56,739 --> 00:15:58,197
On one occasion,
he had underwear
244
00:15:58,199 --> 00:16:00,124
Stuffed in his mouth.
245
00:16:00,126 --> 00:16:02,961
There'd be all sorts
of physical assaults,
246
00:16:02,963 --> 00:16:04,671
Mocking, name calling.
247
00:16:45,621 --> 00:16:49,081
- He wasn't harming anyone.
He wasn't combative.
248
00:16:49,083 --> 00:16:50,458
There were plenty of kids
in the hall
249
00:16:50,460 --> 00:16:53,627
Who were scary,
but joel was not.
250
00:16:53,629 --> 00:16:55,963
Some kids get picked on,
they go home, they cry.
251
00:16:55,965 --> 00:16:57,423
Their parents take care of it.
252
00:16:57,425 --> 00:17:00,092
He just took it.
253
00:17:00,094 --> 00:17:02,011
- He experienced that
all his life.
254
00:17:02,013 --> 00:17:07,025
I'm sure that that experience
shaped his psyche
255
00:17:07,027 --> 00:17:09,935
Because acceptance
by one's peers
256
00:17:09,937 --> 00:17:14,148
Is the be-all and end-all
to a child's psyche.
257
00:17:14,150 --> 00:17:17,818
It must have built up
impotent rage
258
00:17:17,820 --> 00:17:20,112
When you feel such anger
259
00:17:20,114 --> 00:17:22,156
But you really can't do
anything about it.
260
00:17:22,158 --> 00:17:25,326
You're not strong enough.
You don't have enough allies,
261
00:17:25,328 --> 00:17:31,457
And I imagine that joel rifkin
built up this reservoir of rage
262
00:17:31,459 --> 00:17:33,667
With no place to put it.
263
00:17:33,669 --> 00:17:37,889
- Joel said that he dreaded
going to school every day,
264
00:17:37,891 --> 00:17:40,308
So he devised
this complex plan.
265
00:17:41,552 --> 00:17:43,803
In the morning,
he would time it
266
00:17:43,805 --> 00:17:45,346
So he would get to school
267
00:17:45,348 --> 00:17:47,306
Seconds before the bell rang
268
00:17:47,308 --> 00:17:50,151
So nobody would have
the opportunity to harass him.
269
00:18:01,030 --> 00:18:03,322
- He would take
this circuitous route
270
00:18:03,324 --> 00:18:05,199
Through the woods to his home,
271
00:18:05,201 --> 00:18:07,701
Where he would secure himself
in his room
272
00:18:07,703 --> 00:18:08,586
For the rest of the night.
273
00:18:28,224 --> 00:18:31,526
- How did this behavior help
joel get away with what he did?
274
00:18:32,436 --> 00:18:34,779
He seemed very ordinary.
275
00:18:34,781 --> 00:18:38,399
He used this process
to his advantage.
276
00:18:38,401 --> 00:18:44,071
He became a master
of not only being stealth,
277
00:18:44,073 --> 00:18:46,040
But being stealth
in plain sight.
278
00:18:47,410 --> 00:18:51,078
Joel is like the invisible man,
279
00:18:51,080 --> 00:18:56,208
Which contributed greatly
to his success as a murderer
280
00:18:56,210 --> 00:18:59,753
As well as his longevity
as a murderer.
281
00:18:59,755 --> 00:19:04,392
But how did joel transition
from social outcast to killer?
282
00:19:16,338 --> 00:19:20,074
[ominous music]
283
00:19:23,237 --> 00:19:27,573
- I first began interviewing
joel rifkin in the late '90s
284
00:19:27,575 --> 00:19:30,659
'cause I wanted to know,
how did joel learn
285
00:19:30,661 --> 00:19:33,754
To never raise any suspicions?
286
00:19:34,415 --> 00:19:36,174
As a cop, I've interviewed
lots of people
287
00:19:36,176 --> 00:19:37,583
That did
really horrible things,
288
00:19:37,585 --> 00:19:40,178
But this guy was
my college friend.
289
00:19:40,180 --> 00:19:42,463
I never thought,
"ah, I should have saw that.
290
00:19:42,465 --> 00:19:44,390
I should have noticed that."
291
00:19:45,468 --> 00:19:48,936
He told me in high school
his life became hell.
292
00:19:51,357 --> 00:19:55,100
He felt as if the only people
that noticed him
293
00:19:55,102 --> 00:19:56,694
Were the people
that wanted to harm him.
294
00:20:11,327 --> 00:20:15,496
- Where does that
go psychologically?
295
00:20:15,498 --> 00:20:17,048
I'm sure you try
to do something
296
00:20:17,050 --> 00:20:19,875
To spare yourself
further humiliation,
297
00:20:19,877 --> 00:20:22,002
Emotional pain.
298
00:20:22,004 --> 00:20:28,550
- Joel went to great pains
in his private life
299
00:20:28,552 --> 00:20:31,136
To make people not see him
300
00:20:31,138 --> 00:20:33,898
And to be invisible
while being in plain sight.
301
00:20:37,853 --> 00:20:40,521
Joel told me when he was
going through puberty,
302
00:20:40,523 --> 00:20:42,949
He first started to have
psychosexual fantasies.
303
00:20:44,911 --> 00:20:47,495
There was an alfred hitchcock
movie called "frenzy."
304
00:20:49,249 --> 00:20:53,242
Joel remembers being
sexually fascinated
305
00:20:53,244 --> 00:20:55,661
With this scene
306
00:20:55,663 --> 00:20:58,422
Where a woman
gets strangled with a tie.
307
00:21:26,068 --> 00:21:27,901
- Fantasies are not
a blueprint.
308
00:21:27,903 --> 00:21:31,447
They don't determine your life
unless they do.
309
00:21:31,449 --> 00:21:33,866
In his particular case,
310
00:21:33,868 --> 00:21:37,453
His preoccupation
with strangulation
311
00:21:37,455 --> 00:21:40,298
Did determine his life
and his fate and his destiny.
312
00:21:42,135 --> 00:21:44,710
- He was masturbating
to thoughts
313
00:21:44,712 --> 00:21:46,420
Of having sex with women
314
00:21:46,422 --> 00:21:50,308
And ultimately killing them,
315
00:21:50,310 --> 00:21:54,312
But he could just push it down
at that point in his life.
316
00:21:54,314 --> 00:21:55,929
He wanted to date.
317
00:21:55,931 --> 00:21:58,983
He just wasn't terribly
successful with women.
318
00:21:58,985 --> 00:22:02,978
Prostitutes not only provide
that kind of sexual release,
319
00:22:02,980 --> 00:22:04,897
But there's this illusion
320
00:22:04,899 --> 00:22:06,815
Of going out on a date
with someone
321
00:22:06,817 --> 00:22:08,743
Or making this connection.
322
00:22:43,771 --> 00:22:46,772
[somber music]
323
00:22:46,774 --> 00:22:52,745
♪ ♪
324
00:23:07,720 --> 00:23:11,463
- To his credit, joel's father
never gave up on him,
325
00:23:11,465 --> 00:23:13,724
And he offered to send joel,
326
00:23:13,726 --> 00:23:16,385
Who by then was
in his late 20s,
327
00:23:16,387 --> 00:23:18,887
Back to college,
and if he got two as,
328
00:23:18,889 --> 00:23:21,140
He would pay for a curriculum.
329
00:23:21,142 --> 00:23:24,735
He took a biology class
and a botany class,
330
00:23:24,737 --> 00:23:26,728
Which ultimately led to him
331
00:23:26,730 --> 00:23:29,198
Starting his own
landscaping business.
332
00:23:43,873 --> 00:23:45,330
- Joel felt that he was just
333
00:23:45,332 --> 00:23:47,374
Gonna disappoint him
one more time,
334
00:23:47,376 --> 00:23:49,760
But he got the two as.
335
00:23:49,762 --> 00:23:53,714
Joel excitedly
went to the hospital
336
00:23:53,716 --> 00:23:57,009
And thought his father
would be very proud of him,
337
00:23:57,011 --> 00:23:59,061
But his father
never got the news.
338
00:24:16,780 --> 00:24:19,957
- His father's death really
kind of blew the doors
339
00:24:19,959 --> 00:24:22,126
Off of joel's emotional state.
340
00:24:23,954 --> 00:24:26,788
- The desire to please
his father kind of always been
341
00:24:26,790 --> 00:24:29,750
At the core
of his emotional life,
342
00:24:29,752 --> 00:24:32,794
But with his father gone,
that burden lifted.
343
00:24:32,796 --> 00:24:35,130
[dramatic music]
344
00:24:35,132 --> 00:24:38,309
His mother was preoccupied
with her life
345
00:24:38,311 --> 00:24:41,720
As she was getting older.
It gave him the freedom to act
346
00:24:41,722 --> 00:24:44,431
On his worst impulses
and fantasies.
347
00:24:44,433 --> 00:24:47,276
[dark electronic music]
348
00:24:48,479 --> 00:24:50,029
- He lived for the nighttime.
349
00:24:52,816 --> 00:24:55,993
Driving through manhattan,
through queens,
350
00:24:55,995 --> 00:24:58,996
And he would frequent
all of the strolls.
351
00:25:26,475 --> 00:25:28,183
- It became an addiction.
352
00:25:28,185 --> 00:25:32,029
Joel, who really was in charge
of nothing in his real life,
353
00:25:32,031 --> 00:25:35,533
Between his father
and the bullying,
354
00:25:35,535 --> 00:25:39,486
He felt while he was
having sex with prostitutes,
355
00:25:39,488 --> 00:25:40,955
He was in charge.
356
00:26:01,385 --> 00:26:05,012
- He did hate himself
and the addiction,
357
00:26:05,014 --> 00:26:07,514
But when he met these women,
he projected--
358
00:26:07,516 --> 00:26:10,892
He took all that bad feeling
about himself
359
00:26:10,894 --> 00:26:12,853
And gave it to them.
360
00:26:12,855 --> 00:26:15,397
He could look at them as lower
and look at them
361
00:26:15,399 --> 00:26:18,826
As somebody you don't respect
and you don't have esteem for.
362
00:26:21,030 --> 00:26:22,529
- When I would talk
to my folks,
363
00:26:22,531 --> 00:26:24,197
Invariably my parents
would say,
364
00:26:24,199 --> 00:26:27,585
"well, joel doesn't seem
to be holding a job.
365
00:26:27,587 --> 00:26:29,161
"we're afraid
that he's going to cause jean
366
00:26:29,163 --> 00:26:30,829
To be out on the street,"
367
00:26:30,831 --> 00:26:35,083
So my parents hired him
to, like, trim the trees.
368
00:26:35,085 --> 00:26:36,844
He clearly had
a different agenda.
369
00:26:37,713 --> 00:26:40,213
He's riding around all night
looking for girls,
370
00:26:40,215 --> 00:26:43,508
So how is he gonna have energy
to cut the trees?
371
00:26:43,510 --> 00:26:46,437
In the end, we would see
his tools out in the rain.
372
00:27:03,697 --> 00:27:08,792
- In early 1989, about 2 years
after his father's suicide,
373
00:27:08,794 --> 00:27:10,577
Joel decided to make
374
00:27:10,579 --> 00:27:12,880
His murderous fantasies
a reality.
375
00:27:29,649 --> 00:27:32,933
- Joel saw a woman named susie
who he had been with before
376
00:27:32,935 --> 00:27:35,477
On the lower east side.
377
00:27:35,479 --> 00:27:37,154
In his mind, he's gonna go
on a date with her.
378
00:27:40,317 --> 00:27:43,160
She agrees to go with joel
30 miles or so
379
00:27:43,162 --> 00:27:45,821
To the long island home
380
00:27:45,823 --> 00:27:48,999
That he shares
with his mother,
381
00:27:49,001 --> 00:27:51,827
Where he can spend more time
382
00:27:51,829 --> 00:27:54,421
Than just a usual encounter
on the street.
383
00:27:54,998 --> 00:27:56,256
His mother was away.
384
00:27:57,960 --> 00:28:00,419
They wind up having sex
on the couch.
385
00:28:00,421 --> 00:28:02,429
She falls asleep.
386
00:28:03,349 --> 00:28:07,259
He's annoyed that she's not
paying him more attention.
387
00:28:07,261 --> 00:28:10,303
At some point, she wakes up.
She immediately wants drugs.
388
00:28:10,305 --> 00:28:14,307
Joel, at this point,
is exasperated with her,
389
00:28:14,309 --> 00:28:17,778
And he impulsively just starts
hitting her on the head.
390
00:28:50,220 --> 00:28:52,146
[dramatic musical crescendo]
391
00:28:56,852 --> 00:28:58,977
- As a cop,
sometimes you can sense
392
00:28:58,979 --> 00:29:00,738
That people are relishing
393
00:29:00,740 --> 00:29:04,316
Telling you about their antics,
394
00:29:04,318 --> 00:29:06,485
But joel was so unemotional
about this
395
00:29:06,487 --> 00:29:07,736
And so matter of fact.
396
00:29:07,738 --> 00:29:10,030
There was
this complete disconnect
397
00:29:10,032 --> 00:29:11,331
From reality.
398
00:29:22,595 --> 00:29:24,377
- I didn't want him to think
anything he was telling me
399
00:29:24,379 --> 00:29:26,379
Shocked me,
400
00:29:26,381 --> 00:29:30,392
So I was trying to maintain
my own sort of monotone.
401
00:29:45,609 --> 00:29:47,567
- He was so dispassionate
about it.
402
00:29:47,569 --> 00:29:49,236
Didn't seem to faze him
in the least.
403
00:29:49,238 --> 00:29:51,455
He didn't seem to be getting
any pleasure
404
00:29:51,457 --> 00:29:53,123
From telling me this,
405
00:29:53,125 --> 00:29:54,449
And he didn't seem to mind
406
00:29:54,451 --> 00:29:55,709
What my opinion would be
of him.
407
00:30:18,267 --> 00:30:22,152
- He threw
some of her body parts
408
00:30:22,154 --> 00:30:24,229
Into one of the rivers
in manhattan,
409
00:30:24,231 --> 00:30:26,439
And he took the head,
410
00:30:26,441 --> 00:30:29,993
And he discarded that
in new jersey at a golf course.
411
00:30:31,947 --> 00:30:34,573
- The first kill
is always significant.
412
00:30:34,575 --> 00:30:36,500
Being comfortable
with murdering someone
413
00:30:36,502 --> 00:30:39,744
Is a massive
psychological leap,
414
00:30:39,746 --> 00:30:42,622
And now you've crossed
that rubicon
415
00:30:42,624 --> 00:30:44,958
From fantasy to reality.
416
00:30:44,960 --> 00:30:46,844
[tense music]
417
00:30:46,846 --> 00:30:48,336
- There was nothing
to hold him back.
418
00:30:48,338 --> 00:30:50,922
♪ ♪
419
00:30:50,924 --> 00:30:54,518
- A golfer was at the the
hopewell valley country club.
420
00:30:54,520 --> 00:30:57,855
He had hooked his ball
into the woods
421
00:30:57,857 --> 00:30:59,815
And discovered a human head.
422
00:31:01,310 --> 00:31:03,018
- Joel is convinced
at that point
423
00:31:03,020 --> 00:31:04,111
That he was gonna get caught.
424
00:31:13,446 --> 00:31:16,164
[ominous music]
425
00:31:18,493 --> 00:31:23,330
- After joel rifkin committed
this first murder
426
00:31:23,332 --> 00:31:25,457
And disposed of the body,
427
00:31:25,459 --> 00:31:28,126
The head of this victim,
428
00:31:28,128 --> 00:31:32,964
Poor susie,
was found pretty quickly.
429
00:31:32,966 --> 00:31:35,675
- It was a cold, overcast day.
430
00:31:35,677 --> 00:31:40,847
It was shortly
after a major rainstorm.
431
00:31:40,849 --> 00:31:43,308
A golfer was at the
hopewell valley country club.
432
00:31:43,310 --> 00:31:46,904
He was on the seventh hole.
433
00:31:46,906 --> 00:31:50,315
He had hooked his ball
into the woods.
434
00:31:50,317 --> 00:31:54,394
He went into retrieve his ball
and discovered a human head.
435
00:31:57,366 --> 00:31:59,866
- I arrived
in the golf course.
436
00:31:59,868 --> 00:32:02,535
It drops down
maybe 10 to 15 feet
437
00:32:02,537 --> 00:32:06,373
To, like, a small creek,
438
00:32:06,375 --> 00:32:09,509
And there
you can see a severed head.
439
00:32:10,212 --> 00:32:11,929
- New york at that time,
in the '80s,
440
00:32:11,931 --> 00:32:15,265
Had a tremendous amount of
unidentified deceased persons,
441
00:32:15,267 --> 00:32:17,342
But it was quite the shock
because we've only had
442
00:32:17,344 --> 00:32:20,395
A few homicides in hopewell
over the last 3 or 4 decades.
443
00:32:21,598 --> 00:32:23,181
All the teeth were removed,
444
00:32:23,183 --> 00:32:24,691
With the exception
of four teeth.
445
00:32:25,560 --> 00:32:27,894
- The jaw was pretty much gone.
446
00:32:27,896 --> 00:32:29,729
- It was clearly a female
447
00:32:29,731 --> 00:32:32,032
By the hair and the eyes
and the facial features.
448
00:32:33,568 --> 00:32:35,568
- We did an intensive search
of the area.
449
00:32:35,570 --> 00:32:38,622
We were hoping to find
additional body parts
450
00:32:38,624 --> 00:32:42,542
Or some physical evidence.
We found nothing.
451
00:32:43,412 --> 00:32:45,370
- We really had
no other evidence to go on
452
00:32:45,372 --> 00:32:47,464
Other than the physical head.
453
00:32:47,466 --> 00:32:48,915
Not having a name means
454
00:32:48,917 --> 00:32:50,917
We can't even pursue
dental records.
455
00:32:50,919 --> 00:32:52,377
It then became a question
456
00:32:52,379 --> 00:32:54,587
On whether the homicide
occurred in hopewell,
457
00:32:54,589 --> 00:32:56,807
Or was just this
an alternate crime scene?
458
00:32:59,428 --> 00:33:03,388
- Not long after dumping,
susie's head was discovered,
459
00:33:03,390 --> 00:33:05,899
And joel heard a report
about this on the radio.
460
00:33:07,394 --> 00:33:08,935
He remembers thinking,
461
00:33:08,937 --> 00:33:10,311
"I went through
all these efforts,"
462
00:33:10,313 --> 00:33:14,107
To cut the body up into
as many parts as he could
463
00:33:14,109 --> 00:33:18,412
And discard them in different
places to stay invisible.
464
00:33:19,239 --> 00:33:21,623
He was convinced at that point
that he was gonna get caught.
465
00:33:44,931 --> 00:33:47,640
- About a month after we found
the severed head,
466
00:33:47,642 --> 00:33:50,101
We received a call
from jefferson township
467
00:33:50,103 --> 00:33:52,812
In morris county, new jersey.
468
00:33:52,814 --> 00:33:54,606
It was opening day
of trout season.
469
00:33:54,608 --> 00:33:58,702
That's when fishermen
found two legs in a creek
470
00:33:58,704 --> 00:34:02,489
Right off of an interstate.
They looked like female legs.
471
00:34:02,491 --> 00:34:05,158
- Dna was taken from her head
and the legs,
472
00:34:05,160 --> 00:34:08,045
And they were confirmed
to be a match.
473
00:34:08,047 --> 00:34:11,048
- But still, we were unable
to identify her.
474
00:34:32,071 --> 00:34:35,021
[ominous music]
475
00:34:35,023 --> 00:34:37,240
- The guys that commit
serial murders--you know,
476
00:34:37,242 --> 00:34:39,192
They're essentially
living in their heads.
477
00:34:39,194 --> 00:34:44,531
For a moment, you are god
because you have the ability
478
00:34:44,533 --> 00:34:46,041
To let someone live or die.
479
00:34:56,336 --> 00:34:58,929
- Even when you let someone
live and don't kill them
480
00:34:58,931 --> 00:35:01,673
But thought about it,
there's a high there, too.
481
00:35:01,675 --> 00:35:03,842
You made a godlike decision.
482
00:35:03,844 --> 00:35:07,011
You knew, having killed
other people,
483
00:35:07,013 --> 00:35:08,605
That you could've
easily killed that person.
484
00:35:10,684 --> 00:35:12,851
- One thing that joel was able
to appreciate
485
00:35:12,853 --> 00:35:15,687
After susie's head was found
486
00:35:15,689 --> 00:35:20,900
Was the fact
that she was never identified,
487
00:35:20,902 --> 00:35:24,037
So his efforts at concealment
actually worked.
488
00:35:25,907 --> 00:35:28,366
- He experienced
with this murder
489
00:35:28,368 --> 00:35:29,909
The greatest success
of his life.
490
00:35:29,911 --> 00:35:32,745
He fulfilled lifelong fantasy.
491
00:35:32,747 --> 00:35:34,539
He did it.
He got away with it.
492
00:35:34,541 --> 00:35:36,633
He got pleasure from it.
493
00:35:36,635 --> 00:35:40,262
It was a thunderous success
in his mind.
494
00:35:42,549 --> 00:35:44,808
- Those desires
were reactivated.
495
00:35:44,810 --> 00:35:46,893
It's time
to go out and try this again.
496
00:36:10,118 --> 00:36:13,119
- He did not strike again
until the fall of 1990.
497
00:36:13,121 --> 00:36:14,454
Like victim number one,
498
00:36:14,456 --> 00:36:16,089
She's picked up
on the lower east side.
499
00:36:20,170 --> 00:36:23,129
They have sex
in his childhood bed,
500
00:36:23,131 --> 00:36:25,924
And in the morning,
she promises more sex
501
00:36:25,926 --> 00:36:27,133
For more drugs,
502
00:36:27,135 --> 00:36:29,636
But he's unable
to get her money.
503
00:36:29,638 --> 00:36:33,306
She's complaining,
and impulsively,
504
00:36:33,308 --> 00:36:35,192
He picks up a table leg
505
00:36:35,194 --> 00:36:38,436
That's laying
around the house,
506
00:36:38,438 --> 00:36:40,521
And he just starts
bashing her over the head
507
00:36:40,523 --> 00:36:42,157
With the table leg.
508
00:36:44,819 --> 00:36:48,205
This time, he used
a little different mo.
509
00:36:48,207 --> 00:36:51,499
He went out
and bought cement and tarps.
510
00:37:02,837 --> 00:37:05,505
- He threw the concrete
into a river,
511
00:37:05,507 --> 00:37:08,383
Which we know sinks
to the bottom,
512
00:37:08,385 --> 00:37:10,310
Never to be found.
513
00:37:11,137 --> 00:37:14,514
That was probably because he
was determined never to repeat
514
00:37:14,516 --> 00:37:16,349
What he thought was
the big mistake
515
00:37:16,351 --> 00:37:18,643
Of his first murder.
516
00:37:18,645 --> 00:37:22,822
He was improving
his technique, so to speak.
517
00:37:23,909 --> 00:37:27,735
- He was able to once again
get away with that one,
518
00:37:27,737 --> 00:37:30,363
And after one more victim,
519
00:37:30,365 --> 00:37:36,995
Starts what he describes
as his acceleration period,
520
00:37:36,997 --> 00:37:40,748
Where, in the space of, like,
1 or 1 1/2 months,
521
00:37:40,750 --> 00:37:43,918
He kills four women
in rapid succession.
522
00:37:43,920 --> 00:37:45,845
[dramatic musical sting]
523
00:38:10,789 --> 00:38:13,957
- Joel's desire and ability
to be invisible,
524
00:38:13,959 --> 00:38:17,410
Developed so successfully
at a young age,
525
00:38:17,412 --> 00:38:21,589
Contributed greatly
to his murderous life.
526
00:38:22,417 --> 00:38:25,585
The way he looked, as well
as the way he acted
527
00:38:25,587 --> 00:38:28,138
And the ways he purposefully
projected himself
528
00:38:28,140 --> 00:38:30,757
Made him
look completely harmless
529
00:38:30,759 --> 00:38:32,717
To the women
that got into his car.
530
00:38:32,719 --> 00:38:34,927
♪ ♪
531
00:38:34,929 --> 00:38:36,721
He looked
like he could blend in
532
00:38:36,723 --> 00:38:39,057
In any crowd.
533
00:38:39,059 --> 00:38:42,769
The police that he encountered
never would've taken him
534
00:38:42,771 --> 00:38:44,738
For being a danger to anybody.
535
00:38:45,482 --> 00:38:47,106
- And since he was able
to get away with killing
536
00:38:47,108 --> 00:38:50,109
His first couple victims,
rifkin was very confident.
537
00:38:50,111 --> 00:38:52,820
- If joel rifkin was
feeling emboldened,
538
00:38:52,822 --> 00:38:54,289
Would this lead to his arrest?
539
00:39:05,693 --> 00:39:09,128
[ominous music]
540
00:39:09,130 --> 00:39:12,465
[suspenseful music]
541
00:39:12,467 --> 00:39:16,686
- Joel rifkin had a right
to feel confident
542
00:39:16,688 --> 00:39:20,273
Of his first murders.
543
00:39:21,017 --> 00:39:26,863
Only the first murder of susie
was a body part found,
544
00:39:26,865 --> 00:39:30,775
But even after
they found this head,
545
00:39:30,777 --> 00:39:33,703
It was impossible
for them to identify it.
546
00:39:33,705 --> 00:39:36,155
- We contacted frank bender
in philadelphia,
547
00:39:36,157 --> 00:39:39,042
A well-known reconstruction
individual in law enforcement,
548
00:39:39,044 --> 00:39:42,829
Contracted him to do
a reconstruction of the head.
549
00:39:42,831 --> 00:39:44,705
We knew she was
a white female,
550
00:39:44,707 --> 00:39:46,791
Probably in her late teens
551
00:39:46,793 --> 00:39:49,052
Or early 20s,
up to 30 years old.
552
00:39:49,721 --> 00:39:52,630
She had a mole
on her left chin.
553
00:39:52,632 --> 00:39:55,842
She had an old scar
over her left eye.
554
00:39:55,844 --> 00:39:58,219
- They did a full rendition
of what they believed
555
00:39:58,221 --> 00:39:59,562
This person
would've looked like.
556
00:39:59,564 --> 00:40:00,972
The head was completely intact.
557
00:40:00,974 --> 00:40:07,061
♪ ♪
558
00:40:07,063 --> 00:40:09,355
- It was put on the news.
It was put in the newspaper.
559
00:40:09,357 --> 00:40:11,190
It was sent to law enforcement.
560
00:40:11,192 --> 00:40:13,818
[suspenseful music]
561
00:40:13,820 --> 00:40:15,745
They received thousands
of missing-persons leads,
562
00:40:15,747 --> 00:40:17,572
And none of them panned out.
563
00:40:17,574 --> 00:40:19,907
It was just kept
as a cold case, unidentified.
564
00:40:19,909 --> 00:40:22,085
The person who did it
was still out there.
565
00:40:24,330 --> 00:40:28,040
- Initially, joel perpetrated
these crimes at home.
566
00:40:28,042 --> 00:40:32,920
He felt comfortable there
when his mother would go away,
567
00:40:32,922 --> 00:40:36,891
But in 1991, he seems ready
to get out of his comfort zone.
568
00:40:41,106 --> 00:40:43,931
He kills in a public place,
569
00:40:43,933 --> 00:40:47,101
A local motel on long island.
570
00:40:47,103 --> 00:40:49,446
The next murders
are all committed in his car.
571
00:40:51,783 --> 00:40:55,201
Joel had learned
to be invisible at a young age.
572
00:40:56,571 --> 00:40:58,788
- Because of this, he just got
better at killing, you know?
573
00:40:58,790 --> 00:41:00,707
He was really
a killing machine.
574
00:41:23,139 --> 00:41:25,648
[tense music]
575
00:41:25,650 --> 00:41:28,434
- Victim number six
he killed in his car
576
00:41:28,436 --> 00:41:31,062
And then drove
to an industrial area
577
00:41:31,064 --> 00:41:33,281
Up around northern manhattan.
578
00:41:33,942 --> 00:41:36,234
He drives off the road
a little bit,
579
00:41:36,236 --> 00:41:38,903
Treks through
a little wooded area,
580
00:41:38,905 --> 00:41:41,280
Dumps the body
into a waterway,
581
00:41:41,282 --> 00:41:43,658
And when he's walking
back to his car...
582
00:41:43,660 --> 00:41:45,451
[electronic music]
583
00:41:45,453 --> 00:41:48,663
He sees cops
coming towards him.
584
00:41:48,665 --> 00:41:51,591
He hears their radios.
He sees the flashlight.
585
00:41:52,344 --> 00:41:56,179
- He summoned up
from his long background
586
00:41:56,181 --> 00:41:58,848
Of knowing how
to avoid conflict
587
00:41:58,850 --> 00:42:01,017
A clever, clever lie.
588
00:42:02,136 --> 00:42:04,262
- He immediately picks up
something from the ground,
589
00:42:04,264 --> 00:42:07,014
An auto part,
and before the cops
590
00:42:07,016 --> 00:42:08,691
Have an opportunity
to say anything,
591
00:42:08,693 --> 00:42:10,851
He says,
"I'm not auto-stripping.
592
00:42:10,853 --> 00:42:12,237
I'm just scavenging."
593
00:42:13,940 --> 00:42:16,199
- Rifkin stayed really cool
and really calm.
594
00:42:16,201 --> 00:42:17,984
He had his wits about him
595
00:42:17,986 --> 00:42:21,445
And could literally be dumping
a victim into the river
596
00:42:21,447 --> 00:42:23,373
And simply talk his way out.
597
00:42:24,492 --> 00:42:28,711
That reflects the psychopathic
dimensions of who he was.
598
00:42:28,713 --> 00:42:31,330
The average person
would most likely flip out.
599
00:42:31,332 --> 00:42:34,166
- The police gave him
a warning,
600
00:42:34,168 --> 00:42:37,053
So he was able to get away
with that one
601
00:42:37,055 --> 00:42:40,890
And dodge that bullet.
602
00:42:40,892 --> 00:42:45,553
Victim number six to this day
has not been identified.
603
00:42:45,555 --> 00:42:47,388
Had those cops maybe looked
a little further,
604
00:42:47,390 --> 00:42:49,399
They would've found that body,
605
00:42:49,401 --> 00:42:51,401
And things would've
turned out different
606
00:42:51,403 --> 00:42:53,811
For many of the women.
607
00:42:53,813 --> 00:42:56,906
Instead, joel felt
on top of the world.
608
00:42:56,908 --> 00:43:00,568
He outsmarted the police,
and that incident made him
609
00:43:00,570 --> 00:43:04,080
Feel much more confident
of not getting caught.
610
00:43:04,082 --> 00:43:08,242
Joel was very aware
not only of his ability
611
00:43:08,244 --> 00:43:11,078
To be unnoticed by others,
612
00:43:11,080 --> 00:43:14,498
But also by the work
613
00:43:14,500 --> 00:43:18,419
That he had put
into cultivating that ability,
614
00:43:18,421 --> 00:43:21,839
And he seems to relish
in that anonymity.
615
00:43:21,841 --> 00:43:28,054
♪ ♪
616
00:43:28,056 --> 00:43:33,184
His choice in women also
helped joel stay anonymous.
617
00:43:33,186 --> 00:43:37,113
Most of the women that he would
look at fell victim to drugs,
618
00:43:37,115 --> 00:43:38,939
Like so many other people
in that era,
619
00:43:38,941 --> 00:43:40,950
And wound up on the streets.
620
00:43:41,527 --> 00:43:43,944
- Quite often, nobody knows
their real names.
621
00:43:43,946 --> 00:43:45,946
They have no ties
to the community.
622
00:43:45,948 --> 00:43:47,907
They're easy targets.
623
00:43:47,909 --> 00:43:49,241
- Quite a few of the victims
624
00:43:49,243 --> 00:43:51,952
Had not even
been reported missing.
625
00:43:51,954 --> 00:43:53,713
Lorraine orvieto
was different.
626
00:43:55,708 --> 00:43:57,291
- Lorraine was my first cousin.
627
00:43:57,293 --> 00:43:59,752
She went missing
when she was 28.
628
00:43:59,754 --> 00:44:01,462
- Her family spent
a lot of time,
629
00:44:01,464 --> 00:44:04,632
You know, trying to find her.
She was a missing person.
630
00:44:04,634 --> 00:44:08,311
- My aunt wrote letters,
made a million phone calls
631
00:44:08,313 --> 00:44:13,099
To hospitals and morgues
all over long island,
632
00:44:13,101 --> 00:44:15,652
Looking at pictures,
even looking at a body,
633
00:44:15,654 --> 00:44:19,155
And they came up with nothing.
634
00:44:19,157 --> 00:44:21,649
It was very surreal
635
00:44:21,651 --> 00:44:25,328
To just have a family member
completely disappear.
636
00:44:28,667 --> 00:44:30,991
Lorraine was like a sister
to me growing up.
637
00:44:30,993 --> 00:44:33,920
She was always very loving,
very generous.
638
00:44:34,747 --> 00:44:38,049
She just had so much vigor,
so much life.
639
00:44:39,844 --> 00:44:41,669
She wanted to be
an accountant.
640
00:44:41,671 --> 00:44:44,472
I think she knew very clearly
what she wanted in her life.
641
00:44:45,007 --> 00:44:47,266
Unfortunately,
some things got in the way.
642
00:44:47,802 --> 00:44:50,678
I remember lorraine's
frustration at struggling
643
00:44:50,680 --> 00:44:52,763
To pass the cpa exam.
644
00:44:52,765 --> 00:44:55,441
She tried twice, but she
couldn't pass this test.
645
00:44:56,361 --> 00:44:59,195
She was really deflated.
646
00:45:00,865 --> 00:45:05,526
At the same point, she had been
admitted to the hospital.
647
00:45:05,528 --> 00:45:08,821
Lorraine needed a blood
transfusion for a surgery.
648
00:45:08,823 --> 00:45:11,031
She had to remove
a very large fibroid,
649
00:45:11,033 --> 00:45:15,378
And they had just started
checking the blood in 1985,
650
00:45:15,380 --> 00:45:17,547
When she had her transfusion.
651
00:45:17,549 --> 00:45:20,717
She did develop hiv,
652
00:45:20,719 --> 00:45:23,094
Which eventually became
full-blown aids.
653
00:45:25,056 --> 00:45:26,714
I remember going to
the hospital
654
00:45:26,716 --> 00:45:28,132
To visit lorraine.
655
00:45:28,134 --> 00:45:32,061
She became too unstable
to keep it together,
656
00:45:32,063 --> 00:45:35,064
And that just led
to shady characters and drugs
657
00:45:35,066 --> 00:45:36,899
And eventually going missing.
658
00:45:41,564 --> 00:45:44,073
- Joel meets lorraine orvieto,
659
00:45:44,075 --> 00:45:45,908
Picks her up in bay shore,
long island,
660
00:45:45,910 --> 00:45:48,161
A once-affluent town.
661
00:46:17,058 --> 00:46:21,101
- With lorraine orvieto,
it was a circumstantial thing.
662
00:46:21,103 --> 00:46:24,104
He solicited this girl,
663
00:46:24,106 --> 00:46:27,733
And in the process
of receiving sex from her,
664
00:46:27,735 --> 00:46:30,736
He did what he was already
in the habit of doing.
665
00:46:30,738 --> 00:46:32,863
It's just habitual.
666
00:46:32,865 --> 00:46:36,951
- After taking her life,
he used a different mo.
667
00:46:36,953 --> 00:46:41,413
Lorraine orvieto is the first
of several victims
668
00:46:41,415 --> 00:46:44,383
That he places
in a 50-gallon drum.
669
00:46:51,634 --> 00:46:54,477
- And that led
to a very long year
670
00:46:54,479 --> 00:46:57,063
Of having no idea
what happened to her.
671
00:46:58,891 --> 00:47:00,566
[sighs]
672
00:47:03,437 --> 00:47:06,814
- You have to wonder if joel
ever took
673
00:47:06,816 --> 00:47:08,816
The lives of his victims
674
00:47:08,818 --> 00:47:11,077
Or their loved ones
into consideration.
675
00:47:12,154 --> 00:47:15,239
Even though lorraine orvieto
was reported missing,
676
00:47:15,241 --> 00:47:18,000
Her body was not
immediately discovered,
677
00:47:18,002 --> 00:47:21,287
So joel became so confident
678
00:47:21,289 --> 00:47:23,747
That he started to get
679
00:47:23,749 --> 00:47:25,842
These feelings
of invincibility
680
00:47:25,844 --> 00:47:30,429
That he couldn't be caught.
Will anyone ever take notice?
681
00:47:41,433 --> 00:47:45,069
[ominous music]
682
00:47:47,523 --> 00:47:50,941
- Lorraine orvieto was
joel rifkin's seventh victim.
683
00:47:50,943 --> 00:47:53,986
About 7 months later,
her body was discovered,
684
00:47:53,988 --> 00:47:57,039
But at that time,
it was never identified.
685
00:47:57,992 --> 00:48:01,878
- Joel was emboldened
by the fact
686
00:48:01,880 --> 00:48:04,213
That he had gotten away
with this for this long.
687
00:48:06,334 --> 00:48:08,050
Joel was getting
a little more careless.
688
00:48:08,052 --> 00:48:10,961
He picks up iris sanchez
689
00:48:10,963 --> 00:48:13,631
On the lower east side
during the day,
690
00:48:13,633 --> 00:48:17,885
Which was unusual for joel
up until this point,
691
00:48:17,887 --> 00:48:20,220
Strangles her during sex.
692
00:48:20,222 --> 00:48:22,064
After he killed her,
693
00:48:22,066 --> 00:48:24,567
He drove her
out near kennedy airport.
694
00:48:41,535 --> 00:48:43,252
- He picked this woman up
during the day.
695
00:48:43,254 --> 00:48:45,087
He killed her during the day,
696
00:48:45,089 --> 00:48:47,915
And he dumped
her body carelessly
697
00:48:47,917 --> 00:48:49,926
Under a mattress
during the day.
698
00:48:51,545 --> 00:48:54,713
I asked if there was
any specific trigger
699
00:48:54,715 --> 00:48:58,935
As to why the ones
that were killed were,
700
00:48:58,937 --> 00:49:01,771
And he said it was
the ripe opportunity
701
00:49:01,773 --> 00:49:04,181
Where there was very little
chance of getting caught,
702
00:49:04,183 --> 00:49:06,517
But that didn't seem
to matter anymore.
703
00:49:09,563 --> 00:49:12,448
He killed her and just wanted
to get rid of the body
704
00:49:12,450 --> 00:49:14,659
And did so
in the most expeditious manner.
705
00:49:19,865 --> 00:49:24,076
- This just fed,
added to his sense of power,
706
00:49:24,078 --> 00:49:26,412
Potency, success,
707
00:49:26,414 --> 00:49:29,748
And the amazing thing was,
as brazen as he was getting,
708
00:49:29,750 --> 00:49:31,542
This was completely
under the radar.
709
00:49:31,544 --> 00:49:33,052
No one knew.
710
00:49:42,888 --> 00:49:44,647
- In the early '90s,
I wasn't living
711
00:49:44,649 --> 00:49:46,649
At my parents' house anymore,
712
00:49:46,651 --> 00:49:49,893
But I was visiting them,
you know, all the time,
713
00:49:49,895 --> 00:49:51,729
And I'd see joel outside
and be like,
714
00:49:51,731 --> 00:49:54,440
"hey, man. How's it going?
What are you up to?"
715
00:49:54,442 --> 00:49:56,650
I had no idea
what was going on.
716
00:49:56,652 --> 00:49:59,820
[dark music]
717
00:49:59,822 --> 00:50:02,331
- At this point, I was already
with my band,
718
00:50:02,333 --> 00:50:03,741
The new york ska-jazz ensemble.
719
00:50:03,743 --> 00:50:05,075
I had, like, a local gig.
720
00:50:05,077 --> 00:50:07,578
I was walking with my horn
721
00:50:07,580 --> 00:50:11,507
Just somewhere down
in the village near the club,
722
00:50:11,509 --> 00:50:14,844
And I see joel in a car.
723
00:50:14,846 --> 00:50:18,672
Oh, there's a girl with him,
so in my mind, I'm thinking,
724
00:50:18,674 --> 00:50:20,632
"haven't really seen him
with too many girls."
725
00:50:20,634 --> 00:50:22,926
I'm not going to interrupt,
and I'm just going to be like,
726
00:50:22,928 --> 00:50:24,803
You know, "hey, bro.
How you doing?
727
00:50:24,805 --> 00:50:28,357
Oh, yeah. Just did a show.
All right. See you soon."
728
00:50:30,603 --> 00:50:33,195
After it all went down,
it occurred to me
729
00:50:33,197 --> 00:50:34,980
That the woman I saw
in the car
730
00:50:34,982 --> 00:50:37,024
Might have be one of
those women he strangled.
731
00:50:37,026 --> 00:50:39,118
That's a tough one
to wrap your head around.
732
00:50:56,712 --> 00:50:59,722
- On the one hand, joel rifkin
despised these women
733
00:50:59,724 --> 00:51:01,673
Because they represented
to him
734
00:51:01,675 --> 00:51:04,009
Exactly what he thought
about himself,
735
00:51:04,011 --> 00:51:08,680
But I think a guy
that's not successful socially
736
00:51:08,682 --> 00:51:12,568
Is very responsive
to somebody who's nice to him,
737
00:51:12,570 --> 00:51:16,238
So it was a very unique
experience to him,
738
00:51:16,240 --> 00:51:19,700
And he would form
little micro relationships.
739
00:51:30,496 --> 00:51:33,497
[brooding music]
740
00:51:33,499 --> 00:51:40,096
♪ ♪
741
00:51:40,098 --> 00:51:44,091
- I played quarterback
for myers park high school.
742
00:51:44,093 --> 00:51:46,885
Catherine was the head
cheerleader on the squad
743
00:51:46,887 --> 00:51:49,179
That was
our cross-town rivals,
744
00:51:49,181 --> 00:51:51,014
So we had the quarterback
of one high school
745
00:51:51,016 --> 00:51:53,392
Dating the cheerleader
of the cross-town rival,
746
00:51:53,394 --> 00:51:56,019
So it kind of bred
a little bit of notoriety
747
00:51:56,021 --> 00:51:57,771
For us as a couple.
748
00:51:57,773 --> 00:52:00,491
Her family was well off.
Her father was a dentist.
749
00:52:01,119 --> 00:52:05,571
Catherine had this tremendous,
charismatic energy about her
750
00:52:05,573 --> 00:52:07,039
And a tremendous confidence.
751
00:52:21,922 --> 00:52:24,214
- Catherine broke up with me
in high school,
752
00:52:24,216 --> 00:52:26,633
So I would see her
on national television.
753
00:52:26,635 --> 00:52:29,979
Catherine was sort of the top
of the pyramid type of girl.
754
00:52:31,649 --> 00:52:33,932
I heard through the grapevine,
through some friends,
755
00:52:33,934 --> 00:52:35,225
That she moved to new york--
756
00:52:35,227 --> 00:52:38,028
And completely lost touch
with catherine.
757
00:52:39,148 --> 00:52:41,991
And then I met her again.
758
00:52:41,993 --> 00:52:43,742
I went
to the methodist church.
759
00:52:44,320 --> 00:52:46,162
I looked up there,
760
00:52:46,164 --> 00:52:49,540
And there she stood,
catherine williams.
761
00:52:51,118 --> 00:52:53,577
When everyone was quiet,
she just turned around.
762
00:52:53,579 --> 00:52:55,421
She looked right at me.
Bang.
763
00:52:56,174 --> 00:52:58,340
I knew at that moment
that I was going to marry her.
764
00:52:58,342 --> 00:52:59,842
I knew it.
I knew it. I knew it.
765
00:53:02,588 --> 00:53:05,255
At that moment,
she knew it too, and she goes,
766
00:53:05,257 --> 00:53:08,851
"well, I know of a justice
of the peace down the road.
767
00:53:08,853 --> 00:53:10,060
Let's go tomorrow."
768
00:53:11,355 --> 00:53:15,107
We got married
without anybody knowing.
769
00:53:21,866 --> 00:53:24,867
We began to have parties
that were filled with drugs,
770
00:53:24,869 --> 00:53:26,702
Dangerous parties.
771
00:53:27,363 --> 00:53:30,080
I can't imagine, in the 1980s,
you hadn't done any cocaine.
772
00:53:32,201 --> 00:53:36,036
Very quickly, that just spun
way out of control.
773
00:53:36,038 --> 00:53:38,288
It got really frightening,
774
00:53:38,290 --> 00:53:40,624
And I just said,
"we're gonna die.
775
00:53:40,626 --> 00:53:42,042
"you need to go back home
to your family,
776
00:53:42,044 --> 00:53:44,053
And I need to go back
to my family."
777
00:53:47,174 --> 00:53:48,891
She finally decided
778
00:53:48,893 --> 00:53:50,726
That she wanted
to go back to new york.
779
00:53:50,728 --> 00:53:52,886
She had a support system
up there,
780
00:53:52,888 --> 00:53:55,347
And so I put her on a plane.
She, you know, took off.
781
00:53:55,349 --> 00:53:56,890
That was the period of time
782
00:53:56,892 --> 00:53:58,484
Where we just both kind of let
the dust settle.
783
00:54:03,482 --> 00:54:05,407
But I was still married
to catherine.
784
00:54:05,409 --> 00:54:07,192
I was in love with catherine.
785
00:54:07,194 --> 00:54:09,411
After several months,
she said,
786
00:54:09,413 --> 00:54:11,530
"well, I'm coming back
to get you.
787
00:54:11,532 --> 00:54:13,198
Don't move.
I'm coming."
788
00:54:13,200 --> 00:54:15,918
So three days, nothing.
789
00:54:15,920 --> 00:54:18,879
Five days, nothing.
Seven days, nothing.
790
00:54:21,592 --> 00:54:24,376
- The incident
with catherine williams
791
00:54:24,378 --> 00:54:27,096
I thought was
particularly curious
792
00:54:27,098 --> 00:54:29,423
Because joel had said
793
00:54:29,425 --> 00:54:32,309
That he had been with her
numerous times in the past.
794
00:54:46,608 --> 00:54:50,068
- Catherine was known for
walking around with a suitcase
795
00:54:50,070 --> 00:54:53,280
In which she carried
so many of her possessions,
796
00:54:53,282 --> 00:54:56,333
Including pictures
of her football player husband.
797
00:55:11,976 --> 00:55:15,635
- As a cheerleader
and a homecoming queen,
798
00:55:15,637 --> 00:55:20,766
Mary catherine was the symbol
and the reality of the girl
799
00:55:20,768 --> 00:55:22,726
Not only
that he could never get,
800
00:55:22,728 --> 00:55:26,271
But the girl
who chose the bullies,
801
00:55:26,273 --> 00:55:30,609
So she was a symbol
of everything that he hated,
802
00:55:30,611 --> 00:55:32,411
That he was envious of.
803
00:55:32,988 --> 00:55:36,782
- The fact that she was married
to a standout football player,
804
00:55:36,784 --> 00:55:38,283
She might have mentioned
805
00:55:38,285 --> 00:55:40,077
That she was getting
the money to go back
806
00:55:40,079 --> 00:55:43,130
And bring him to new york.
That could've set joel off.
807
00:55:45,009 --> 00:55:47,176
- When she was in that car
with him
808
00:55:47,178 --> 00:55:52,181
Was the very time frame
I was waiting for her to come,
809
00:55:52,183 --> 00:55:55,184
And that was the moment
that she died.
810
00:55:56,136 --> 00:55:58,312
- Rifkin continued killing,
and he got away with it.
811
00:56:08,365 --> 00:56:12,117
[ominous music]
812
00:56:17,116 --> 00:56:21,460
- Mary catherine was rifkin's
13th victim.
813
00:56:21,995 --> 00:56:24,996
Joel was quite confident that
she would never be discovered
814
00:56:24,998 --> 00:56:27,383
Because he had been
successful before.
815
00:56:27,385 --> 00:56:32,170
Other bodies were found
but never identified,
816
00:56:32,172 --> 00:56:34,306
And no one was looking
for joel rifkin.
817
00:56:36,468 --> 00:56:38,560
- We just didn't have
the technology we have now.
818
00:56:38,562 --> 00:56:40,804
Law enforcement
is much more efficient now.
819
00:56:40,806 --> 00:56:44,307
- Rifkin was so clever
in where he picked them up,
820
00:56:44,309 --> 00:56:47,352
How he picked them up,
and where he killed them
821
00:56:47,354 --> 00:56:49,688
And how he disposed of them
that it was
822
00:56:49,690 --> 00:56:52,315
Virtually impossible
for law enforcement
823
00:56:52,317 --> 00:56:54,693
To put this together.
824
00:56:54,695 --> 00:56:56,153
He's dumping these bodies
825
00:56:56,155 --> 00:56:58,664
In nine or ten
different jurisdictions.
826
00:56:59,700 --> 00:57:01,533
- There was absolutely
no reason why joel rifkin
827
00:57:01,535 --> 00:57:03,660
Should've been
on any of our radar,
828
00:57:03,662 --> 00:57:06,997
But leah evans stands out
because she exemplifies
829
00:57:06,999 --> 00:57:10,175
Just how brazen
and careless joel was getting.
830
00:57:12,087 --> 00:57:16,715
- Leah was sweet to the point
of really not having
831
00:57:16,717 --> 00:57:19,259
A malignant bone in her body.
832
00:57:19,261 --> 00:57:22,012
- Leah evans went
to sarah lawrence college
833
00:57:22,014 --> 00:57:25,274
And seemed to be on track,
at least after college,
834
00:57:25,276 --> 00:57:26,892
To having a very bright future.
835
00:57:26,894 --> 00:57:30,103
- It was a very distinctly
privileged school,
836
00:57:30,105 --> 00:57:33,273
And leah didn't come
from that kind of wealth,
837
00:57:33,275 --> 00:57:34,950
So she felt, I think,
838
00:57:34,952 --> 00:57:37,035
Somewhat alienated
from the culture there.
839
00:57:38,789 --> 00:57:42,574
Leah's drug use started
during her college years.
840
00:57:42,576 --> 00:57:43,909
It was the '80s.
841
00:57:43,911 --> 00:57:46,077
There were drugs
kind of everywhere,
842
00:57:46,079 --> 00:57:48,338
And that's when I discovered
leah really had a disease.
843
00:57:50,209 --> 00:57:53,543
She would be gone
for days on end.
844
00:57:53,545 --> 00:57:55,879
We all knew that
this addiction was spiraling.
845
00:57:55,881 --> 00:57:57,389
It was terrifying
to the people who loved her.
846
00:58:00,144 --> 00:58:03,145
[brooding music]
847
00:58:03,147 --> 00:58:08,600
♪ ♪
848
00:58:08,602 --> 00:58:10,101
I have a beautiful memory
of leah
849
00:58:10,103 --> 00:58:12,270
Arriving at my apartment.
850
00:58:12,272 --> 00:58:16,107
We were just 23, and she had
her beautiful son, julian,
851
00:58:16,109 --> 00:58:18,160
And she was so proud
852
00:58:18,162 --> 00:58:19,870
And asked me
to be his godmother.
853
00:58:21,281 --> 00:58:24,833
She just was not present
any more in her body.
854
00:58:24,835 --> 00:58:26,785
The ravages
of heroin addiction
855
00:58:26,787 --> 00:58:29,079
Are really profound.
856
00:58:29,081 --> 00:58:32,123
She became homeless.
857
00:58:32,125 --> 00:58:33,967
No one ever saw her again.
858
00:58:34,503 --> 00:58:36,929
[spacey music]
859
00:58:59,987 --> 00:59:05,949
- It is impossible for me
to digest the scene.
860
00:59:05,951 --> 00:59:07,659
In this case, leah said no.
861
00:59:07,661 --> 00:59:09,202
It seems to have triggered
something in him
862
00:59:09,204 --> 00:59:11,871
That made him feel
she should die.
863
00:59:11,873 --> 00:59:14,874
[dramatic music]
864
00:59:14,876 --> 00:59:19,838
♪ ♪
865
00:59:19,840 --> 00:59:23,508
- Joel rifkin dug
a very shallow grave
866
00:59:23,510 --> 00:59:25,310
Out in the eastern end
of long island.
867
00:59:47,492 --> 00:59:48,742
- Some people who were out
looking, you know,
868
00:59:48,744 --> 00:59:50,493
For flowers or something,
869
00:59:50,495 --> 00:59:52,537
And they saw the hand
sticking up out of the ground,
870
00:59:52,539 --> 00:59:55,040
And that's how
that body was found.
871
00:59:55,042 --> 00:59:58,510
- Soon thereafter, the body was
the first one to be identified.
872
01:00:13,685 --> 01:00:18,280
- Leah's hand eerily sticking
out of the shallow grave
873
01:00:18,282 --> 01:00:21,232
Was extremely sloppy.
874
01:00:21,234 --> 01:00:25,737
- His cloak of invisibility
was slipping.
875
01:00:25,739 --> 01:00:29,074
That's a very serious error
for somebody
876
01:00:29,076 --> 01:00:31,585
Who was so meticulous
to have committed.
877
01:01:31,805 --> 01:01:34,013
- It was light out, and there
were going to be commuters,
878
01:01:34,015 --> 01:01:35,524
People going to work,
879
01:01:35,526 --> 01:01:37,976
Figuring, "I can't dispose
her body right here,"
880
01:01:37,978 --> 01:01:39,978
So he put newspapers
all over the body
881
01:01:39,980 --> 01:01:41,863
So that if anybody
did look inside,
882
01:01:41,865 --> 01:01:43,615
They wouldn't see the body.
883
01:01:55,546 --> 01:01:56,828
- So he wound up taking her
884
01:01:56,830 --> 01:01:59,456
Back to his house
in long island
885
01:01:59,458 --> 01:02:01,425
Where he lived with his mom
and his sister.
886
01:02:04,337 --> 01:02:07,839
- His mother greeted
him angrily.
887
01:02:07,841 --> 01:02:09,549
She needed the car
because she had an errand
888
01:02:09,551 --> 01:02:12,010
She had to run right away.
889
01:02:12,012 --> 01:02:15,054
He doesn't panic, and he says,
"okay, mom,"
890
01:02:15,056 --> 01:02:17,399
Hands over the keys
to the mother,
891
01:02:17,401 --> 01:02:20,569
Who goes out and runs
her errand for an hour or so,
892
01:02:20,571 --> 01:02:25,190
And his mother brings the car
back unknowing
893
01:02:25,192 --> 01:02:27,525
That there's a body
in the trunk,
894
01:02:27,527 --> 01:02:31,413
At which point joel
moves the body into the garage,
895
01:02:31,415 --> 01:02:35,667
Where it lays for a couple
of days in the stifling heat.
896
01:02:36,870 --> 01:02:39,996
- Rifkin then spent the rest
of the weekend with the body
897
01:02:39,998 --> 01:02:43,708
Decaying in his garage,
working on two trucks,
898
01:02:43,710 --> 01:02:45,510
Changing an engine
from one into another.
899
01:02:47,339 --> 01:02:49,097
- He doesn't move her out
until Sunday night
900
01:02:49,099 --> 01:02:51,007
Into Monday morning.
901
01:02:51,009 --> 01:02:53,176
It's, like, 96 hours where
he's held onto this victim,
902
01:02:53,178 --> 01:02:55,103
So the odor was overpowering.
903
01:02:55,889 --> 01:02:57,764
- Rifkin waited
until it was nighttime.
904
01:02:57,766 --> 01:02:59,524
Nobody was watching.
905
01:03:01,853 --> 01:03:05,155
He took the body, put it
in one of the pickup trucks.
906
01:03:06,900 --> 01:03:09,108
Rifkin then drove
on to the state parkway,
907
01:03:09,110 --> 01:03:11,703
Where the state police
try to pull rifkin over.
908
01:03:14,407 --> 01:03:17,042
- Joel rifkin made
a fatal mistake.
909
01:03:17,744 --> 01:03:21,254
Instead of pulling over,
he accelerated.
910
01:03:21,957 --> 01:03:24,415
- He lost it.
There was panic.
911
01:03:24,417 --> 01:03:26,635
He didn't behave rationally.
912
01:03:28,421 --> 01:03:32,215
There's no way that he could've
outrun the state trooper
913
01:03:32,217 --> 01:03:34,259
In a beat-up truck.
914
01:03:34,261 --> 01:03:37,771
- Ultimately he was exposed,
became visible.
915
01:03:40,100 --> 01:03:43,226
- Joel rifkin had asked me
why he was being stopped,
916
01:03:43,228 --> 01:03:44,936
And I said,
917
01:03:44,938 --> 01:03:47,197
"because you didn't have
a license plate on your car."
918
01:03:47,991 --> 01:03:51,535
And he always responded,
"it's always a ¢25 part."
919
01:03:53,905 --> 01:03:55,572
If there was a license plate,
920
01:03:55,574 --> 01:03:57,833
Would there have been
another reason to stop him?
921
01:03:57,835 --> 01:03:59,209
I don't know.
922
01:04:15,594 --> 01:04:18,428
- As he was being interviewed,
I was on the other side,
923
01:04:18,430 --> 01:04:20,138
Listening to the discussion
924
01:04:20,140 --> 01:04:24,309
With a nassau county
homicide detective,
925
01:04:24,311 --> 01:04:26,194
And he looks at me.
He's like, "hey, kid.
926
01:04:26,196 --> 01:04:28,113
Let me tell you something.
This guy has done this before."
927
01:04:29,700 --> 01:04:33,034
- Everyone in that room
was wondering,
928
01:04:33,036 --> 01:04:34,953
How many more victims
did this guy have?
929
01:04:36,698 --> 01:04:39,165
Then he asked for, you know,
a pen and a piece of paper.
930
01:04:41,369 --> 01:04:45,330
He wrote down the victims
in reverse chronological order
931
01:04:45,332 --> 01:04:47,215
Starting with 17.
932
01:04:48,335 --> 01:04:52,503
- Went from a simple car stop
to a dead body
933
01:04:52,505 --> 01:04:55,682
To "what if there's more?"
to now there's 17.
934
01:04:59,638 --> 01:05:01,679
- Rifkin's bedroom was
935
01:05:01,681 --> 01:05:03,222
A crime scene technician's
nightmare.
936
01:05:03,224 --> 01:05:04,724
Once we opened that door,
937
01:05:04,726 --> 01:05:06,517
We knew we found
the rosetta stone.
938
01:05:06,519 --> 01:05:08,486
- There was clothing, jewelry.
939
01:05:24,770 --> 01:05:28,081
[ominous music]
940
01:05:28,083 --> 01:05:31,176
[dramatic music]
941
01:05:32,587 --> 01:05:34,921
- Joel rifkin was caught
with a dead body
942
01:05:34,923 --> 01:05:37,382
In the back of his car.
943
01:05:37,384 --> 01:05:39,050
And then rifkin told
the police
944
01:05:39,052 --> 01:05:41,227
About 16 other women
that he had killed.
945
01:05:43,348 --> 01:05:46,057
- We wanted to prove what joel
was telling us was true.
946
01:05:46,059 --> 01:05:47,725
He told us
about the leah evans case,
947
01:05:47,727 --> 01:05:49,060
But that was also
in the newspaper,
948
01:05:49,062 --> 01:05:51,071
So he could've read that.
949
01:05:51,940 --> 01:05:55,733
- At which time
he starts giving details
950
01:05:55,735 --> 01:06:00,613
On all 17 of these homicides,
what they look like,
951
01:06:00,615 --> 01:06:04,709
What he did with the body,
just off the top of his head.
952
01:06:06,204 --> 01:06:07,704
- There was a certain part
953
01:06:07,706 --> 01:06:10,373
Of his confession
that was bragging.
954
01:06:10,375 --> 01:06:13,543
You know, joel had been
picked on for years
955
01:06:13,545 --> 01:06:17,472
And not looked at as somebody
that had any talent,
956
01:06:17,474 --> 01:06:19,090
And I think
this was his opportunity
957
01:06:19,092 --> 01:06:21,092
To tell people that,
"you're wrong.
958
01:06:21,094 --> 01:06:22,760
"I'm really smart.
I'm capable,
959
01:06:22,762 --> 01:06:24,688
And look at what I did."
960
01:06:26,307 --> 01:06:30,935
- The braggadocio sets in
and him saying,
961
01:06:30,937 --> 01:06:33,321
"I've fooled you
by my invisibility.
962
01:06:33,323 --> 01:06:36,324
"now you caught me.
Want to see visibility?
963
01:06:36,326 --> 01:06:39,244
Want to see accountability?
Here it is."
964
01:06:39,904 --> 01:06:43,781
- He gave such details
965
01:06:43,783 --> 01:06:47,243
That when the police
went to the scene,
966
01:06:47,245 --> 01:06:50,380
It was exactly how he said.
967
01:06:52,125 --> 01:06:53,583
- We went out
to kennedy airport,
968
01:06:53,585 --> 01:06:56,461
And we found the victim
that was under a mattress,
969
01:06:56,463 --> 01:06:58,296
So that was when
we pretty much believed
970
01:06:58,298 --> 01:06:59,347
Everything he said.
971
01:07:01,342 --> 01:07:03,301
- And then I applied
for a search warrant
972
01:07:03,303 --> 01:07:06,062
From the judge to search
his house for evidence.
973
01:07:06,639 --> 01:07:10,433
- They were looking
for everything and anything
974
01:07:10,435 --> 01:07:16,272
They could find that would,
one, help identify the victims
975
01:07:16,274 --> 01:07:20,693
And anything else related
to these crimes.
976
01:07:20,695 --> 01:07:24,956
They had very little to show
for what he was admitting to.
977
01:07:25,950 --> 01:07:27,208
- Rifkin's bedroom was
978
01:07:27,210 --> 01:07:28,785
A crime scene
technician's nightmare.
979
01:07:28,787 --> 01:07:30,328
Once we opened that door,
980
01:07:30,330 --> 01:07:32,547
We knew we found
the rosetta stone.
981
01:07:32,549 --> 01:07:35,333
- It was almost like digging
for treasure.
982
01:07:35,335 --> 01:07:39,629
There was driver's license
of some of the victims.
983
01:07:39,631 --> 01:07:43,174
- So now we had
pretty clear corroboration
984
01:07:43,176 --> 01:07:44,675
Once we matched those ids
985
01:07:44,677 --> 01:07:47,395
To the people
he claimed to have killed.
986
01:07:47,397 --> 01:07:49,680
- There was clothing, jewelry.
987
01:07:49,682 --> 01:07:51,474
- There was an earring
that we matched
988
01:07:51,476 --> 01:07:54,185
To a victim
from upstate new york
989
01:07:54,187 --> 01:07:56,071
That had
already been recovered.
990
01:07:56,073 --> 01:07:59,649
- There was also articles
on arthur shawcross,
991
01:07:59,651 --> 01:08:02,985
The serial killer from
rochester area of new york,
992
01:08:02,987 --> 01:08:05,863
And he had a book
on the green river killer,
993
01:08:05,865 --> 01:08:08,333
Almost how-to guides for him.
994
01:08:38,231 --> 01:08:41,116
- All his life, joel rifkin
was a background guy,
995
01:08:41,118 --> 01:08:43,401
An invisible man.
996
01:08:43,403 --> 01:08:47,029
- Deep down, I think he
actually did crave
997
01:08:47,031 --> 01:08:49,365
A certain degree of notoriety
998
01:08:49,367 --> 01:08:52,669
That prolific serial killers
had attained in the press.
999
01:08:56,374 --> 01:08:58,207
- I felt bad for his family.
1000
01:08:58,209 --> 01:09:00,585
Police were, like,
staking out the house.
1001
01:09:00,587 --> 01:09:04,088
You only heard about these kind
of things on television,
1002
01:09:04,090 --> 01:09:06,141
In the newspaper.
You know, this didn't happen
1003
01:09:06,143 --> 01:09:10,136
Next door, let alone
quaint old east meadow.
1004
01:09:10,138 --> 01:09:14,098
His mother, who was clearly
distraught now and alone,
1005
01:09:14,100 --> 01:09:16,058
She seemed to love him,
her son.
1006
01:09:16,060 --> 01:09:18,728
He said she's the only one
that showed him true love
1007
01:09:18,730 --> 01:09:20,563
After it all went down.
1008
01:09:20,565 --> 01:09:25,401
- But mrs. Rifkin was not
that accessible to reporters
1009
01:09:25,403 --> 01:09:27,278
Or to anybody
that questioned her.
1010
01:09:27,280 --> 01:09:28,621
She didn't want
to talk about it.
1011
01:09:31,451 --> 01:09:33,168
- There's
a pretty extensive search.
1012
01:09:33,170 --> 01:09:35,161
I know it continued
into the next day.
1013
01:09:35,163 --> 01:09:37,288
The murders that he had
committed in his house,
1014
01:09:37,290 --> 01:09:38,456
Rifkin apparently did
a really good job
1015
01:09:38,458 --> 01:09:40,008
Of cleaning up.
1016
01:09:40,010 --> 01:09:42,001
Obviously he didn't want
his family to see.
1017
01:09:42,003 --> 01:09:43,753
Must have been a bloody mess
1018
01:09:43,755 --> 01:09:46,130
Where he dismembered
some of his victims,
1019
01:09:46,132 --> 01:09:49,300
But there was no evidence
of that in the house.
1020
01:09:49,302 --> 01:09:51,469
- The contents
of joel rifkin's room
1021
01:09:51,471 --> 01:09:54,355
Were removed and brought
to farmingdale.
1022
01:09:54,357 --> 01:09:56,149
- We collected
over 8,000 pieces of evidence.
1023
01:09:57,936 --> 01:09:59,861
What we had to do in this case
in the beginning
1024
01:09:59,863 --> 01:10:01,646
Was a crime scene search,
1025
01:10:01,648 --> 01:10:03,606
Recovering the bodies
that hadn't been found yet
1026
01:10:03,608 --> 01:10:06,484
And linking them to the bodies
that had been found.
1027
01:10:06,486 --> 01:10:09,987
- They were very methodical
and organized and objective,
1028
01:10:09,989 --> 01:10:13,616
And they were able to
corroborate 13 or 14 of them.
1029
01:10:13,618 --> 01:10:15,993
- It became
such a major investigation,
1030
01:10:15,995 --> 01:10:18,496
All sorts of news coverage.
1031
01:10:18,498 --> 01:10:21,382
- Joel rifkin has told police
he's a serial killer.
1032
01:10:21,384 --> 01:10:23,167
The man told police
1033
01:10:23,169 --> 01:10:26,638
He killed 17 prostitutes
over the last several years.
1034
01:10:27,674 --> 01:10:30,967
- Turn on the tv one night,
and I saw that joel rifkin
1035
01:10:30,969 --> 01:10:33,010
Had been arrested,
and they listed his victims,
1036
01:10:33,012 --> 01:10:35,647
And my best friend,
leah evans, was among them.
1037
01:10:36,683 --> 01:10:39,234
I just don't have words
to describe what I felt.
1038
01:10:41,187 --> 01:10:43,354
Sorry.
1039
01:10:43,356 --> 01:10:45,648
- I remember being shocked
at the cover of "newsday,"
1040
01:10:45,650 --> 01:10:49,694
Biggest long island newspaper,
and the main story,
1041
01:10:49,696 --> 01:10:53,364
Which was about
long island serial killer,
1042
01:10:53,366 --> 01:10:55,199
And there's my family.
1043
01:10:55,201 --> 01:10:58,160
There's my name
on the cover of "newsday."
1044
01:10:58,162 --> 01:11:02,665
When they searched his room,
they found lorraine's license.
1045
01:11:02,667 --> 01:11:06,168
That's how we found out
exactly what happened to her.
1046
01:11:06,170 --> 01:11:08,170
- I'm reading
the "nashville banner."
1047
01:11:08,172 --> 01:11:11,590
My eye gets caught
about this article on this guy
1048
01:11:11,592 --> 01:11:13,217
That the new york police
1049
01:11:13,219 --> 01:11:15,052
Had pulled over
in a pickup truck,
1050
01:11:15,054 --> 01:11:16,271
And I'm just thinking,
1051
01:11:16,273 --> 01:11:18,431
"that's
the weirdest thing ever."
1052
01:11:18,433 --> 01:11:22,768
A day or two later,
I get a phone call,
1053
01:11:22,770 --> 01:11:24,946
"this is detective
or inspector.
1054
01:11:24,948 --> 01:11:26,439
Are you married
to catherine williams?"
1055
01:11:26,441 --> 01:11:28,107
I said, "yes, I am,"
and he said,
1056
01:11:28,109 --> 01:11:30,443
"well, have you ever heard
of joel rifkin?"
1057
01:11:30,445 --> 01:11:31,861
He goes, "well, we found
1058
01:11:31,863 --> 01:11:33,830
Catherine's credit cards
in his home."
1059
01:11:39,629 --> 01:11:41,746
- There's a whole culture
that depicts women
1060
01:11:41,748 --> 01:11:45,291
As just these erotic beings
for the taking,
1061
01:11:45,293 --> 01:11:49,045
And it's easy, then,
to devalue them
1062
01:11:49,047 --> 01:11:51,922
And for someone
like joel rifkin to think,
1063
01:11:51,924 --> 01:11:53,049
"who cares?
No one cares
1064
01:11:53,051 --> 01:11:55,143
If I kill this person."
1065
01:11:58,097 --> 01:12:01,766
- The tragedy of this
and everything that rifkin did
1066
01:12:01,768 --> 01:12:04,560
Was that
these are 17 different people,
1067
01:12:04,562 --> 01:12:07,155
17 different human beings
with different backgrounds,
1068
01:12:07,157 --> 01:12:09,899
Different families,
different hopes and dreams,
1069
01:12:09,901 --> 01:12:11,826
And I had to get them justice.
1070
01:12:13,279 --> 01:12:14,945
We would try the case
over the victim
1071
01:12:14,947 --> 01:12:17,656
That we found him with first.
It was the strongest.
1072
01:12:17,658 --> 01:12:19,334
We had caught him
with the body,
1073
01:12:19,336 --> 01:12:21,786
But surely somebody
who killed 17 people,
1074
01:12:21,788 --> 01:12:24,380
And I'm the first one
to try the case.
1075
01:12:24,957 --> 01:12:26,841
There was a decent amount
of pressure.
1076
01:12:37,353 --> 01:12:41,105
[ominous music]
1077
01:12:43,101 --> 01:12:45,026
- When joel rifkin was caught
with the body,
1078
01:12:45,028 --> 01:12:46,903
He didn't know her name.
1079
01:12:47,939 --> 01:12:50,481
We recovered beads
from a necklace
1080
01:12:50,483 --> 01:12:52,942
That she had on
when he abducted her,
1081
01:12:52,944 --> 01:12:54,869
And we found those beads
in his bedroom,
1082
01:12:54,871 --> 01:12:57,113
In his mom's car.
1083
01:12:57,115 --> 01:12:59,281
- She also had some tattoos
on her body,
1084
01:12:59,283 --> 01:13:01,376
And we put them in a newspaper.
1085
01:13:01,378 --> 01:13:04,662
- And we found a witness
in the city who knew her
1086
01:13:04,664 --> 01:13:06,497
And was able
to identify those beads.
1087
01:13:06,499 --> 01:13:11,335
- So we were able to identify
her as tiffany bresciani.
1088
01:13:11,337 --> 01:13:14,713
She came from a good family.
She was educated.
1089
01:13:14,715 --> 01:13:16,724
- Tiffany bresciani
was a 23-year-old woman
1090
01:13:16,726 --> 01:13:19,468
From metairie, louisiana,
1091
01:13:19,470 --> 01:13:22,179
Came to new york
to be an actress,
1092
01:13:22,181 --> 01:13:24,732
Didn't have the easiest go
of it,
1093
01:13:24,734 --> 01:13:26,442
Fell into a downward spiral.
1094
01:13:34,577 --> 01:13:36,652
- So by the time
of joel rifkin's trial,
1095
01:13:36,654 --> 01:13:41,749
They had found
14 of his victims
1096
01:13:41,751 --> 01:13:43,325
And identified all of them
1097
01:13:43,327 --> 01:13:45,169
Except
for the first one, susie.
1098
01:13:47,590 --> 01:13:49,498
- Because the rifkin case
in nassau
1099
01:13:49,500 --> 01:13:50,916
Was going to be
the first trial,
1100
01:13:50,918 --> 01:13:51,968
I was the first one up.
1101
01:13:57,425 --> 01:13:58,883
- Are we ready to proceed?
1102
01:13:58,885 --> 01:14:00,935
- You are joel rifkin?
1103
01:14:00,937 --> 01:14:03,179
- Yes, sir.
1104
01:14:03,181 --> 01:14:05,815
- We present the evidence
with respect to bresciani only.
1105
01:14:08,102 --> 01:14:12,521
- Pain and the suffering that
he caused to tiffany bresciani
1106
01:14:12,523 --> 01:14:14,991
Has to be taken
into account by this court.
1107
01:14:16,277 --> 01:14:19,195
- Joel rifkin was asserting
the insanity defense,
1108
01:14:19,197 --> 01:14:21,739
Claiming that he was
legally insane at the time
1109
01:14:21,741 --> 01:14:23,291
He killed tiffany bresciani.
1110
01:14:23,293 --> 01:14:25,293
He didn't have much
of an option, rifkin.
1111
01:14:25,295 --> 01:14:29,288
He's caught red-handed.
He confessed to it.
1112
01:14:29,290 --> 01:14:32,791
- You look at all the evidence
in the case, his background,
1113
01:14:32,793 --> 01:14:34,460
His upbringing
1114
01:14:34,462 --> 01:14:37,713
And what he did with respect
to tiffany bresciani.
1115
01:14:37,715 --> 01:14:40,183
He can best be described
as a killing machine.
1116
01:14:41,219 --> 01:14:43,978
- Joe rifkin was
the most prolific serial killer
1117
01:14:43,980 --> 01:14:45,596
In new york state history.
1118
01:14:45,598 --> 01:14:49,600
He had killed more people
than any other single person.
1119
01:14:49,602 --> 01:14:51,435
It would certainly make it
much more difficult
1120
01:14:51,437 --> 01:14:54,146
To get convictions
on his 16 other cases
1121
01:14:54,148 --> 01:14:56,732
If rifkin was found insane
at the first trial.
1122
01:14:56,734 --> 01:14:58,367
This creates
a lot of pressure for me.
1123
01:15:28,191 --> 01:15:31,267
- The hope of rifkin's lawyer
was, a jury would look at this
1124
01:15:31,269 --> 01:15:34,028
And say, "17 women?
This guy has got to be nuts."
1125
01:15:35,865 --> 01:15:39,858
- I was hired by
joel rifkin's defense counsel
1126
01:15:39,860 --> 01:15:42,036
To look at the issue
of competency.
1127
01:15:42,038 --> 01:15:43,946
The situation with rifkin
1128
01:15:43,948 --> 01:15:47,208
Is that he's extremely
personality disordered.
1129
01:15:47,710 --> 01:15:49,368
At the end,
he was falling apart,
1130
01:15:49,370 --> 01:15:52,204
And that's what led me to think
about whether or not
1131
01:15:52,206 --> 01:15:56,125
He was really fully competent
to waive his rights
1132
01:15:56,127 --> 01:15:57,668
And not have a lawyer
in the room
1133
01:15:57,670 --> 01:15:59,128
When he spilled the beans
1134
01:15:59,130 --> 01:16:01,013
And just confessed
to all these murders.
1135
01:16:03,175 --> 01:16:06,302
- The problem for that is
the confession is so detailed
1136
01:16:06,304 --> 01:16:08,220
And methodical
1137
01:16:08,222 --> 01:16:10,472
That what normal person
is going to believe him,
1138
01:16:10,474 --> 01:16:12,725
That he didn't understand
what he's talking about
1139
01:16:12,727 --> 01:16:15,644
When he was so organized
in describing years' worth
1140
01:16:15,646 --> 01:16:17,989
Of killing,
you know, over a dozen women?
1141
01:16:22,153 --> 01:16:23,736
One of the really weird things
1142
01:16:23,738 --> 01:16:26,530
He had told some of
the psychiatrists were that,
1143
01:16:26,532 --> 01:16:29,033
After he had killed
most of these women,
1144
01:16:29,035 --> 01:16:31,493
Rifkin took the money back
from them
1145
01:16:31,495 --> 01:16:32,920
That he had initially
given them
1146
01:16:32,922 --> 01:16:34,672
To perform the sex act.
1147
01:16:36,092 --> 01:16:41,211
The jury was very persuaded by
that little piece of evidence
1148
01:16:41,213 --> 01:16:43,255
That this guy knew exactly
what he was doing.
1149
01:16:43,257 --> 01:16:45,549
We were able to establish
beyond a reasonable doubt
1150
01:16:45,551 --> 01:16:48,269
That he was guilty
of killing tiffany bresciani.
1151
01:16:48,271 --> 01:16:50,605
We were able to disprove
that he was insane
1152
01:16:50,607 --> 01:16:52,890
At the time he did this,
1153
01:16:52,892 --> 01:16:56,444
And ultimately, rifkin was
sentenced to 28 years to life.
1154
01:17:10,460 --> 01:17:13,127
Never saw any human connection
from rifkin
1155
01:17:13,129 --> 01:17:15,913
About what he had did
to 17 human beings.
1156
01:17:15,915 --> 01:17:18,215
He is a sexual
sadistic murderer.
1157
01:18:00,459 --> 01:18:03,344
- Even after joel rifkin
was convicted,
1158
01:18:03,346 --> 01:18:05,671
The last chapter wasn't written
1159
01:18:05,673 --> 01:18:10,351
Because, after 24 years, susie,
his first victim--
1160
01:18:10,353 --> 01:18:13,262
Her head had been dumped
on the golf course--
1161
01:18:13,264 --> 01:18:15,064
Had not been identified.
1162
01:18:21,355 --> 01:18:24,148
- When he confessed,
joel rifkin clearly explained
1163
01:18:24,150 --> 01:18:25,983
That the head that was found
in hopewell township
1164
01:18:25,985 --> 01:18:27,526
Was his first victim
1165
01:18:27,528 --> 01:18:30,154
And that he only knew
her as susie.
1166
01:18:30,156 --> 01:18:32,865
That was the extent of what he
explained during his interview,
1167
01:18:32,867 --> 01:18:34,375
So we had what was called
1168
01:18:34,377 --> 01:18:36,293
An unidentified
deceased person.
1169
01:18:37,496 --> 01:18:39,121
- In hopewell township,
1170
01:18:39,123 --> 01:18:42,458
It was the only unsolved
homicide that we had on file,
1171
01:18:42,460 --> 01:18:44,969
The only unsolved homicide
I had in my career.
1172
01:18:46,005 --> 01:18:48,130
She had a mother somewhere.
She had a father somewhere.
1173
01:18:48,132 --> 01:18:50,174
She may even
have had children,
1174
01:18:50,176 --> 01:18:52,718
So it became
almost personal with me.
1175
01:18:52,720 --> 01:18:54,395
I continued to work the case
1176
01:18:54,397 --> 01:18:56,647
Until the time
I retired in 2005.
1177
01:18:58,401 --> 01:18:59,641
- I was a patrol officer
1178
01:18:59,643 --> 01:19:02,144
And then
subsequently a patrol sergeant.
1179
01:19:02,146 --> 01:19:04,563
Over the years,
I always joked with the bosses
1180
01:19:04,565 --> 01:19:06,231
That if I ever got
the opportunity,
1181
01:19:06,233 --> 01:19:08,192
I was going to solve this case.
1182
01:19:08,194 --> 01:19:10,027
I was told by my then-boss
at the time
1183
01:19:10,029 --> 01:19:12,738
That I wasn't a detective.
1184
01:19:12,740 --> 01:19:14,832
Eventually, I got my shot.
1185
01:19:16,419 --> 01:19:17,910
- What caused this?
Why?
1186
01:19:17,912 --> 01:19:19,411
How could this have happened?
1187
01:19:19,413 --> 01:19:22,089
I saw him through this period.
1188
01:19:22,091 --> 01:19:23,799
He wasn't invisible.
He was there.
1189
01:19:39,274 --> 01:19:42,026
[ominous music]
1190
01:19:43,896 --> 01:19:46,855
- We were always confident
from 1993 on
1191
01:19:46,857 --> 01:19:48,357
That the head that was found
1192
01:19:48,359 --> 01:19:50,234
At the hopewell valley
country club
1193
01:19:50,236 --> 01:19:52,620
Was absolutely
joel rifkin's first victim.
1194
01:19:53,906 --> 01:19:55,289
We just didn't have a name
1195
01:19:55,291 --> 01:19:57,124
That was associated
with that victim.
1196
01:19:57,460 --> 01:20:01,411
When I became lieutenant
in 2012,
1197
01:20:01,413 --> 01:20:03,964
I had the opportunity
to look into it.
1198
01:20:03,966 --> 01:20:05,466
Susie was picked up
1199
01:20:05,468 --> 01:20:07,292
On the lower east side
9th precinct area.
1200
01:20:07,294 --> 01:20:08,803
I said, "why don't we just
go up there and see
1201
01:20:08,805 --> 01:20:10,629
"if there's, like,
an old-school detective
1202
01:20:10,631 --> 01:20:13,298
"up there
who can look through some files
1203
01:20:13,300 --> 01:20:14,925
"and maybe give
some names of girls
1204
01:20:14,927 --> 01:20:17,645
That were arrested
multiple times in that area?"
1205
01:20:19,056 --> 01:20:21,807
One detective kept looking
in the old computer system.
1206
01:20:21,809 --> 01:20:25,102
He gave us a list of 19 names.
When I walked out of there,
1207
01:20:25,104 --> 01:20:28,280
I thought it was a complete
waste of time, but it wasn't.
1208
01:20:29,775 --> 01:20:31,733
One of the names on the list
that was provided
1209
01:20:31,735 --> 01:20:33,661
Was susan spencer.
1210
01:20:33,663 --> 01:20:35,612
The date of birth was right
for our victim.
1211
01:20:35,614 --> 01:20:37,322
The eye color matched.
1212
01:20:37,324 --> 01:20:39,250
I thought I was
on the right path.
1213
01:20:40,002 --> 01:20:42,002
The name susan spencer
led us down a path
1214
01:20:42,004 --> 01:20:43,754
That didn't lead anywhere.
1215
01:20:44,832 --> 01:20:46,623
However,
on this criminal history
1216
01:20:46,625 --> 01:20:49,626
Was numerous alias names,
numerous alias date of births,
1217
01:20:49,628 --> 01:20:53,171
Numerous
social security numbers,
1218
01:20:53,173 --> 01:20:56,008
So we decided to run
every single date of birth,
1219
01:20:56,010 --> 01:20:57,634
Every single name,
1220
01:20:57,636 --> 01:21:01,346
And we located
a missing-persons report
1221
01:21:01,348 --> 01:21:04,316
That was filed
in new york city in 1995.
1222
01:21:04,861 --> 01:21:06,977
If someone's reporting someone
in 1995
1223
01:21:06,979 --> 01:21:09,146
But our head was found
in 1989,
1224
01:21:09,148 --> 01:21:10,522
There could be no correlation.
1225
01:21:10,524 --> 01:21:12,867
However, I decided
not to discard it.
1226
01:21:12,869 --> 01:21:15,035
The name on the missing person
was heidi balch.
1227
01:21:15,037 --> 01:21:17,195
Heidi balch was reported
missing by her aunt
1228
01:21:17,197 --> 01:21:19,081
Who lived in new york.
1229
01:21:19,658 --> 01:21:21,208
My chief,
as I'm explaining to it,
1230
01:21:21,210 --> 01:21:24,494
He just goes like this
and points,
1231
01:21:24,496 --> 01:21:26,338
"get to new york
and go find the aunt."
1232
01:21:28,000 --> 01:21:29,374
Aunt looked at the picture,
said,
1233
01:21:29,376 --> 01:21:31,710
"yeah, that's my niece,
heidi balch."
1234
01:21:31,712 --> 01:21:34,504
I said, "well, you know,
when she got arrested here"--
1235
01:21:34,506 --> 01:21:37,716
It was a picture from 1986--
1236
01:21:37,718 --> 01:21:41,395
"she used the name
susan spencer,"
1237
01:21:41,397 --> 01:21:43,221
And I'll never forget
this moment
1238
01:21:43,223 --> 01:21:45,057
Because she grabs my arm
like a little old lady would
1239
01:21:45,059 --> 01:21:46,683
And just said,
1240
01:21:46,685 --> 01:21:49,028
"oh, she went by susie
for the longest time."
1241
01:21:50,856 --> 01:21:52,814
Literally the hair on the back
of my neck stood up.
1242
01:21:52,816 --> 01:21:54,408
We solved this.
1243
01:21:56,070 --> 01:21:57,703
The head belongs
to heidi balch.
1244
01:21:59,031 --> 01:22:00,572
I called my chief.
He's like,
1245
01:22:00,574 --> 01:22:03,241
"do you know what today is?"
I go, "it's March 5th."
1246
01:22:03,243 --> 01:22:05,410
He goes,
"yeah, it's March 5th, 2013.
1247
01:22:05,412 --> 01:22:07,671
We found the head
March 5th, 1989."
1248
01:22:09,541 --> 01:22:13,802
It was 24 years to the day that
we actually solved the case.
1249
01:22:16,173 --> 01:22:17,756
- When I spoke
to the other patrolmen,
1250
01:22:17,758 --> 01:22:19,341
That's what I always told them,
1251
01:22:19,343 --> 01:22:21,551
"don't give up until
you've solved the case."
1252
01:22:21,553 --> 01:22:25,272
Having bill springer solve it,
I was overjoyed.
1253
01:22:27,109 --> 01:22:29,434
I worked hard on it.
1254
01:22:29,436 --> 01:22:33,772
It meant a lot to me,
and it was closure.
1255
01:22:33,774 --> 01:22:36,775
I believe that justice
is finally served,
1256
01:22:36,777 --> 01:22:40,079
May have taken nearly 30 years,
but we did it.
1257
01:22:55,587 --> 01:22:58,755
- The joel rifkin I remember
was just a regular kid
1258
01:22:58,757 --> 01:23:00,215
Who was really polite,
1259
01:23:00,217 --> 01:23:03,802
Nice, sweet,
never thought he was creepy.
1260
01:23:03,804 --> 01:23:05,437
How could he do
these horrible things?
1261
01:23:07,433 --> 01:23:09,984
- You're trying to contemplate,
like, what caused this?
1262
01:23:09,986 --> 01:23:12,602
Why?
How could this have happened?
1263
01:23:12,604 --> 01:23:14,813
I saw him through this period.
1264
01:23:14,815 --> 01:23:16,773
He wasn't invisible.
He was there.
1265
01:23:16,775 --> 01:23:18,450
This is something
that disturbs me.
1266
01:23:20,162 --> 01:23:21,611
He looks like
the guy next door.
1267
01:23:21,613 --> 01:23:23,163
He was the guy next door.
1268
01:23:23,165 --> 01:23:25,240
He did not look
1269
01:23:25,242 --> 01:23:26,616
Like a serial killer
from my point of view.
1270
01:23:26,618 --> 01:23:28,243
In every high school,
1271
01:23:28,245 --> 01:23:30,287
There's a kid
that's the last to get picked.
1272
01:23:30,289 --> 01:23:33,582
In every high school, there's
a kid that doesn't get girls,
1273
01:23:33,584 --> 01:23:36,918
But they don't go ahead
and murder 17 women.
1274
01:23:36,920 --> 01:23:38,429
There is evil there.
1275
01:23:42,801 --> 01:23:45,427
- I never got to say goodbye
to my friend.
1276
01:23:45,429 --> 01:23:48,096
I did not have the opportunity
then to attend her funeral
1277
01:23:48,098 --> 01:23:51,183
Or to be part of any of
the honoring of her,
1278
01:23:51,185 --> 01:23:54,069
Laying her to rest,
or finding closure myself.
1279
01:23:54,855 --> 01:23:57,355
- When you think of somebody
you love,
1280
01:23:57,357 --> 01:24:01,160
You think about the person
at their finest.
1281
01:24:01,653 --> 01:24:05,197
Lorraine, you know,
had big goals, big plans.
1282
01:24:05,199 --> 01:24:07,166
It's just so sad.
It's just not fair.
1283
01:24:09,495 --> 01:24:11,378
- Catherine was
a fearless person.
1284
01:24:12,289 --> 01:24:15,832
She would stare in the face
of just horrendous danger
1285
01:24:15,834 --> 01:24:18,835
And just felt like
she could conquer the world.
1286
01:24:18,837 --> 01:24:23,465
I will always remember her
primarily as a courageous soul
1287
01:24:23,467 --> 01:24:28,386
That will always continue
to impact my decisions
1288
01:24:28,388 --> 01:24:30,606
Regardless of what comes.
1289
01:24:36,146 --> 01:24:37,354
- It is unthinkable
1290
01:24:37,356 --> 01:24:41,024
That someone
that I loved so fiercely,
1291
01:24:41,026 --> 01:24:43,911
Who had such
a beautiful life ahead
1292
01:24:43,913 --> 01:24:45,695
And who was a mother
to two young children
1293
01:24:45,697 --> 01:24:49,416
Would be taken in that way
and disposed of in that way.
1294
01:24:50,994 --> 01:24:53,411
That's the message I want
to give to joel rifkin.
1295
01:24:53,413 --> 01:24:54,830
Leah was not a throwaway.
1296
01:24:54,832 --> 01:24:57,007
None of them are throwaways,
none of them.
1297
01:25:01,263 --> 01:25:06,550
- I think what you learn
from a person like joel is,
1298
01:25:06,552 --> 01:25:11,054
Childhood trauma
needs to be examined.
1299
01:25:11,056 --> 01:25:14,516
If not for the people that
bullied him and abused him,
1300
01:25:14,518 --> 01:25:16,935
He was pretty much invisible,
1301
01:25:16,937 --> 01:25:21,031
And I think that created issues
with his identity.
1302
01:25:21,900 --> 01:25:25,402
That anonymity helped joel,
the serial killer,
1303
01:25:25,404 --> 01:25:28,288
But hurt his psyche,
1304
01:25:28,290 --> 01:25:30,207
And this was his way
of lashing out.
1305
01:25:53,816 --> 01:26:00,437
- He never once expressed anger
towards women in general
1306
01:26:00,439 --> 01:26:03,732
Or even prostitutes in general.
1307
01:26:03,734 --> 01:26:07,277
Instead, most of that anger
was directed at himself
1308
01:26:07,279 --> 01:26:09,571
And the fact that he couldn't
break his addiction
1309
01:26:09,573 --> 01:26:12,157
To the women on the streets.
1310
01:26:12,159 --> 01:26:15,785
Had he gotten some help
maybe about the bullying,
1311
01:26:15,787 --> 01:26:19,664
Maybe some counseling
about his sexual urges,
1312
01:26:19,666 --> 01:26:22,009
You know, maybe this
wouldn't have happened,
1313
01:26:22,011 --> 01:26:23,668
And maybe, you know,
1314
01:26:23,670 --> 01:26:25,095
A lot of these lives
would've been saved.
1315
01:26:48,320 --> 01:26:51,029
- Joel and I had
a rapport instantly.
1316
01:26:51,031 --> 01:26:54,324
We had it in 1979
the first time we met,
1317
01:26:54,326 --> 01:26:58,370
And that rapport was picked up
the minute we were reconnected
1318
01:26:58,372 --> 01:27:00,997
In that
prison visitation room,
1319
01:27:00,999 --> 01:27:04,334
But the joel that I
interviewed differed so much
1320
01:27:04,336 --> 01:27:06,836
From the joel that I knew
in college.
1321
01:27:06,838 --> 01:27:09,514
He felt no guilt,
no remorse, no pain.
1322
01:27:10,550 --> 01:27:13,894
You still have thoughts
of killing people?
1323
01:27:13,896 --> 01:27:15,512
- It's like
the alcoholic says.
1324
01:27:15,514 --> 01:27:17,305
They're in recovery.
1325
01:27:17,307 --> 01:27:20,225
You put a beer in their hands,
that they can relapse.
1326
01:27:20,227 --> 01:27:22,519
It's not guaranteed,
but there's a possibly.
1327
01:27:22,521 --> 01:27:24,688
Where I am right now today,
1328
01:27:24,690 --> 01:27:26,490
I know
this is the best place for me.