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Would you like to inspect the original subtitles? These are the user uploaded subtitles that are being translated: 1 00:00:02,000 --> 00:00:07,000 Downloaded from YTS.MX 2 00:00:08,000 --> 00:00:13,000 Official YIFY movies site: YTS.MX 3 00:00:13,531 --> 00:00:15,639 [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. 106692

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