Richard Leonard "
The Iceman" Kuklinski (April 11, 1935 – March 5,
2006) was a
Polish/American contract killer who was convicted for three murders. Kuklinski was given the nickname "
Iceman" for his method of freezing a victim to mask the time of death. The 6'5" (196 cm),
300 pound (135 kg) Kuklinski lived with his wife and children in the suburb of
Dumont, New Jersey. Prior to his arrest, his family was apparently unaware of Kuklinski's double life and crimes. A
New Jersey Police task force was formed after Kuklinski was suspected of two murders. A year-long undercover investigation led to his arrest.
Kuklinski was a contract killer for
Newark's
DeCavalcante crime family and
New York City's
Five Families of the
American Mafia. After his murder convictions, Kuklinski took part in a number of interviews during which he claimed to have murdered from over
100 to 250 men (his "recollections" varied) between 1948 and
1986. Three documentaries, two biographies and a feature film have been produced on Kuklinski based on his interviews and the results of the task force that brought Kuklinski to justice. His claims have not been substantiated and crime family members dispute his role in any contract killings. He died at age 70 in prison in March of 2006.
EARLY
LIFE:
Kuklinski was born in the family apartment on
Third Street in
Jersey City, New Jersey, to
Stanley Kuklinski, a
Polish immigrant from
Warsaw and a brakeman on the railroad, and
Anna McNally, a daughter of
Catholic Irish immigrants from
Dublin, who worked in a meat-packing plant during
Richard's childhood.
Richard was constantly abused by his parents, especially by his father, who beat him heavily.[6] His mother also beat him with broom handles and other household objects. She believed that stern discipline should be accompanied by a strict religious upbringing, and raised her son in the
Catholic Church, where he became an altar boy.
The New York Times reports that Kuklinski killed cats when he was growing up.
Richard had three siblings. His older brother
Florian died of injuries suffered from abuse by his father. The Kuklinski family lied to the police, saying that he had fallen down a flight of steps He had a younger sister,
Roberta, and a younger brother,
Joseph (
1944–
2003), who was convicted of raping and murdering a 12-year-old girl.[ When asked about his brother Joseph's crimes, Richard replied: "We come from the same father."
- published: 20 Sep 2014
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