Joel Rifkin
The Drifter, Joel the Ripper
Active for 5 years
(1989-1993) in United States
9
CONFIRMED
VICTIMS
17
POSSIBLE
VICTIMS
Jump to:
- Summary
- Serial Killer Profile
- Serial Killer Type
- General Information
- Characteristics
- Childhood
- Cognitive Ability
- Incarceration
- Death
- 10 Timeline Events
- Serial Killers Active During Spree
- Boolean Statistical Questions
- 12 Books Written About Joel Rifkin
- 9 External References
- Internal References
Joel Rifkin an American serial killer known as The Drifter and Joel the Ripper. Rifkin killed prostitutes in New York City, most of them drug addicts. He was convicted of nine murders but believed to have committed seventeen. Rifkin was once suspected of being the unidentified Long Island serial killer. In an April 2011 prison interview with Newsday, Rifkin denied having anything to do with the recently discovered Long Island serial killer remains. In 1994, Joel Rifkin was sentenced to 203 years to life in prison.
Joel Rifkin Serial Killer Profile
Serial Killer Joel Rifkin (aka) The Drifter, Joel the Ripper, was active for 5 years between 1989-1993, known to have ( 9 confirmed / 17 possible ) victims. This Serial Killer was active in the following countries: United States
Joel Rifkin was born on January 20th 1959 in Nassau County, county in New York. He was born 1st of 2 children and raised by adopted parents Bernard and Jeanne Rifkin, Joel adopted (Age 3 weeks). Rifkin was raised as a oldest child and had one adopted sister. His father, Bernard Rifkin, committed suicide by overdose of barbiturates due to the pain of prostate cancer, Joe (Age 28). His mother, Jeanne Rifkin, homemaker, recreational therapist. He had a speach defect. During his education he had academic, social or discipline problems, including being teased or picked on. Joel Rifkin was psychologically abused at some point of his life.
Rifkin a heterosexual male citizen of the United States of America. He took an intelligence quotient test before or after his crimes, Joel Rifkin had an IQ of 129. Rifkin completed 14 years of school, received a high school diploma. Rifkin gained part of his education while attending State University of New York at Brockport, Farmingdale State College. Rifkin never married. He had no children.
In 1989 (Age 29/30) Joel Rifkin started his killing spree, during his crimes as a serial killer he was known to strangle, mutilate, and murder his victims. He was known to kill victims at his own home. He would keep personal items from the victim after the crime. At the time of his crimes he was living with his adopted mother and sister, where Rifkin was known to work as a serial killer.
He was arrested on June 28th 1993 (Age 34), convicted on May 9th 1994 (Age 35), sentenced to 203 years to life in prison at Clinton Correctional Facility in Dannemora, New York, US. Rifkin was convicted on charges of murder and other possible charges during his lifetime.
Profile Completeness: 94%
serial killers by profile completenessJoel Rifkin has been listed on Killer.Cloud since November of 2016 and was last updated 5 years ago.
Joel Rifkin a known:
( 651 killers ) SERIAL KILLER
The unlawful killing of two or more victims by the same offender(s), in separate events. Serial Killer as defined by the FBI at the 2005 symposium.
( 251 killers ) STRANGLER
Strangulation is death by compressing the neck until the supply of oxygen is cut off. Stranglers kill by Strangulation.
Joel Rifkin
Serial Killer Profile:
Updated: 2019-01-21 Collected by Killer.Cloud
| General Information | |
|---|---|
| Name: | Joel Rifkin |
| Nickname: | The Drifter, Joel the Ripper |
| Victims: | 9 - 17 |
| Years Active: | 1989 - 1993 |
| Ages Active: | 29/30 - 33/34 |
| Active Countries: | United States |
| Convicted Of: | murder |
| Life Span: | 1959 - |
| Characteristics | |
|---|---|
| Gender: | Male |
| Citizenship: | United States of America |
| Sexual Preference: | heterosexual |
| Astrological Sign: | ♑ Capricorn Dec 22 - Jan 20 |
| Birth Month: | January |
| Marital Status: | never married |
| Children: | no children |
| Living With: | his adopted mother and sister |
| Occupation: | serial killer |
| Childhood Information | |
|---|---|
| D.O.B.: | Jan 20, 1959 |
| Family Name: | Rifkin |
| Given Name: | come nabos |
| Birth Location: | Nassau County, county in New York |
| Birth Order: | 1st of 2 |
| Siblings: | one adopted sister |
| Raised By: | adopted parents Bernard and Jeanne Rifkin, Joel adopted (Age 3 weeks) |
| Birth Category: | oldest child |
| Mother: | Jeanne Rifkin, homemaker, recreational therapist |
| Father: | Bernard Rifkin, committed suicide by overdose of barbiturates due to the pain of prostate cancer, Joe (Age 28) |
| Cognitive Ability | |
|---|---|
| IQ: | 129 |
| Highest School: | 14 years of school |
| Highest Degree: | high school diploma |
| Educated At: | State University of New York at Brockport, Farmingdale State College |
| Incarceration | |
|---|---|
| Arrested: | Jun 28, 1993 (Age 34) |
| Convicted: | May 9, 1994 (Age 35) |
| Sentence: | 203 years to life in prison |
| Prison Location: | Clinton Correctional Facility in Dannemora, New York, US |
| Executed: | N/A |
| Previous Crimes: | FALSE |
| Previous Jail: | FALSE |
| Previous Prison: | FALSE |
| Death Information | |
|---|---|
| Death Date: | N/A |
| Cause of Death: | N/A |
| Death Location: | N/A |
| Killed In Prison: | N/A |
| Suicide: | N/A |
10 Timeline Events of Serial Killer
Joel Rifkin
The 10 dates listed below represent a timeline of the life and crimes of serial killer Joel Rifkin. A complete collection of serial killer events can be found on our Serial Killer Timeline.
| Date | Event Description |
|---|---|
| Jan 20 1959 | Joel Rifkin was born in Nassau County, county in New York. #19590120 |
| Jan 20 1979 (Age 20) | 20th Birthday |
| 1989 (Age 29/30) | Joel Rifkin started his serial killing spree. #1989 |
| Jan 20 1989 (Age 30) | 30th Birthday |
| 1993 (Age 33/34) | Joel Rifkin ended his serial killing spree. #1993 |
| Jun 28 1993 (Age 34) | Joel Rifkin arrested. #19930628 |
| May 09 1994 (Age 35) | Joel Rifkin was convictedand sentenced to 203 years to life in prison at Clinton Correctional Facility in Dannemora, New York, US. #19940509 |
| Jan 20 1999 (Age 40) | 40th Birthday |
| Jan 20 2009 (Age 50) | 50th Birthday |
| Jan 20 2019 (Age 60) | 60th Birthday |
Back to top Serial Killers Active During
The following serial killers were active during the same time span as Joel Rifkin (1989-1993).
Serial Killers By Active Year
| 38 / 40 ANSWEREDSerial Killer Boolean Questions: | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Killer Question | Killer Answer | Total Answered | ||
| problems in school | TRUE | 221 | ||
| teased in school | TRUE | 218 | ||
| speach defect | TRUE | 300 | ||
| psychologically abused | TRUE | 224 | ||
| kill at killers home | TRUE | 320 | ||
| strangle | TRUE | 443 | ||
| mutilated | TRUE | 447 | ||
| totem personal item | TRUE | 354 | ||
| living with children | FALSE | 268 | ||
| father drug abuse | FALSE | 192 | ||
| mother drug abuse | FALSE | 195 | ||
| xyy | FALSE | 81 | ||
| physically defect | FALSE | 300 | ||
| head injury | FALSE | 299 | ||
| physically abused | FALSE | 231 | ||
| sexually abused | FALSE | 226 | ||
| drug abuse | FALSE | 226 | ||
| alcohol abuse | FALSE | 226 | ||
| psychologist | FALSE | 258 | ||
| forensic hospital | FALSE | 257 | ||
| previous crimes | FALSE | 367 | ||
| previous jail | FALSE | 352 | ||
| previous prision | FALSE | 336 | ||
| previous killed | FALSE | 208 | ||
| kill at victims home | FALSE | 323 | ||
| used weapon | FALSE | 453 | ||
| used gun | FALSE | 451 | ||
| rape | FALSE | 453 | ||
| torture | FALSE | 426 | ||
| stalk | FALSE | 418 | ||
| blindfold | FALSE | 363 | ||
| bound | FALSE | 406 | ||
| sex with body | FALSE | 430 | ||
| ate part of body | FALSE | 451 | ||
| drank blood | FALSE | 442 | ||
| posed body | FALSE | 365 | ||
| totem body part | FALSE | 365 | ||
| robbed | FALSE | 418 | ||
Books that Mention Joel Rifkin
Kevin Smith
Serial Killer Stranglers
Jack Rosewood
The Serial Killer Books
Robert Mladinich
From the Mouth of the Monster
Solomon Fulero
Forensic Psychology
Nadia Fezzani
Through the Eyes of Serial Killers
Nadia Fezzani
Through the Eyes of Serial Killers
Martin Gilman Wolcot...
The Evil 100
Maria Eftimiades
Garden of Graves
12 Books that mention Serial Killer
Joel Rifkin
| ISBN10 | Book Title | Author | Killers Mentioned | Killers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1733630600 | Serial Killer Stranglers | Kevin Smith | 164 Total Including Juana Barraza | 164 |
| 1546511814 | The Serial Killer Books | Jack Rosewood | Joel Rifkin | 2 |
| 0743424441 | From the Mouth of the Mon... | Robert Mladinich | Joel Rifkin | 1 |
| 0495506494 | Forensic Psychology | Solomon Fulero | Joel Rifkin | 2 |
| 1459724682 | Through the Eyes of Seria... | Nadia Fezzani | 4 Total Including Anthony Allen Shore | 4 |
| 1459724690 | Through the Eyes of Seria... | Nadia Fezzani | 7 Total Including Randall Brent Woodfield | 7 |
| 080652555x | The Evil 100 | Martin Gilman Wolcot... | 18 Total Including Andrei Chikatilo | 18 |
| 1466863129 | Garden of Graves | Maria Eftimiades | Joel Rifkin | 2 |
| 1986277038 | Joel Rifkin | Jack Rosewood | Joel Rifkin | 2 |
| 1530080290 | Joel the Ripper | George Gainer | Joel Rifkin | 1 |
| 1495035352 | Seinfeld FAQ | Nicholas Nigro | Joel Rifkin | 1 |
| 1615920846 | Seinology | Tim Delaney | Joel Rifkin | 1 |
Joel David Rifkin (born January 20, 1959) is an American serial killer. In 1994, he was sentenced to 203 years in prison for the murders of nine women between 1989 and 1993. He is believed to have killed up to 17 victims between 1989 and 1993 in New York City and in Long Island, New York.
External References
- Joel Rifkin on en.wikipedia.org, Retrieved on Sep 14, 2018.
- Juan Ignacio Blanco, Joel David RIFKIN on murderpedia.org, Retrieved on Sep 14, 2018.
- Lori Ligon, Ashley Liverman, Joel Rifkin on maamodt.asp.radford.edu, Retrieved on Sep 14, 2018.
- Q1382865 on www.wikidata.org, Retrieved on Oct 28, 2018.
- Joel Rifkin on www.biography.com, Retrieved on Dec 14, 2018.
- Mary Calvi, Inside The Mind Of Serial Killer Joel Rifkin on newyork.cbslocal.com, Retrieved on Jan 21, 2019.
- Simone Weichselbaum, Joel Rifkin, serial killer of 17 prostitutes on www.nydailynews.com, Retrieved on Jan 21, 2019.
- Frank F. Weber, A Killer Without A Conscience on frankweberauthor.com, Retrieved on Jan 21, 2019.
- Joel Rifkin on www.serienkillers.de, Retrieved on Feb 18, 2019.
Internal References
Joel Rifkin is included in the following pages on Killer.Cloud the Serial Killer Database
- #16 of 72[ Page 2 ] of serial killers sorted by IQ Level
- #20 of 56[ Page 2 ] of Serial Killers with birthdays in January
- #23 of 55[ Page 2 ] of Capricorn Serial Killers sorted by Confirmed Victims
- #76 of 651[ Page 6 ] of serial killers sorted by Profile Completeness
- #82 of 327[ Page 6 ] of Serial Killers active in the United States
- #89 of 250[ Page 6 ] of Serial Killer Stranglers sorted by Confirmed Victims
- #208 of 651[ Page 14 ] of serial killers sorted by Confirmed Victims
- #288 of 651[ Page 20 ] of serial killers sorted by Years Active
- #498 of 651[ Page 34 ] of the A-Z List of Serial Killers
- Statistics:
- Serial Killers Statistics, charts Joel Rifkin is included in: Active Serial Killers by Country, Serial Killers By Gender, Age of Serial Killer by Date, Killers By Astrological Sign, Killers By Birth Month, Serial Killers IQ Level, Years of School Completed, Highest Degree Achieved, Sexual Preference, Birth Category, Active Serial Killers by Year and Statistical Boolean Questions.
- Years Active: