Kuklinski Serial Killer

Richard Kuklinski was a contract killer, or hitman, for several families of the American Mafia. After his arrest in 1986, Kuklinski readily admitted to murdering more than 200 men; however, he contends he was just a hit man, not a serial killer. There is some debate regarding whether or not Kuklinski should be considered a hit man or serial killer. Overwhelming evidence proves that Richard Kuklinski’s was undoubtedly a serial killer. In order to determine whether or not Kuklinski should be considered a hit man or a serial killer, it is important to first understand the differences between the two. Although serial killers and hit men are similar because they kill multiple victims, it is generally believed they have distinct differences.
Since Kuklinski only had an eighth grade education, he had to take a job as an unskilled laborer. The job barely paid enough to support his family so when he discovered his coworkers were pirating copies of pornographic movies for people related to the Gambino crime family, he eagerly joined them. His new connections and reputation for being a tough guy attracted the attention of the Mafia. Interestingly, poor academic performance and working as an unskilled laborer are included in the common characteristics of serial killers (McGraw,
Serial killers are driven by their own motivations and reasons. They kill to fulfill strong emotional needs such as anger, thrill, financial gain, and attention (U.S. Department of Justice, 2005). Richard Kuklinski’s anger, need for control, financial gain, and narcissism clearly prove he has the motivation of a serial killer. Most serial killers are psychopaths. Kuklinski’s antisocial and paranoid personality made him void of a conscience, void of a sense of remorse or guilt, impulsive and violent. He trusted no one and would never forgive anyone who did him wrong – all characteristics of common serial killers. Serial killers have multiple indicators during their early childhood. Kuklinski’s childhood had numerous factors that prove he was prone to the pathological behavior of serial killers. Richard Kuklinski is a serial killer. Becoming a hit man just allowed him to make a lucrative career out of being