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Richard “the Iceman” Kuklinski: One of the Most Diabolical Killers in History

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Richard “the Iceman” Kuklinski: One of the Most Diabolical Killers in History
Richard “The Iceman” Kuklinski: One of the
Most Diabolical Killers in History
Meagan E. Johnson
East Carolina University

In American history, Richard Kuklinksi is known to be one of the most diabolical self-confessed contract killers. He took credit for more than 200 murders, including the murder of Jimmy Hoffa (Montaldo, 2011). Richard Kuklinski was born to poor polish parents in the projects of Jersey City, New Jersey on April 11, 1935. His father, Stanley Kuklinski, was a brakeman for the railroad who had a serious drinking problem and would abuse his children along with his wife (Anonymous, 2006). Richards mother, Anna McNally Kuklinski, worked in a meat packing plant. Anna would also abuse Richard by hitting him with broom handles and other household objects to stop him from stealing. In 1940, Florian Kuklinski, one of Richards brothers was beaten to death by their father (Montaldo, 2011). The Kuklinski family lied to the police and said that Florian died after falling down a flight of steps. Richard grew up attending a Catholic grammar school and his father made him work as an altar boy in the church (Anonymous, 2006). In Richards opinion being an alter boy was an embarrassment, he hated his father because of the humiliation he suffered, along with the abuse. By age ten, Richard began acting out against the nuns and priests at school because he was filled with rage. Soon enough, Richard was left to fend for himself, after his father abandoned the family. Richard committed his first murder in 1949 at the age of fourteen. His first victim was Charlie Lane, who was a local bully and leader of a small gang that had picked on him. Richard ambushed him with a steel clothing rod from his closet and beat Lane to death, by mistake (Montaldo, 2011). For a short time, Kuklinski regretted what he did to Lane, but then changed his mind when he realized how much more powerful and in control he felt. Richard then went and severely beat the remaining six


References: Anonymous. (2006). RICHARD The Iceman KUKLINSKI.Angelfire: Welcome to Angelfire. Retrieved March 22, 2011, from http://www.angelfire.com/amiga2 /iceman/textt_pageTwo.html Martin, D. (2006, March 9). Richard Kuklinski, 70, a Killer of Many People and Many Ways, Dies - New York Times.The New York Times - Breaking News, World News & Multimedia. Retrieved March 22, 2011, from http://www.nytimes.com/ 2006/03/09/nyregion/09kuklinski.html Montaldo, C. (2011). Richard Kuklinski - Profile of The Iceman - Richard Kuklinski.Crime and Punishment Home Page. Retrieved March 22, 2011, from http://crime.about.com/od/gangsters/a/kuklinkski.htm
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