Offender Record · OFF-2026-156
Joel Rifkin (photo from the Radford University biography)
Joel David Rifkin
Also known as Joel the Ripper, The Turtle
Sex
Male
Race
White
Height
6'0"
Born
1959
Custody
Incarcerated
States
NY
Distinguishing featuresDyslexia, slouched posture, slow gait; nicknamed 'The Turtle' in school
Custody
Incarcerated at Clinton Correctional Facility, Dannemora, New York
Custody record at the facility
Rifkin is serving 203 years in the Clinton Correctional Facility and is eligible for parole in 2197, at the age of 238.
This record documents arrests, charges and convictions reported by courts, law enforcement agencies and news organizations. Every statement is tied to a cited source with an archived copy. A charge is an accusation, not proof of guilt; a person charged is presumed innocent unless convicted. Where a record says named by police, no charge was ever filed: the record rests on a law enforcement agency's public identification of the deceased person, cited below. Not guilty by reason of insanity means the court found the act proven but the person not criminally responsible. Solve the Case does not allege that this person committed any offense beyond what the cited records state, and this record is not a suggestion that the person is connected to any unsolved case. How records are built, corrected and removed.
Summary of the record
Joel David Rifkin, born January 20, 1959, was convicted of killing nine women between 1989 and 1993 and sentenced to 203 years in prison. In total he confessed to murdering 17 women. He was transferred to the Clinton Correctional Facility in Clinton County, New York.
Documented Arrests, Charges and Convictions
Dispositions are shown exactly as the cited records report them. Pending charges are updated when a court acts; a record with no remaining conviction or pending charge is removed from the site.
Offense date Dec 26, 1991, Coney Island Creek, Brooklyn, New York
Second-degree murder of Lorraine Orvieto
Kings County District Attorney · Arrested Jun 28, 1993 · Convicted Convicted · Sentence: life (pleaded guilty)
Lorraine Orvieto's remains were found on July 11, 1992, in Coney Island Creek, Brooklyn, and identified on July 4, 1993. In December, he received three more life sentences after pleading guilty to murdering Orvieto, Holloman and the unidentified woman found at Newton Creek.
SourcesJoel Rifkin; Joel Rifkin Arrest
Offense date Jan 02, 1992, Coney Island Creek, Brooklyn, New York
Second-degree murder of Mary Ann Holloman
Kings County District Attorney · Arrested Jun 28, 1993 · Convicted Convicted · Sentence: life (pleaded guilty)
In December, he received three more life sentences after pleading guilty to murdering Orvieto, Holloman and the unidentified woman found at Newton Creek.
SourcesJoel Rifkin; Joel Rifkin Arrest; Radford University serial killer biography: Rifkin, Joel
Offense date Apr 1992, Queens, New York
Second-degree murder of Iris Sanchez
Queens County District Attorney · Arrested Jun 28, 1993 · Convicted Convicted · Sentence: life (pleaded guilty)
Iris Sanchez's remains were found on June 29, 1993, near John F. Kennedy International Airport, Queens, New York. In January 1996, Rifkin was sentenced to life for the murder of Sanchez.
SourcesJoel Rifkin; Joel Rifkin Arrest
Offense date Jul 1992, Newton Creek, Queens, New York
Second-degree murder of unidentified female (Jane Doe, Newton Creek)
Kings County District Attorney · Arrested Jun 28, 1993 · Convicted Convicted · Sentence: life (pleaded guilty)
In December, he received three more life sentences after pleading guilty to murdering Orvieto, Holloman and the unidentified woman found at Newton Creek.
SourcesJoel Rifkin; Joel Rifkin Arrest; Radford University serial killer biography: Rifkin, Joel
Offense date Oct 02, 1992, Yorktown, Westchester County, New York
Second-degree murder of Mary Catherine Williams
Westchester County District Attorney · Arrested Jun 28, 1993 · Convicted Convicted · Sentence: life (pleaded guilty)
Mary Catherine Williams's remains were found on December 21, 1992, in Yorktown, and identified on July 6, 1993. Rifkin had previously dated the victim.
SourcesJoel Rifkin; Radford University serial killer biography: Rifkin, Joel
Offense date Nov 16, 1992, Harlem River, South Bronx, New York
Second-degree murder of Jenny Soto
Bronx County District Attorney · Arrested Jun 28, 1993 · Convicted Convicted · Sentence: life (pleaded guilty)
Jenny Soto's remains were found on November 17, 1992, on the shores of Harlem River in the South Bronx. In January 1996, Rifkin was given a seventh life sentence for the murder of Soto.
SourcesJoel Rifkin; Joel Rifkin Arrest; Radford University serial killer biography: Rifkin, Joel
Offense date Feb 27, 1993, Northampton, Suffolk County, New York
Second-degree murder of Leah Evens
Suffolk County District Attorney · Arrested Jun 28, 1993 · Convicted Convicted · Sentence: 25 years to life (pleaded guilty)
Leah Evens's remains were found on May 9, 1993, in Northampton, Suffolk County, New York. In September 1995, Rifkin was sentenced to two life sentences for the murders of Evens and Marquez, to both of which he previously pleaded guilty.
SourcesJoel Rifkin; Joel Rifkin Arrest
Offense date Apr 02, 1993, Suffolk County Pine Barrens, New York
Second-degree murder of Lauren Marquez
Suffolk County District Attorney · Arrested Jun 28, 1993 · Convicted Convicted · Sentence: 25 years to life (pleaded guilty)
Lauren Marquez's remains were found on June 29, 1993, in the Long Island Central Pine Barrens in Suffolk County, New York, and identified on August 21, 1993. In September 1995, Rifkin was sentenced to two life sentences for the murders of Evens and Marquez, to both of which he previously pleaded guilty.
SourcesJoel Rifkin; Joel Rifkin Arrest
Offense date Jun 24, 1993, Manhattan, New York
Second-degree murder of Tiffany Bresciani
Nassau County District Attorney · Nassau County Court · Arrested Jun 28, 1993 · Convicted Convicted · Sentence: 25 years to life, plus 2⅓ years for reckless endangerment
Rifkin picked up prostitute Tiffany Bresciani on Allen Street in Manhattan on June 24, 1993, with her boyfriend. Troopers discovered the deceased body of a prostitute identified as Tiffany Bresciani hidden in the rear of the pickup truck. A Nassau County jury decided that confessed serial killer Joel Rifkin had murdered 22-year-old Tiffany Bresciani and was not insane.
SourcesJoel Rifkin Arrest; Rifkin found guilty of murder
Offense date Jun 28, 1993, Long Island, New York
Reckless endangerment in the first degree
Nassau County District Attorney · Arrested Jun 28, 1993 · Convicted Convicted · Sentence: 2⅓ years (consecutive with murder sentence)
On June 28, 1993, at approximately 3:15 a.m., Troopers Deborah Spaargaren and Sean Ruane attempted to stop Rifkin's 1984 tan Mazda B2000 pickup without a rear license plate. The vehicle fled and attempted to evade the pursuing troopers. The Mazda reached speeds of up to 90 mph during the pursuit with several Nassau County and Garden City Police Department units joining. The Mazda attempted to make a left turn onto Old Country Road eastbound from Roslyn Road; the operator lost control and crashed into and severed a light pole.
Pattern and Background
Victim counts and the pattern of the offenses as stated by courts, agencies and the cited reporting. Suspected counts are what officials have said publicly, not a finding of this site.
9
Victims convicted
17
Victims confessed
0
Victims suspected
Active years
1989–1993
Stated motive
Sexual, Thrill
Range from home
regional
Confessed
Yes
Cooperated with investigators
Yes
Education
high school
Marital history
Never married
Children
0
Agencies
Law enforcement, prosecutors and corrections agencies the records show dealing with this person. An investigator working a case with a possible connection can start here.
Nassau County Correctional Facility · NY
Initial detention facility in East Meadow after arrest on June 28, 1993
Nassau County District Attorney's Office · NY
Prosecuted reckless endangerment in the first degree and second-degree murder of Tiffany Bresciani; convicted June 28, 1993
Suffolk County District Attorney's Office · NY
Prosecuted second-degree murders of Leah Evens and Lauren Marquez; convicted
Green Haven Correctional Facility · NY
Current facility of incarceration as of 2026; maximum-security prison in Dutchess County
Clinton Correctional Facility · NY
Transferred to after Attica in 2000; housed in isolation from general population
New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision · NY
Administers all correctional facilities housing Rifkin; manages custody oversight
Kings County District Attorney's Office · NY
Prosecuted murders of Jane Doe (Newton Creek), Lorraine Orvieto, and Mary Ann Holloman; convicted on all counts
Westchester County District Attorney's Office · NY
Prosecuted second-degree murder of Mary Catherine Williams; convicted
Bronx County District Attorney's Office · NY
Prosecuted second-degree murder of Jenny Soto; convicted
Queens County District Attorney's Office · NY
Prosecuted second-degree murder of Iris Sanchez; convicted
Attica Correctional Facility · NY
Held Rifkin from 1996 in solitary confinement 23 hours per day for more than four years before transfer
Garden City Police Department · NY
Participated in high-speed pursuit on June 28, 1993
Nassau County Police Department · NY
Participated in pursuit of Rifkin on June 28, 1993; investigated Bresciani murder
Conducted traffic stop on June 28, 1993 on Southern State Parkway; supervised Rifkin Task Force investigation; currently conducting cold case investigation into unidentified victims
Source: New York State Police, Crime Library
Places Lived, Worked and Frequented
Each place and date range comes from a cited record. Dates marked approximate are as reported. Know a place that is missing? Use Edit record under the photo; a moderator reviews it before it appears.
NY
East Meadow, New York
1962 – 1993 · 1492 Garden Street, East Meadow, NY
East Meadow, New York
1962 – 1977 · Prospect Avenue Elementary School and East Meadow High School
Village of Brockport, New York
approx. 1978 – 1980 · State University of New York at Brockport; worked as photographer on campus newspaper The Stylus
Village of Garden City, New York
1984 – 1984 · Nassau Community College
Town of Hempstead, New York
Aug 1987 · Arrested for soliciting sex from undercover policewoman; nominal fine
Village of Farmingdale, New York
1988 – 1988 · State College of Technology in Farmingdale; enrolled in 2-year horticulture program, earned straight A's for two consecutive semesters
Town of Oyster Bay, New York
1988 – 1989 · Planting Fields Arboretum
East New York, New York
1991 – 1992 · Self-employed landscaper, operated landscaping business renting storage space at local nursery
East New York, New York
1993 – 1993 · Employed at Dunhill Temporary Systems
East Meadow, New York
Jun 29, 1993 – 1994 · Nassau County Correctional Facility
Village of Attica, New York
approx. 1994 – 1999 · Attica Correctional Facility, held in solitary confinement for more than four years
Village of Dannemora, New York
1999 – present · Clinton Correctional Facility, maximum-security prison
Known Vehicles
Vehicles and approximate dates of ownership or use, as reported in the cited records. A photo next to a vehicle is the vehicle itself as published.
1984 tan Mazda B2000 – pickup truck
approx. 1993 – 1993
On June 28, 1993, at 3:15 am, state troopers noticed a 1984 Mazda B2000 pickup truck without a license plate. After indicating to the driver to pull over, he failed to stop and led police on a 20- to 25-minute chase, ending after he lost control of the vehicle and crashed into a light pole.
1978van
approx. 1978 – 1989
Initial vehicle used in crimes; purchased with mother's assistance for landscaping business
Timeline
1959
Rifkin was adopted by an upper-middle-class couple living on Long Island when he was three weeks old.
Jan 20, 1959
Joel David Rifkin born January 20, 1959.
1977
Rifkin graduated from East Meadow High School in 1977.
Feb 20, 1987
Rifkin's adoptive father, Bernard (Ben) Rifkin, died by suicide, overdosing after having suffered from prostate cancer for several months.
Aug 22, 1987
Rifkin was arrested during a prostitution sting in Hempstead, New York, after offering an undercover female police officer money for sex.
1988
Rifkin enrolled in a two-year horticulture program at the State College of Technology in Farmingdale, New York, making straight As for two consecutive semesters and selected for an internship at the Planting Fields Arboretum in Oyster Bay.
Feb 20, 1989
Rifkin committed his first murder on February 20, 1989, killing Heidi Balch.
Jun 24, 1993
Rifkin picked up prostitute Tiffany Bresciani on Allen Street in Manhattan on June 24, 1993.
Jun 28, 1993
Joel David Rifkin, DOB 01/20/59, of 1492 Garden Street, East Meadow, NY, was removed from the vehicle and taken into custody. Troopers discovered the deceased body of Tiffany Bresciani hidden in the rear.
Jun 28, 1993
Homicide detectives began interrogating Rifkin at 8:25 a.m. on June 28, 1993, questioning him for eight hours, but for some reason never recorded the sessions.
Jun 29, 1993
Robert Sale met Rifkin on June 29; Sale and Rifkin appeared before Judge John Kingston, entering a preliminary plea of not guilty on the Bresciani murder.
Nov 08, 1993
Hearing began to be heard by Judge Ira Wexner.
May 09, 1994
A Nassau County jury took only two hours and ten minutes to decide that confessed serial killer Joel Rifkin had murdered 22-year-old Tiffany Bresciani and was not insane.
Jun 09, 1994
On June 9, 1994, in Nassau County Court, Rifkin was sentenced to 25 years to life in prison for Bresciani's murder, plus an additional two and one-third years for endangering the lives of the officers involved in the chase.
Sep 1995
In September 1995, Rifkin was sentenced to two life sentences for the murders of Evens and Marquez, to both of which he previously pleaded guilty.
Dec 1995
In December, he received three more life sentences after pleading guilty to murdering Orvieto, Holloman and the unidentified woman found at Newton Creek.
Jan 1996
In January 1996, Rifkin was given a seventh life sentence for the murder of Soto. That same month, he was sentenced to life for the murder of Sanchez.
2002
In 2002, New York's Supreme Court rejected Rifkin's appeal of his convictions for the murder of nine women.
Sources
Solve the Case is never the original source. Each item below is the public record a statement on this page rests on, with an archived copy where one exists.
News report · Wikipedia ·
Joel Rifkin“Joel David Rifkin (born January 20, 1959) was sentenced to 203 years in prison after being convicted for killing nine women between 1989 and 1993.”
News report · Crime Library ·
Joel Rifkin – New York's Most Prolific Serial Killer“Rifkin was transferred at once to the Nassau County Correctional Facility in East Meadow. In 2002, New York's Supreme Court rejected Rifkin's appeal of his convictions for the murder of nine women.”
News report · Biography.com ·
Joel Rifkin: Biography, Serial Killer, House & Seinfeld“Rifkin is now serving 203 years in the Clinton Correctional Facility. He is eligible for parole in 2197, at the age of 238.”
Other · Radford University Department of Psychology ·
Radford University serial killer biography: Rifkin, Joel“Found guilty of nine murders and sentenced to 203 years to life.”
News report · The Washington Post ·
Suspect in 17 Killings Faces First Conviction“A man who admitted killing 17 women was convicted yesterday of second-degree murder in the first of the slayings to come to trial.”
News report · United Press International ·
Rifkin found guilty of murder“A Nassau County jury took only two hours and ten minutes Monday to decide that confessed serial killer Joel Rifkin had murdered 22-year-old Tiffany Bresciani and was not insane.”
Law enforcement release · New York State Police ·
Joel Rifkin Arrest“Rifkin was convicted after trial in Nassau County on May 9, 1994 for the murder of Tiffany Bresciani. He subsequently plead guilty to two counts of Murder 2nd in Suffolk County and one count of Murder 2nd in Queens County.”
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Discussion
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