Joel Rifkin

The Drifter, Joel the Ripper

  Active for 5 years
(1989-1993) in United States

9

CONFIRMED
VICTIMS

17

POSSIBLE
VICTIMS
Jump to:
  1. Summary
  2. Serial Killer Profile
  3. Serial Killer Type
  4. General Information
  5. Characteristics
  6. Childhood
  7. Cognitive Ability
  8. Incarceration
  9. Death
  10. 10 Timeline Events
  11. Serial Killers Active During Spree
  12. Boolean Statistical Questions
  13. 12 Books About Joel Rifkin
  14. 9 External References
  15. 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 completeness

Joel Rifkin has been listed on Killer.Cloud since November of 2016 and was last updated 5 years ago.

Joel Rifkin a known:

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 1959Joel 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
ANSWERED
Serial 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

Book: Serial Killer Stranglers (mentions serial killer Joel Rifkin)
Kevin Smith
Serial Killer Stranglers
Book: The Serial Killer Books (mentions serial killer Joel Rifkin)
Jack Rosewood
The Serial Killer Books
Book: From the Mouth of the Monster (mentions serial killer Joel Rifkin)
Robert Mladinich
From the Mouth of the Monster
Book: Forensic Psychology (mentions serial killer Joel Rifkin)
Solomon Fulero
Forensic Psychology
Book: Through the Eyes of Serial Killers (mentions serial killer Joel Rifkin)
Nadia Fezzani
Through the Eyes of Serial Killers
Book: Through the Eyes of Serial Killers (mentions serial killer Joel Rifkin)
Nadia Fezzani
Through the Eyes of Serial Killers
Book: The Evil 100 (mentions serial killer Joel Rifkin)
Martin Gilman Wolcot...
The Evil 100
Book: Garden of Graves (mentions serial killer Joel Rifkin)
Maria Eftimiades
Garden of Graves

12 Books that mention Serial Killer
Joel Rifkin

ISBN10 Book Title Killers
1733630600 Serial Killer Stranglers 164
1546511814 The Serial Killer Books 2
0743424441 From the Mouth of the Mon... 1
0495506494 Forensic Psychology 2
1459724682 Through the Eyes of Seria... 4
1459724690 Through the Eyes of Seria... 7
080652555x The Evil 100 18
1466863129 Garden of Graves 2
1986277038 Joel Rifkin 2
1530080290 Joel the Ripper 1
1495035352 Seinfeld FAQ 1
1615920846 Seinology 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.

Wikipedia
External References
  1. Joel Rifkin on en.wikipedia.org, Retrieved on Sep 14, 2018.
  2. Juan Ignacio Blanco, Joel David RIFKIN on murderpedia.org, Retrieved on Sep 14, 2018.
  3. Lori Ligon, Ashley Liverman, Joel Rifkin on maamodt.asp.radford.edu, Retrieved on Sep 14, 2018.
  4. Q1382865 on www.wikidata.org, Retrieved on Oct 28, 2018.
  5. Joel Rifkin on www.biography.com, Retrieved on Dec 14, 2018.
  6. Mary Calvi, Inside The Mind Of Serial Killer Joel Rifkin on newyork.cbslocal.com, Retrieved on Jan 21, 2019.
  7. Simone Weichselbaum, Joel Rifkin, serial killer of 17 prostitutes on www.nydailynews.com, Retrieved on Jan 21, 2019.
  8. Frank F. Weber, A Killer Without A Conscience on frankweberauthor.com, Retrieved on Jan 21, 2019.
  9. 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

  1. #16 of 72[ Page 2 ] of serial killers sorted by IQ Level
  2. #20 of 56[ Page 2 ] of Serial Killers with birthdays in January
  3. #23 of 55[ Page 2 ] of Capricorn Serial Killers sorted by Confirmed Victims
  4. #76 of 651[ Page 6 ] of serial killers sorted by Profile Completeness
  5. #82 of 327[ Page 6 ] of Serial Killers active in the United States
  6. #89 of 250[ Page 6 ] of Serial Killer Stranglers sorted by Confirmed Victims
  7. #208 of 651[ Page 14 ] of serial killers sorted by Confirmed Victims
  8. #288 of 651[ Page 20 ] of serial killers sorted by Years Active
  9. #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: