Joel David Rifkin was a serial killer who was adopted as a baby and bullied in school. He had difficulties fitting in and dropped out of college. As an adult, he spent time and money on prostitutes. He was inspired by Alfred Hitchcock's film Frenzy and had frontal lobe issues. Rifkin strangled and dismembered multiple victims, storing their bodies in his parents' home. He was caught when police found a decaying body in his truck during a traffic stop. Rifkin was sentenced to 203 years to life in prison.

1. Joel David Rifkin
Young Joel Rifkin

2. Childhood
• Adopted at Three weeks
• Bullied at school
• Dyslexic
• Joined track and ridiculed
• Joined yearbook and camera stolen

3. Adult
• Finished High School but Dropped Out of
College
• Loner moving in and out of his parents house
• Spent most of his money on prostitutes
• Father committed Suicide in 1987

4. Motives
• Very inspired by Alfred Hitchcock’s Film Frenzy
• Frontal Lobe Issues
A Few of Rifkin’s Victims

5. Methods/Rituals
• Brought them back to the house
• Bludgeoned and strangled them
• Cut them up
• Dispersed the body parts
Rifkin’s Parent’s House
where he committed the
murders

6. Victim Characteristics
• Prostitutes
News paper article featuring Joel
Rifkin’s murders.

7. How was he Caught
• Pulled over for a missing rear license plate with
a decaying body in the back of his truck.
Rifkin in Police custody

8. Sentence
• 203 years to life in the Clinton correctional
facility
Clinton Correctional Facility

9. Why are serial killers so hard
to spot?
• Meticulous
• Careful
• Unattached
• Doesn’t show on them

10. Childhood related causes.
• Bullied
• Don't fit in well
• Isolation
• Forced into Fantasy world rather than reality

11. Most Interesting Facts
• How serial killers are caught. (Traffic
Violations, Loitering, Etc…)
• Unattached (Not personal)

12. References
• http://www.trutv.com/library/crime/serial_killers
/predators/rifkin/1.html
• http://www.biography.com/people/joel-rifkin11930477
• http://www.personal.psu.edu/mlr247/
• http://www.trutv.com/library/crime/serial_killers
/predators/rifkin/4.html
• http://www.trutv.com/library/crime/serial_killers
/predators/rifkin/9.html