1. Richard Kuklinski “The Iceman”

2. Background Born on April 11, 1935
Born in the family apartment on Fourth Street, Jersey City, New Jersey
Second of four children
Father was an alcoholic who regularly beat his wife & children 
Mother was extremely strict & devout Catholic
Served as Alter Boy
Abused by both parents
When Kuklinski was five years old, his older brother Florian was killed by Father during one of his many beatings
Father left his family, & Richard left to fend for himself.
Became known for his explosive temper
Known for his willingness to assault & even kill
His brother was convicted of raping & murdering a 12-year-old girl.
“We come from the same father”
1st stated offense-Committed murder as a 14 year old when he beat 16 year old to death

3. Murders Established Convictions
Victim
Date
Cause of Death
Comments
George Malliband
1980
Shot to Death
Peter Calabro
Admitted to murder in 2003
Louis Masgay
1981
Shot in Head
Victim’s Body Frozen for Two years
Gained him name “The Ice Man”
Gary Smith
1982
Cyanide Poisoning, Bludgeoned to death
Daniel Deppner
1983
Undetermined
Convicted of 5 murders & sentenced to Consecutive Life Sentences, added 30 additional years for murder of Calabro.

4. Self-proclaimed Murders
Also claimed responsibility for murder of over 100 men, maybe as many as 200
Result of serving as “hit man” for Newark's DeCavalcante crime family & NY Five Families of the American Mafia

5. Evidence
NJ Criminal Justice Department formed Task Force-”Operation Iceman”-1986
Undercover Cop Dominick Polifrone instrumental in “bringing Kuklinski to Justice” (NY Post)
Set up, posing as person wishing to hire Kuklinski for murder via cyanide
Arrest & Evidence
Later arrested on Road Block
Also found with weapon
Finally, determined that he was last person who saw cited murder victim
Eventually, convicted of murders

6. Two Personalities
Dignified Family Man
His Actions –Louis Masgay

7. Justice and Punishment Sentenced to life in prison, died imprisoned in 2006

8. Cultural References Books, Movies, TV
The Iceman: The True Story of a Cold-Blooded Killer (Anthony Bruno)
The Ice Man: Confessions of a Mafia Contract Killer (Philip Carlo)
Movie
The Iceman (2012)
TV Documentary
Richard Kuklinski The Iceman Mafia Hitman HBO interview (2001)

9. Cultural References
In Print
On the Big Screen

10. “Social Learning Theory”
Differential reinforcement of crime & its application
Kuklinski learned to engage in crime from his abusive parents, witnessing his parents covering up the fact that his father killed his brother. They lied and stated that he fell down the stairs.
He later learned to fight neighbor kids who bullied him. (Murdered the head bully). This was further confirmed by statement that “he felt empowered by fighting bullies”
Also learning to profit from crimes after becoming involved with crime families in NJ & NY

11. Bibliography
The Undercover Cop who Brought the Iceman to Justice, iceman-to-justice/
Crime Causation: Sociological Theories; Encyclodia.com
Richard “The Iceman” Kuklinski Biography,