Unsettling Reality

Serial killer Joel ‘The Ripper’ Rifkin terrorized New York state for four years from 1989 to 1993. In his brief killing spree, he managed to murder 17 people — all women.

He was finally caught when police spotted him driving his Mazda pickup truck without a license plate. They pursued him, and a chase ensued. Eventually, he crashed his truck into a tree outside the courthouse where he would later be sentenced (lol). Police found a body of his final victim, Tiffany Bresciani, 22. After initially denying he knew anything about the body, he admitted to police that he murdered at least 17 women. Some officials believe he may have killed even more than 17.

Fast forward to this week, Rifkin was interviewed by journalist Chris Cuomo who asked him about his crimes. According to Rifkin, he always told himself that once he killed one last woman, he would stop murdering people. He described his condition as an “addiction” that he couldn’t control.

As to why exactly he began murdering in the first place? According to Cuomo, Rifkin couldn’t exactly say. One of the many reasons their encounter was so unsettling.

“In the case of Rifkin — who, as a serial strangler, employed a uniquely violent way to kill — he actually doesn’t understand why he does what he does. I sat inches away from him, interviewing him to try to get a glimpse into the way his mind works — and in the end, he didn’t know what compelled him to behave this way. When someone doesn’t know why they do horrible and deliberate acts — that’s scary,” Cuomo concludes.

Definitely scary indeed!