Richard Kuklinski Criminal
Richard Leonard "The Iceman" Kuklinski (April 11, 1935 – March 5, 2006) was an American contract killer who was convicted for five murders. Kuklinski was given the nickname "Iceman" for his method of freezing a victim to mask the time of death. The 6'5" (196 cm), 300 pound (135 kg) Kuklinski lived with his wife and children in the suburb of Dumont, New Jersey. Prior to his arrest, his family was apparently unaware of Kuklinski's double life and crimes. A New Jersey Police task force was formed after Kuklinski was suspected of two murders. A year-long undercover investigation led to his arrest. Kuklinski was a contract killer for Newark's DeCavalcante crime family and New York City's Five Families of the American Mafia. After his murder convictions, Kuklinski took part in a number of interviews during which he claimed to have murdered from over 100 to 250 men (his "recollections" varied) between 1948 and 1986. Three documentaries, two biographies and a feature film have been produced on Kuklinski based on his interviews and the results of the task force that brought Kuklinski to justice. His claims have not been substantiated and crime family members dispute his role in any contract killings.