Vanessa Richardson

Next time, we'll follow his insatiable addiction to violence, the conclusion of his grisly murder spree, and how the police finally caught up to him. And as always, we'll be asking the question, what makes a serial killer? Throughout his life, Joel Rifkin was always incredibly insecure. Even though he was smart and capable, he felt like he could never measure up to people's expectations.

Next time, we'll follow his insatiable addiction to violence, the conclusion of his grisly murder spree, and how the police finally caught up to him. And as always, we'll be asking the question, what makes a serial killer? Throughout his life, Joel Rifkin was always incredibly insecure. Even though he was smart and capable, he felt like he could never measure up to people's expectations.

And those feelings stemmed from some of his earliest childhood moments. After Joel was born on January 20th, 1959, his birth parents, who were young and unmarried, put him up for adoption. Of course, he wasn't able to understand what was happening to him at the time, but his adoptive parents, Jean and Bernard Rifkin, treated Joel as if he were their own flesh and blood.

And those feelings stemmed from some of his earliest childhood moments. After Joel was born on January 20th, 1959, his birth parents, who were young and unmarried, put him up for adoption. Of course, he wasn't able to understand what was happening to him at the time, but his adoptive parents, Jean and Bernard Rifkin, treated Joel as if he were their own flesh and blood.

And those feelings stemmed from some of his earliest childhood moments. After Joel was born on January 20th, 1959, his birth parents, who were young and unmarried, put him up for adoption. Of course, he wasn't able to understand what was happening to him at the time, but his adoptive parents, Jean and Bernard Rifkin, treated Joel as if he were their own flesh and blood.

Growing up in Long Island, New York, Joel was comfortable, safe, and loved. But being a Rifkin came with high expectations, particularly from his adoptive father. Bernard was a successful structural engineer who was popular with friends and colleagues, and Joel didn't quite live up to that reputation.

Growing up in Long Island, New York, Joel was comfortable, safe, and loved. But being a Rifkin came with high expectations, particularly from his adoptive father. Bernard was a successful structural engineer who was popular with friends and colleagues, and Joel didn't quite live up to that reputation.

Growing up in Long Island, New York, Joel was comfortable, safe, and loved. But being a Rifkin came with high expectations, particularly from his adoptive father. Bernard was a successful structural engineer who was popular with friends and colleagues, and Joel didn't quite live up to that reputation.

Joel was a naturally smart kid with a recorded IQ of 128, but he also struggled with an undiagnosed learning disability, possibly dyslexia. It impacted his grades, which seemed to embarrass Bernard. Even typical father-son activities like playing catch in the yard came with a lot of pressure. Joel said that Bernard, who had been a college athlete, wanted Joel to follow in his footsteps.

Joel was a naturally smart kid with a recorded IQ of 128, but he also struggled with an undiagnosed learning disability, possibly dyslexia. It impacted his grades, which seemed to embarrass Bernard. Even typical father-son activities like playing catch in the yard came with a lot of pressure. Joel said that Bernard, who had been a college athlete, wanted Joel to follow in his footsteps.

Joel was a naturally smart kid with a recorded IQ of 128, but he also struggled with an undiagnosed learning disability, possibly dyslexia. It impacted his grades, which seemed to embarrass Bernard. Even typical father-son activities like playing catch in the yard came with a lot of pressure. Joel said that Bernard, who had been a college athlete, wanted Joel to follow in his footsteps.

But Joel admitted he had, quote, "...as much chance of catching the ball with his face as with his hands."

But Joel admitted he had, quote, "...as much chance of catching the ball with his face as with his hands."

But Joel admitted he had, quote, "...as much chance of catching the ball with his face as with his hands."

Dr. Ingalls, how can unrealistic expectations from a parent linger into adulthood? Of course, they don't turn everyone into a serial killer, but what's the long-term effects of feeling that familial pressure?

Dr. Ingalls, how can unrealistic expectations from a parent linger into adulthood? Of course, they don't turn everyone into a serial killer, but what's the long-term effects of feeling that familial pressure?

Dr. Ingalls, how can unrealistic expectations from a parent linger into adulthood? Of course, they don't turn everyone into a serial killer, but what's the long-term effects of feeling that familial pressure?

The pressures at home definitely seemed to overwhelm Joel, and he didn't have it easy at school either. On top of being a bad student, his appearance made him a target for bullying in junior high. With his thick wire-framed glasses and bad posture, Joel was nicknamed the Turtle. And that was just the beginning of his suffering.

The pressures at home definitely seemed to overwhelm Joel, and he didn't have it easy at school either. On top of being a bad student, his appearance made him a target for bullying in junior high. With his thick wire-framed glasses and bad posture, Joel was nicknamed the Turtle. And that was just the beginning of his suffering.

The pressures at home definitely seemed to overwhelm Joel, and he didn't have it easy at school either. On top of being a bad student, his appearance made him a target for bullying in junior high. With his thick wire-framed glasses and bad posture, Joel was nicknamed the Turtle. And that was just the beginning of his suffering.