Philip Carlo
THE ICE MAN
CONFESSIONS OF A MAFIA CONTRACT KILLER
This work is dedicated to my agent and dear friend, Matt Bialer,
for always being there, for his constant help, guidance, and unwavering support.This has been a long, bumpy road, Matt, a harrowing journey
I could not have made without you.
My husband is a good man, a kind mana great father. All my childrens friends are always saying they wish they had a dad like my husbandlike Richard.
Mrs. Barbara Kuklinskion the day Richard was arrested
Richard is both fascinating and as frightening as your worst nightmare. He represents the worst of who we areyet, he is absolutely fascinating to listen to.
Sheila NevinsHBO producer
This is the devilNo question about it. This is the devil!
Dominick PolifroneUndercover AFT operative
Hes responsible for over two hundred murdersI mean personally responsible.
Gaby MonetHBO producer
Id never hurt a woman or a child. Its just not in me.
Richard Kuklinski
He killed with guns, poison, bats, knives, strangulation, his fists, ice picks, screwdrivers, hand grenades, and even fire. Weve never seen anything like him. Truth is, weve never even heard of anything like him.
Bob CarrollNew Jersey deputy attorney general
Even now, I mean so many years later, my stomach gets all tense and my hands tremble when I think about him. But I love my dad. I love him a lot! None of it was his fault. My father married the wrong woman.
Merrick KuklinskiRichards oldest daughter
When he told me he loved me, which he often did, Id say Me too. Thats it just Me too.
Barbara Kuklinski
My father terrorized us. We never knew when or where hed explode. We tried to hide it from my brother because he would have tried to do something, protect us, you know, protect my mother, and my father wouldve killed him, Im sure. One time this woman with kids in her car cut him off and he got out of the car at a light and tore the womans door right off her car.
Chris KuklinskiRichards daughter
They thought I didnt know what he was doing, but I saw all the broken furniture and I knew my father did it. I saw my mothers black eyes. I kept an ax under my bed and a machete just next to the bed because of him.
Dwayne KuklinskiRichards son
Hes very crafty and cunning, like some kind of jungle predator that nobody ever sees until its too late. We knew about himI knew about him, was tracking him for years, but could never pin anything on him.
Detective Pat KaneNew Jersey State Police
My mother was cancer. She slowly destroyed everything around her. She produced two killers; me and my brother Joe.
Richard Kuklinski
There are two Richards, and I never knew who would be walking in the door. He could be generous to a fault, or the meanest man on earth.
Barbara Kuklinski
We called him the Ice Man because he froze some of his victims, kept them in an icebox he had for a while, then put them out so we could not tell when the murder actually took place, you see.
Paul Smith NewJersey Organized Crime and Racketeering Bureau investigator
I became very promiscuous because of my father. The only thing I had control of was my body. I did what I wantedI did what he didnt want me to do. I lost my virginity when I was twelve to an older man in a van. Just some guy who picked me up at a bus stop on the corner there.
Chris KuklinskiRichards daughter
I feel nothing inside for any of them. Nothing. They had it coming and I did it. The only people I ever had any kind of real feelings for were my family. Those others, nothing. Sometimes I wonder why Im like this, feel nothing inside. I wish someone could tell me. Im curious.
Richard Kuklinski
Richard is totally unique. Theres not been anyone like him in modern times. He trusts me because Ive never lied to him. He does have a nice side. Once he asked me if I was scared of him and I told him I wasnt and asked him if I should be. He just stared at me. That was kind of scaryhaving him just stare with those chilling eyes of his.
Gaby MonetHBO producer
What the feds did was outrageous. I mean they knew Sammy Gravano ordered Richard to kill a cop and they still made a deal for Gravano to walk.
Sergeant Robert AnzalottiBergen County Prosecutors office
I beat them to death for the exercise.
Richard Kuklinski
The Law, alone and aloof by its very nature, has no access to the emotions that might justify murder.
Marquis de Sade
This book is based on over 240 hours of one-on-one interviews with Richard Kuklinski at Trenton State Prison. When and where possible all the crimes and murders Richard and I discussed were verified with underground Mafia contacts, police sources, documents, crime-scene reports, and photographs. When Richard and I discussed his life and the crimes he committed over a forty-three-year period, he never bragged or boasted. Indeed, much of what is contained in this book had to be prodded and encouraged out of him. In my estimation, Richard was always honest and truthful, sincere and forthright in the extreme.
The names of certain individuals connected with this story have been changed.
I first wish to thank my editor, Charlie Spicer at St. Martins Press, for all his expert advice, his guidance, and his belief in this book from the moment it arrived on his desk. Also his right-hand man, Joe Cleemann, was a huge help, on numerous levels. Many thanks also to John Murphy and Gregg Sulivan for their belief in and support of this book. Gaby Monet at HBO was an invaluable friend and assisted me greatly with understanding the enormous complexities of this story. Many thanks to my loyal friend and confidant, Mike Kostrewa, for all his guidance and expertise about Jersey City and the Polish people and culture. I also wish to thank Trenton State Prison for allowing me access to Richard Kuklinski at the facility. Also, thanks to Anna Bierhouse for her suggestions, and all the good people at Sanford Greenburger, the best literary agency in the world; they still treat writers like sensitive artists, a rare thing these days. I would be remiss if I didnt thank my parents, Dante and Nina Carlo, for their unwavering support. My gratitude to Crystal Proenza for her patience and good cheer in turning my voluminous handwritten drafts into flawless manuscripts. I also wish to thank Barbara, Merrick, Chris, and Dwayne Kuklinski for their honest feelings and kind input.
Lieutenant Patrick Kane of the New Jersey State Police was an invaluable source of detail, facts, emotion, times, and places. Also, Sergeant Rob Anzalotti and his partner, Detective Mark Bennul, were very helpful in shining light on the dark, violent phenomenon that was Richard Leonard Kuklinskis life.
Capo crimini/capo di tutti capi: superboss/boss of bosses
Capo: boss/Don
Consigliere: trusted adviser or family counselor
Sotto Capo/Capo bastone: underboss, second in command
Contabile: financial adviser
Caporegime or capodecina: lieutenant, typically heads a crew comprising ten or more soldiers
Sgarrista: a foot soldier who carries out the day-to-day business of the family, a made member of the Mafia
Picciotto: lower-ranking soldier, enforcer; also known in the streets as the button man
Giovane dhonore: Mafia associate, typically a non-Sicilian or non-Italian member
INTRODUCTION
Rattus Norvegicus
Richard Kuklinski was first drawn to the sprawling woods of Bucks County, Pennsylvania, because of their peace and tranquillity, solitude and fresh air. The woods reminded Richard of church, one of the few places in his life where he found solace and comfort and could think without distraction. Like a church, the woods were peaceful, quiet, and serene.