Richard Kuklinski: The Iceman
The Arrest
New Jersey State Police detective Pat Kane began work on the Kuklinski case in 1980. By the mid-1980s, increasingly more evidence was pointing to Kuklinski as their prime suspect in many murders. The investigation was stepped up a notch and became a joint operation between the New Jersey Attorney General’s office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms.
Special Agent Dominick Polifrone, a specialist in undercover work on Mafia cases, became vital to the case. Taking the name Michael Dominick Provenzano, or ‘Dom’, he posed as a fellow criminal, in order to meet and eventually gain Kuklinski’s trust. It took over 18 months but Polifrone finally set up a drugs and weapons deal with Kuklinski, who then asked for cyanide to be added to the order, indicating he was planning another murder.
Usually so careful to cover his tracks, Kuklinski began discussions with Polifrone about the details of murder by cyanide poisoning and also about the freezing of Masgay, although he never named any victims. These detailed conversations were secretly taped and formed a vital part of police evidence in the case against Kuklinski.
In order to trap Kuklinski, Polifrone approached him to help in the killing of a bogus victim, using a sandwich laced with cyanide. The two men met on 17th December 1986 to carry out the crime and Kuklinski took the sandwich from Polifrone and drove off, saying he would return. When he did not come back, the Task Force feared Kuklinski might have begun to suspect Polifrone was a police officer, so decided to move in and make the arrest.
Police and federal agents blocked off Kuklinski’s street and entered the Kuklinski family home. They arrested both Kuklinski and his wife, Barbara, who was charged with possession of a firearm. The gun had been found in Kuklinski’s car but the vehicle was registered in Barbara’s name. Kuklinski became furious when one of the arresting officers placed his foot on Barbara’s back whilst detaining her and it took five men to finally restrain the killer.
Special Agent Dominick Polifrone, a specialist in undercover work on Mafia cases, became vital to the case. Taking the name Michael Dominick Provenzano, or ‘Dom’, he posed as a fellow criminal, in order to meet and eventually gain Kuklinski’s trust. It took over 18 months but Polifrone finally set up a drugs and weapons deal with Kuklinski, who then asked for cyanide to be added to the order, indicating he was planning another murder.
Usually so careful to cover his tracks, Kuklinski began discussions with Polifrone about the details of murder by cyanide poisoning and also about the freezing of Masgay, although he never named any victims. These detailed conversations were secretly taped and formed a vital part of police evidence in the case against Kuklinski.
In order to trap Kuklinski, Polifrone approached him to help in the killing of a bogus victim, using a sandwich laced with cyanide. The two men met on 17th December 1986 to carry out the crime and Kuklinski took the sandwich from Polifrone and drove off, saying he would return. When he did not come back, the Task Force feared Kuklinski might have begun to suspect Polifrone was a police officer, so decided to move in and make the arrest.
Police and federal agents blocked off Kuklinski’s street and entered the Kuklinski family home. They arrested both Kuklinski and his wife, Barbara, who was charged with possession of a firearm. The gun had been found in Kuklinski’s car but the vehicle was registered in Barbara’s name. Kuklinski became furious when one of the arresting officers placed his foot on Barbara’s back whilst detaining her and it took five men to finally restrain the killer.
