Serial killer Joel Rifkin's East Meadow home is on the market
From left, the East Meadow home of convicted serial killer Joel Rifkin at the time of his arrest in 1993, and how it looked on Sunday. Credit: Kirth Dozier/Jeff Bachner
Marc Kaplan, a real estate agent selling a four-bedroom home in East Meadow, would rather highlight what makes the property special than what makes it infamous.
The home, at 1492 Garden St., is being listed for $799,000, and sits on a "great block" with a community vibe, Kaplan said.
It's also where convicted serial killer Joel Rifkin lived with his mother and sister decades ago, and where he killed and dismembered some of his 17 victims — all female sex workers, Rifkin told authorities.
For Kaplan, what happened at the two-story home where Garden Street meets Spruce Lane is nothing more than a part of the distant past.
"That's an old story," he told Newsday on Sunday. "At the end of the day, it's a home. I have a homeowner who lived here and raised a family. They know what they bought."
Rifkin was sentenced to 203.5 years in prison in 1994 for his crimes. He was arrested on June 28, 1993, after New York State troopers noticed his pickup truck was missing its back license plate and attempted a traffic stop. Rifkin fled in the pickup and a high-speed chase ensued. He crashed into a utility pole on Old County Road in Mineola, where police noticed an odor coming from the truck. They found part of a hand and the head of one of Rifkin's victims, according to a Newsday story about the 25th anniversary of his arrest.
Rifkin, now 67, remains incarcerated at Clinton Correctional Facility in upstate Dannemora, where he has been since 1995, according to state records.
His mother, Jeanne, lived in the home until she died in 2010. The house was last sold in 2011 for $322,000, Newsday previously reported, down $102,500 from its original asking price of $424,500.
"It's a great house, and we got it for a great price," Tracy, a teacher who asked that her last name not be used to protect her privacy, told Newsday at the time.
State troopers escort Rifkin from Troop L headquarters on June 28, 1993. Credit: Newsday/John Paraskevas
The 1,649 square-foot home, built in 1951, has a detached one-car garage, two bathrooms, a swimming pool and vaulted ceilings, according to the listing on Realtor.com. It's less than a mile from Barnum Woods Elementary School in the East Meadow school district.
"This well-maintained home offers a spacious and versatile layout with sun-filled living areas, an updated eat-in kitchen, generous sized bedrooms, and plenty of storage throughout," the listing reads. "The expanded floor plan provides flexibility for extended living. Situated on a beautifully maintained corner property with a private backyard."
The median household income in East Meadow is $133,971, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, with 76.3% of households worth between $500,000 and $999,999.
Kaplan was set to host an open house at the property from noon to 3 p.m. on Sunday, according to the listing, which makes no reference to Rifkin or his crimes.
"We're not looking to focus on Long Island's history," Kaplan told Newsday. "You could look at any history and find problems."
Joshua Needelman covers the Town of North Hempstead for Newsday. A Long Island native and University of Maryland graduate, his work has appeared in publications including The New York Times and The Washington Post.
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