The Case | In Brief
Severed explores the early life and career of notorious hitman, Richard Kuklinski (The Iceman) and his connection to Robert Prongay, retired military, demolition expert, and neighborhood ice cream man. Prongay was Kuklinski's source for cyanide, as the two poisoned and froze victims' bodies in a refrigerated warehouse and/or Mister Softee ice cream truck.
Digital Resources
Article: “Richard Kuklinski: The Iceman” published on CrimeLibrary.org
Article: “‘The Iceman: An Undercover Agent Reflects on Taking Down Notorious Hitman Richard Kuklinski” by Crystal Ponti (AETV.com)
Book: The Iceman: Confessions of a Mafia Contract Killer by Philip Carlo
Book: The Iceman: The True Story of a Cold-Blooded Killer by Anthony Bruno
Severing The Case | NJ Urban Legends Episode
In this fourth episode of Severed: True Crime, Drew Hudson uses the 7-minute story to concisely (but thoroughly)frame significant details along a timeline of Kuklinski's major murders, capture, and conviction. Harry and Drew analyze Kuklinski's childhood and crimes, discuss Kuklinski's deadly connection to Prongay, and the infamous The Iceman Tapes. For research purposes, Drew consumes unlimited hours of The Iceman immersion pack tapes on YouTube to discuss Kuklinski's willingness to (and all that's gleaned from) his confessions.
What Inspired Severed to Cover This Case?
Drew: All episodes are thematically linked by location and/or subject matter. Having completed the NJ Urban episodes, it made sense to connect to Jersey-born-and-bred (alleged) mafia hitman, Richard Kuklinski. The intimidating and brutal enforcer allegedly killed over 100 victims; according to his figures, he murdered about 200 people. One victim, Daniel Depner, was found near Clinton Road, a feature of episode 3.
Show Notes
Article: “Richard Kuklinski” by Pat Bauer (Britannica.com)
Article: “Richard Kuklinski: The Iceman” published on CrimeLibrary.org
Article (Biography): “Richard Leonard Kuklinski” published on Murderpedia.org
Article (Biography): “Richard Leonard Kuklinski” published on CriminalBehaviours.com
Article (Biography): “Richard Kuklinski” published on CrimeMuseum.org
Article: “‘The Iceman: An Undercover Agent Reflects on Taking Down Notorious Hitman Richard Kuklinski” by Crystal Ponti (AETV.com)
Article: “Iceman Killer Case Revisited: Morris County Law Enforcement Gains Insight from Infamous Investigation” by Eric Blair (MorristownMinute)
Article: “Notorious Killer ‘The Iceman’ Was Made, Not Born, Says Criminologist” by Richard A. Webster (Oxygen.com | True Crime)
Article: “Jimmy Hoffa: The Most Credible and Most Outlandish Theories About His Death” by Christine Colby (AETV.com)
Book: The Iceman: Confessions of a Mafia Contract Killer by Philip Carlo
Book: The Iceman: The True Story of a Cold-Blooded Killer by Anthony Bruno
Article: “Body Farms Unravel Mysteries of Human Decomposition: Forensic Evidence AboutMurder Victims is More Plentiful and Accurate Today Thanks to Body Farm Research” published on TheMobMuseum.org
Article: “Kuklinski Was Set Up, Lawyer Says: Suspect Incapable of Murder, Jury Told” by Bob McMahon (published in The Morning Call on February 18, 1988; archived: newspapers.com)
Article: “‘Iceman’ Witness Details Murder: Says Kuklinski Laughed Watcher Her Cousin Die” by Betsy August (published in The Record on February 19, 1988; archived: newspapers.com)
Article: “From the Archive: NewJerseyHerald | “Dec. 18, 1986: Murder Charges Leveled: Two County Men Among Victims” (published on NJHerald.com)
Article: “Married to The Iceman” by Adam Higginbotham (published in The Telegraph)
YouTube Channel: The Chronicles Group | The Iceman Tapes, Conversations with a Killer
YouTube Channel: Breakthrough Entertainment | I Lived with a Killer Documentary | S1E11 | The Iceman: Richard Kuklinski
YouTube Channel: A&E | Mobsters: Paul Castellano: Gambino Boss - Full Episode (S2E20)
YouTube Channel: Infamous America Podcast | The Iceman Episodes 1-6
Film | YouTube: The Iceman (2012)
Song Lyrics: Bruce Springsteen (“Darkness on the Edge of Town”)
