Cold Case Files: The Rifkin Murders Part 3

Podcast Date: February 10, 2026
Host/Narrator: Marisa Pinson | Featuring: Tiffany Attai, Shawn Lammons, Peter Rice, Joel Rifkin, Bill Simon (retired NYPD), Greg McCrae (retired FBI), Mott Thomas

Episode Overview

This gripping chapter brings listeners inside the long-standing investigation to identify the sixth and ninth unnamed victims of serial killer Joel Rifkin, whose crimes haunted New York in the early 1990s. Decades later, detectives, assisted by advancements in forensic DNA and the doggedness of those touched by the case, attempt to put names to victims believed to lie in mass, unmarked graves. The episode highlights hope, frustration, and the ethical complexities of seeking justice and closure—even as time fades witnesses and memories.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. State of the Investigation (00:20 - 03:35)

• Investigators Tiffany Attai and Shawn Lammons have worked nearly a year to identify Rifkin's unidentified victims.
• The team utilizes DNA analysis on victim jewelry and aerial searches of described dump sites.
• The process is slow and nonlinear—"a rollercoaster ride" that brings both leads and dead ends (01:01, Tiffany Attai).

2. Interviewing Joel Rifkin in Prison (03:58 - 08:02)

• Setting: Clinton Correctional Facility, Dannemora, NY
• Producer Peter Rice helps coordinate a pivotal in-person interview with Rifkin.
• Rifkin’s cooperation is uncertain; months of silence precede the meeting.
• During the interview:
  • Rifkin is vague about specifics of jewelry or the women.
  • He recognizes some features but frequently claims poor memory or confusion.
  • He expresses, "It was an odd period, let's put it that way." (04:21, Joel Rifkin).
  • Tiffany observes he seemed "slow to recall certain things" and attributes it to the passage of time (06:46).

Notable Exchange on Jewelry Identification

• Rifkin contradicts himself about whether the earrings in evidence matched what he remembered:
  • “The problem is, it wasn’t a pair. I think I only had one.” (04:41, Joel Rifkin).
  • Later, he reverts: “I believe it’s a pair.” (33:14, Joel Rifkin).

3. Victim Photos and Breakthroughs (05:31 - 16:11)

• Attai presents photos of sex workers from the era, hoping Rifkin will recognize his victims.
• Rifkin reacts with interest to photo ‘11’—said to resemble victim six (06:03).
• He also connects a “snake bracelet” to victim nine, a detail previously unknown to detectives (06:29).
• Family members, like Tanya Mara (daughter of potential victim Marilyn Mara), seek closure:
  • “He did not recognize your mom at all… which is good to know.” (09:41, Tiffany Attai).
• Two photos particularly draw Rifkin’s pause:
  • Julie Blackbird (missing, confirmed not to be one of his known victims but resemblance noted).
  • Denise Griffin (missing since 1991), whose time and location fit the pattern for victim six.
    • “It’s possible that Denise Griffin may be victim number six.” (15:54, Tiffany Attai).

4. Challenges of Evidence and Identification (19:41 - 23:05)

• DNA analysis is complicated; only a partial DNA profile can be extracted from the jewelry.
  • “Unfortunately, we don’t have a full profile to put into CODIS…” (19:48, Peter Rice).
• Efforts to get DNA from a snake bracelet fail due to the absence of DNA (21:09).
• Victim number nine is buried in a mass grave with about 150 others on Hart Island.
  • “It’s almost impossible to identify who is who.” (21:43, Bill Simon).
  • Hope is kept alive through dental records or a smiling photo for comparison.

5. The Psychology and Motives of Joel Rifkin (25:35 - 41:39)

• Rifkin admits prison interviews force him to relive the past—triggering depression and emotional strain (see 25:03+).
  • “Reliving it all for Tiffany took a lot out of me. Seeing the photos made it vastly more real than relying on simple memory.” (24:53, Peter Rice reads Rifkin’s email.)
• Experts like Greg McCrae suggest Rifkin maintains a sense of control, sometimes doling out “truth and falsehoods” as a form of manipulation (25:49).
• In a follow-up interview, Rifkin’s memory seems inconsistent, sometimes contradictory.
• Rifkin’s reflection on remorse:
  • "Do you really feel sorry for what you did?"—“Yeah. They’re gone. … It’s a double-edged tragedy. They’re gone. I’m sitting in here. … That’s gone. I’m sure they had goals and fantasies and ideas for life, and it’s gone for them.” (38:46 - 39:39)

Memorable Exchanges

• “It’s been 30 years. There’s no old, there’s no appeal, there’s no time off. I don’t get anything from this exchange monetarily. They can think what they want to think.” (40:22, Joel Rifkin)

6. Advancements and Next Steps (41:39 - End)

• Rifkin expresses that Denise Griffin’s photo is “more probable yes than no” as victim six but doesn’t absolutely confirm (41:04).
• Tiffany Attai cautiously considers contacting Griffin’s family for new DNA samples—after excluding the possibility that the earrings belonged to a different, already-named victim.
  • “Once the lab is able to tell me that those earrings don’t belong to any of the known victims that Rifkin confessed to... compare to the partial profile.” (43:17, Tiffany Attai)
• The saga of identifying lost lives is ongoing—“...with any unidentified victim, in any case, there’s always a chance.” (43:53, Tiffany Attai)

Notable Quotes and Memorable Moments

• On the emotional toll:

  • “Being in the room with him for four and a half hours, just. It’s kind of exhausting. Takes a lot of energy out of you.” (08:14, Tiffany Attai)

• On the struggle to recall:

  • “He didn’t seem to have the recall and he didn’t seem to be as forthcoming with information…” (08:02, Peter Rice).

• On Rifkin’s manipulation:

  • “Most serial killers think they’re smarter than everybody else … everything is about control.” (25:38, Greg McCrae).
  • “He provides some truth and some falsehoods to see if you can figure out the difference.” (25:55, Peter Rice).

• On identifying Denise Griffin:

  • “More probable yes than no. That’s the closest image to what I remember.” (41:04, Joel Rifkin).

• On progress and persistence:

  • “With so many years searching, you kind of realize a dead end isn’t a dead end because you don’t have to focus any more energy in that direction, which gives you more time and space to start to focus in a different area.” (09:41, Tanya Mara).

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 00:20 — Introduction to Dannemora investigation and new leads.
• 03:58 — Preparing to interview Joel Rifkin in prison.
• 04:05 – 05:52 — In-depth interview with Rifkin; discussions of jewelry and victim recollection.
• 06:03 – 06:13 — Rifkin pauses on photo ‘11’ (potential link to victim #6).
• 09:41 – 10:50 — Family notification: Marilyn Mara ruled out as a victim.
• 12:50 – 16:11 — Investigation into Julie Blackbird and Denise Griffin as possible victim six.
• 19:41 – 21:09 — DNA evidence limitations and search for identification.
• 21:43 – 23:05 — Hart Island mass grave challenges.
• 25:03 – 43:01 — Multiple interview segments with Rifkin; discussions about memory, remorse, victim identities, and criminal psychology.
• 43:53 – End — Conclusions and themes of hope for identification; information about next episode.

Episode Tone & Style

The conversation is investigative, methodical, at times intimate and raw. Detectives balance professional persistence with empathy for victim families. Peter Rice’s narration brings a sense of urgency and disappointment, reflecting the emotional investment in their quest for answers. Rifkin’s statements move between cold detachment and flashes of human complexity.

Conclusion

This episode of Cold Case Files masterfully balances threads of hope, heartbreak, and the gritty realities of long-term investigations. Through the persistent efforts of investigators, a bit more is illuminated about two lost lives—but frustration and ambiguity remain. Listener engagement is driven not by spectacle but by the depth of dedication, the human need for answers, and the underlying belief that—even after decades—one more person might help solve the mystery. The series continues next week, promising closure or at least new developments in the search for the true identities of Rifkin’s unknown victims.