Forgetaboutit - New York City Murders | Joel Rifkin and Paul Bateson

Written By Brandon Dziedzic

Listen on Apple, Spotify, iHeart Radio, and more!

Episode 16

New York, New York, what a helluva town! From the buildings that seem to touch the skies, to the majesty of the Statue of Liberty, New York is known for so much. One of our favorites - the murders! This week, we take a deep dive into the 2nd part of our New York Murders with some chilling stories based right in the heart of the Big Apple.

CONTENT WARNING: dismemberment, torture, rape

Brandon starts off the episode with a twisted tale of a killer who was accidentally caught by the police. That's right, accidentally caught! Who knew that a missing license plate on a crusty old truck would be the start of a 20-minute high-speed chase around Long Island? What the police weren't expecting when they apprehended the driver was the decomposing body in the bed of the truck. Sure, they were groped and gaged... like literally, we would have gaged over the smell emitting from the back end.

From here, we learn about the slaying of at least 17 sex workers by weirdo Joel Rifkin. The moral of this story kids... Don't be a bully. And if you are being bullied... Don't be a murderer!

Then, Kevin then tells the tale of a gay, narcissistic, alcoholic sociopath who felt like his one-night stand should have been a lifelong love affair. Like sir, you just met... When the well-known reporter in the gay community didn't reciprocate the odd soul connection with this dirtbag, all hell broke loose. Described as a gay murderer with a taste for more than a dingalong... or em' dingaling... This story will have you shook for days.

Filled with BDSM, gay life in the 70's, a potential serial killer, and the general lack of police protection, the story of Paul Bateson will leave you speechless. Oh, and did we mention there is a weird tie-in with the 1973 hit movie The Exorcist? Talk about head spinning. Hopefully, this episode won't have you projectile vomiting!

If you enjoy the episode, please leave us a review and 5-star rating and be sure to subscribe to our podcast! And lastly, if you have a little Homotown murder you want to share with us, send it over to murder@homocidepodcast.com.

For links to cited sources and references, check out the show notes on our website.

Resources and References

Learn more about Joel Rifkin:

Learn more about Paul Bateson:

Transcript

Brandon Dziedzic
It was at an early age that Brandon Dziedzic, a graphic designer based in Denver, CO, was introduced to the wonderful world of design. Regardless of being a nuisance to his mother, it was their frequent weekend trips to local antique shops that intrigued Brandon. Every paper, piece of fabric, and piece of furniture had to be touched. He couldn't get enough of the different textures and designs that spread across the store floors. His desire and addiction to tactile objects quickly became his passion. It was this curiosity that shaped Brandon's decision to pursue his career. Choosing to attend a selective Graphic Communications program at his local technical high school, Brandon began to submerge himself in every aspect the program had to offer. Package design, ad design, photo manipulation, and printing on print presses helped shape his decision to major in Graphic Design and become a unique Graphic Designer. After searching numerous colleges Brandon finally decided to continue his education at Ringling College of Art and Design in Sarasota, FL. Not only did the beautiful weather and beaches entice him the Graphic and Interactive Communications department Ringling offered was one of the best he had seen. Throughout his four years he learned the complete circle of design, layout, typography, structure, and balance which quickly granted him many opportunities during his undergraduate years. After graduation and the excitement of living in the sunshine state had dwindled, Brandon decided to take a chance and move to New York City, the city of opportunity. With $300 in his pocket, all of his possessions packed in to an oversized 16’ moving truck, Brandon made his way to the big apple. After a grueling job search that seemed to last forever, yet lasted only a few months, Brandon quickly landed a Junior Design position for an educational software company called Wireless Generation. Here, his already abundant knowledge base of print design, book layout, typography, and branding design grew to include app design and user interface. It was from this experience Brandon began to develop a client base and pursue design opportunities all over New York City and beyond. Brandon currently holds a Graphic Designer position with The Integer Group in Denver, CO. In his free time Brandon loves searching for new design ideas, exploring the great city of New York, crafting, traveling, volunteering, spending time with his husband Kevin and cat Kay, and as always, searching for new freelance opportunities to enhance his designer mind. If you may have any graphic design related inquiries, please feel free to contact Brandon at bdziedzic09@gmail.com.
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