Joseph Taborsky

Serial Killer

Joseph Taborsky and the "Mad Dog" Murders

Early Life and Criminal History

Joseph Louis Taborsky was born on March 23, 1924, in Hartford, Connecticut. He grew up in Hartford's North End and began stealing when he was still a child. His early offenses included theft, burglary and shoplifting, followed by repeated stays in juvenile institutions and prisons. As a young man, he was also convicted of armed robbery and attempted to escape from custody. Standing approximately six feet four inches tall, with dark hair and a prominent jaw, Taborsky was sometimes called "The Chin." His distinctive appearance would later contribute to his decision to murder robbery witnesses. Taborsky met Arthur Joseph Culombe while the two men worked at a freight-handling facility in East Hartford. Culombe had an intellectual disability and a history of crime and institutionalization. Authorities later believed that he was easily influenced by the more dominant Taborsky. The men committed burglaries together before Taborsky became involved in the murder that first placed him on Connecticut's death row.

The Murder of Louis Wolfson

On March 23, 1950, Taborsky's 26th birthday, he and his younger brother, Albert Taborsky, entered Cooper's Package Store in West Hartford. The store was operated by Louis L. Wolfson. During the robbery, Wolfson was shot in the face with a small-caliber handgun. He remained alive for approximately three days and reportedly regained consciousness several times before dying from his injuries on March 26, 1950. The case remained unsolved for nearly a year. Albert eventually confessed and identified Joseph as his accomplice. Joseph Taborsky was arrested in January 1951 and convicted of first-degree murder that June. Albert was convicted of second-degree murder and sentenced to life imprisonment, while Joseph received a death sentence. Albert later experienced a severe mental breakdown and was declared mentally incompetent. Because his testimony had been the central evidence against Joseph, Joseph's attorneys successfully challenged the conviction. After spending more than four years on death row, Taborsky was granted a new trial. Prosecutors concluded that they could not proceed without Albert's testimony, and Joseph was released from prison on October 6, 1955. He publicly claimed that he had been innocent and promised to avoid further trouble. ...

Confirmed Victims: (7)

Louis Wolfson Age: (41), Date of Death: 1950-03-23

Survivors:

Jack Rosen , Date of Attack: 1956-12-04

Peter Barone , Date of Attack: 1956-12-11

Nickola Leone Age: (67), Date of Attack: 1956-12-15

Aurthur Vinton Age: (64), Date of Attack: 1956-12-21

Mrs. Vinton Age: (62), Date of Attack: 1956-12-21

Lorry Age: (3), Date of Attack: 1956-12-21

Frank Adinolfi Age: (44), Date of Attack: 1957-01-05

Henry Rosenthal , Date of Attack: 1957-01-26

Joseph Mad Dog Taborsky - Wikipedia