Bio

Joseph L. Taborsky was born on March 23, 1924, in Connecticut. He grew up in a troubled environment, which shaped his later life. From a young age, Taborsky got into trouble. By the time he was seven, he was stealing tricycles. As he got older, he became part of a group that committed small crimes around the neighborhood.

Taborsky had a younger brother named Albert. The two brothers often worked together in their criminal activities. They were part of a gang that targeted local businesses. This gang was known for causing trouble and fear in their community.

As a young adult, Taborsky continued his life of crime. In 1950, at the age of 26, he committed a robbery that changed everything. He and Albert attempted to rob a liquor store in West Hartford. During this robbery, Louis Wolfson, the store owner, was shot. Wolfson later died from his injuries, and this marked the beginning of serious legal trouble for Taborsky.

After the robbery-murder, Taborsky and Albert were arrested. Their mother informed the police about Albert's involvement in the crime. Albert testified against Joseph in exchange for a life sentence rather than the death penalty. Taborsky was sentenced to death in 1951 for the murder of Wolfson.

While on death row, Albert experienced mental health issues and was declared insane. This led to a significant change in Joseph's case. In 1955, the Connecticut Supreme Court overturned Joseph's conviction because Albert, the main witness, was no longer considered a reliable source. Taborsky was released after spending nearly three years in prison.

Upon his release, Taborsky claimed he wanted to turn his life around and stay out of trouble. He expressed intentions to marry, find a job, and live a normal life. However, he quickly fell back into a life of crime when he partnered with another criminal named Arthur Culombe. Their criminal activities escalated, leading to a series of violent robberies known as the "Mad Dog Killings."

Murder Story

Joseph L. Taborsky, also known as "Mad Dog," was involved in a series of violent crimes in Connecticut during the 1950s. In total, he was responsible for the murders of seven people. His first known victim was Louis Wolfson, a liquor store owner, who was killed on March 23, 1950. Taborsky shot Wolfson in the face during a robbery. He was arrested and sentenced to death for this crime, but his conviction was overturned in 1955 due to the insanity of his brother, who had testified against him.

After his release, Taborsky formed a partnership with Arthur "Meatball" Culombe. The duo embarked on a killing spree that resulted in the "Mad Dog Killings." On December 15, 1956, they shot and killed Edward Kurpewski, a gas station owner, and Daniel Janowski, a customer. Both were shot in the back of the head. Days later, on December 26, Samuel Cohn, a liquor store owner, was murdered in a similar manner.

The situation escalated in early January 1957. On January 5, Taborsky and Culombe killed Bernard and Ruth Speyer during a robbery at a shoe store, both shot in the head. The last murder attributed to Taborsky's spree was John Rosenthal, who was shot in the chest on January 26, 1957.

Taborsky was arrested in February 1957, after police linked him to the crime scene through his shoe size. Culombe confessed to surviving murders and claimed that Taborsky was the one who committed them. Eventually, Taborsky admitted to all the killings and even confessed to the murder of Wolfson.

In June 1957, both were sentenced to death, but the state decided not to grant Taborsky clemency. His execution took place on May 17, 1960, in the electric chair, making him the last person executed in Connecticut until 2005. His actions and the resulting crimes left a significant mark on the state's history of violence and law enforcement.