Joseph "Mad Dog" Taborsky
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Joseph "Mad Dog" Taborsky (died May 17, 1960) was a murderer who was sentenced to death after a string of brutal robberies and murders in Connecticut during the 1950s. Six people were killed during a string of armed robberies and murders that became known as the "Mad Dog Killings", a number of others were shot, beaten or pistol-whipped but survived. His execution in 1960 was the last execution in New England until that of Michael Ross in 2005. Taborsky donated his body to Yale Medical School and his ashes were later buried in the garden of Christ Church Cathedral.
Taborsky first came to Connecticut's Death Row for the 1950 murder of a West Hartford liquor store owner during a robbery. His brother, who was also his co-conspirator, testified against him at the trial in exchange for a life sentence. In prison however, he exhibited signs of mental illness and was institutionalized. Joseph Taborsky appealed his case and was freed from death row after less than three years. Before his 1960 execution, he would confess to the 1950 murder.
After his release he met another felon, Arthur "Meatball" Colombe, who would become his accomplice during the "Mad Dog Killings". In one robbery, an eight-year-old girl witnessed Taborsky beat her grandparents unconscious. When Taborsky ordered Colombe to shoot the girl, he took her into a back room, told the girl to be quiet and fired a shot into the floor. Taborsky left believing the girl was dead. Because of this incident, his low IQ, and his cooperation with the authorities Colombe was given a life sentence.
Tabosky's murder victims:
First Murder:
Louis Wolfson (killed in 1950)
"Mad Dog" murders:
Edward Kurpewski, Daniel Janowski and Samuel Cohn were killed in December 1956.
Bernard Speyer, Ruth Speyer, and John M. Rosenthal were killed in January and February 1957.
