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By Marla Eggar

Get ready for the main event! From the Old School era, born May 10, 1906, straight out of Brooklyn, New York, with the appropriate alias of “Kid Twist”. The most feared killer from Murder Inc, with a death toll of up to 1000, I give you the man himself Abe Reles! From the New School genre, born September 7, 1942, also from Brooklyn, New York, so terrifying no alias was necessary. The leader of the infamous DeMeo Crew, with the death toll estimated around 200. The man, the myth, the legend Roy DeMeo! Coming out swinging, holding no punches is Abe Reles. He may have been small in stature but don’t let that fool you. This kid was all about ruthless acts of violence. The ice pick could be seen as an irrelevant object on its own. But in the hands of a disturbed murderer, the ice pick became very significant. Particularly when Reles would ram it through his victim’s ear right into the brain. True story.

Then you have Roy DeMeo standing tall and not known to take a backward step. He preferred magic acts that made his victims disappear. Harry Houdini had nothing on him! As the story goes, his victims would be lured to the Gemini Lounge then unbeknownst to them – (the sneak attack) they were shot in the back of the head, stabbed through the heart and hung upside down. Then the bodies were cut up and disposed of. I shit you not!

Now we enter Round 2. Both of these men were very hands-on in their profession. One of Abe Reles notable hits was against his former bosses, the Shapiro brothers. They left him to do a two-year bid in upstate New York. Years later the brothers ambushed Reles, Goldstein and Defeo all three business partners managed to escape. Unfortunately, Meyer Shapiro wasn’t done quite yet. He abducted Reles’ girlfriend.

Dragged her to an open field, beat and raped her. No need to tell you how that ended for the Shapiro brothers. Somebody’s mama was buying a black dress and it wasn’t Reles. Then you have Roy DeMeo not to be outdone. His most notable hit (that I can remember) would be Mickey Spillane, an Irish mobster. Spillane made the mistake of roughing up James Coonan’s father as a teenager. DeMeo killed Spillane either as a favor or a way to seal an alliance between him and the Gambino’s, whichever story you like best. Third and final round! Both of these men met a gruesome end.

Reles out of fear of being convicted and executed became a government informant. November 12, 1941, Abe Reles either fell, jumped or was pushed to his death from a window at the Half-Moon Hotel on Coney Island. He may have even tried to escape. Under the circumstances, he became known as the “Canary that could sing but not Fly”. In the end, Roy DeMeo demise was just as brutal depending on who tells the story. DeMeo was killed by Joseph Testa, according to Anthony Casso.

He was found in the trunk of a car, in a cradle position, covering his face. One might assume that his death was poetic justice, those who live by the sword die by the sword. After 3 rounds you’ve been given their stats, killing style, notable hits and their inevitable demise. Based on these facts which killer would you have feared during a take down?

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