Ivan Mendoza

Homicide

2known / alleged victims

Similar offenders

Jack Kevorkian Homicide · USA · 1990 Jack Kevorkian (born May 26, 1928) was a controversial American pathologist. He… 130 victims

WI William Guatney Homicide · USA · 1975 William “Freight Train” Guatney loved to ride the rails and traveled the United… 15 victims

Edward Charles Allaway Homicide · USA · 1976 Edward Charles Allaway Edward Charles Allaway was found not guilty by reason of… 7 victims

CH Charles Meach Homicide · USA · 1973 Charles L. Meach III was born and lived with a history of mental illness. He ha… 5 victims

Clinton Bankston Homicide · USA · 1987 15 August 1987 — Ann Morris (63), her sister Sally Nicholson (59), and Sally’s… 5 victims

NA Nathan Nicholas Trupp Homicide · USA · 1988 Nathan Nicholas Trupp was a longtime mental patient with a long history of ment… 5 victims

Random profiles

David Lee Holland Murderer · USA · 1985 David Lee Holland was convicted for the capital murder of Helen Barnard while i… 2 victims

Bela Kiss Serial killer · Hungary · 1900 Béla Kiss (1877 – ?) was a Hungarian serial killer. He murdered at least 24 you… 24 victims

Gary Ploof Murderer · USA · 2001 Gary W. Ploof was a U.S. Air Force Staff Sergeant stationed with his wife, Heid… 1 victim

Norris Speed Murderer · USA · 1991 Norris Speed, 26, was sentenced to death in October 1993 in Fulton County for k… 1 victim

Juan Covington Serial killer · USA · 1998 Juan Covington was an American serial killer in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Cov… 3 victims

TH The Fryer brothers Mass murderers · USA · 1973 Four Sioux Falls, South Dakota teen-agers, Roger Essem, Stewart Baade, Dana Baa… 4 victims

Case Facts

Gender: male
Country: USA
Location: New York City, New York, USA
Date of birth: May 25, 1966
Age at first offence: 15
Characteristics: juvenile (15), robbery
Victim profile: Louise Kong, 64 / Lena Cronenberger, 88
Method of murder: Stabbing with a screwdriver / St abbing with a carving knife and fork
Date(s) of murder: March 20, 1981 / April 17, 1982
Years active: 1981–1982
Date of arrest: April 18, 1982
Status: Life imprisonment
Sentenced to nine years to life as a juvenile on August 17, 1983; convicted on both counts in 1983

Case Summary

Background

Ivan Mendoza was a 15-year-old youth from Manhattan.

The offence

Mendoza was charged with two counts of felony murder and two counts of intentional murder in the deaths of Lena Cronenberger and Lillian Kong.

Lena Cronenberger was 88 years old. Lillian Kong was 64 years old. Louise Kong, 64, was also identified as the person Mendoza admitted killing during a March 20, 1981, robbery.

Mendoza stabbed Lena Cronenberger to death with a carving knife and fork during a robbery at her apartment building. Mendoza killed Louise/Lillian Kong during a March 20, 1981, robbery; the killing was described as being carried out with a screwdriver.

Investigation

Mary de Bourbon of the District Attorney's office stated the charges against Mendoza.

Arrest

Mendoza was arrested Saturday, the day he was charged with killing Miss Cronenberger, 88, who resided in his building. Mendoza was being held without bail on Rikers Island.

Trial

Mary de Bourbon of the District Attorney's office said Mendoza was charged with two counts of felony murder and two of intentional murder in the deaths of Lena Cronenberger and Lillian Kong. The indictment also charged Mendoza with murdering Miss Kong, 64, on March 20, 1981.

A jury found Mendoza guilty of stabbing Lena Cronenberger, 88, to death during a robbery on April 17, 1982.

Justice Burton B. Roberts of State Supreme Court in Manhattan said Mendoza pleaded guilty to killing another elderly woman after being convicted the previous week. Mendoza admitted that he killed Louise Kong, 64, during a March 20, 1981, robbery.

Sentencing

On August 17, 1983, the judge imposed the maximum for a juvenile, nine years to life.

In August 1983 proceedings, the judge imposed the maximum for a juvenile, nine years to life after a jury found Mendoza guilty in the first murder. For the second murder charge, the prosecutor made a deal: in exchange for Mendoza’s admission of guilt, he would get five years to life, to be served concurrently, meaning no additional prison time.

Appeals

No appeal information was included in the provided material.

Outcome

Mendoza was convicted on both counts in 1983.

Other details

Mendoza was listed with addresses including:

712 West 175th Street, Manhattan
385 Fort Washington Avenue

People named in the provided material included:

Mary de Bourbon (District Attorney's office spokesman)
Justice Burton B. Roberts (State Supreme Court in Manhattan)
Michael Newton (credited with “An Encyclopedia of Modern Serial Killers - Hunting Humans” in the provided text)

Mendoza was described as a 17-year-old at the time of the sentencing-related discussion in 1983. The motive was described as “Sex,” and the stated method of killing was “Stabbed women during robberies.”

Spotted an error, or have more information about this case?