Richard Cottingham, the “Torso Killer,” confessed to the 1965 murder of Alys Eberhardt in Fair Lawn, New Jersey, near New York City, after a reopened cold case investigation
Richard Cottingham Confesses to 1965 Murder
Richard Cottingham, known as the ‘Torso Killer,’ has confessed to another murder, according to New Jersey police. He admitted to killing Alys Eberhardt in 1965. Eberhardt was 18 when she was found dead in her family’s home in Fair Lawn, a suburb 12 miles northwest of Manhattan.
The cold case was reopened in 2021. After many interviews over several years, Cottingham provided a full confession. The police department stated that he included details that were never publicly known.
Fair Lawn Police Chief Joseph Dawicki confirmed that Cottingham will not face additional charges, as the case is now closed.
The 79-year-old has been in prison since his arrest in 1980. He is serving three life sentences at South Woods State Prison in Bridgeton, New Jersey.
“Alys was a vibrant young nursing student who was taken from our community far too soon,” Dawicki said. “While we can never bring her back, I am hopeful that her family can find some peace knowing the person responsible has confessed and can no longer harm anyone else.”
Lawyers in New York and New Jersey who have represented Cottingham did not respond to messages seeking comment on Tuesday.
Cottingham has claimed responsibility for up to 100 homicides since the 1960s. However, authorities in New York and New Jersey have officially linked him to about a dozen cases.
In 2022, he admitted to killing five women in the New York City suburbs of Long Island during the late 1960s and early 1970s.
He was sentenced to 25 years to life for the 1968 murder of 23-year-old Diane Cusick. He received immunity from prosecution for four other killings as part of a plea deal.
Cottingham was previously convicted of killing five other women—three in New York City and two in northern New Jersey. He has also admitted to killing several others while in prison.
He is called the “Torso Killer” because he dismembered some of his victims.
Summary of Richard Cottingham’s Confession
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Name | Richard Cottingham |
| Nickname | Torso Killer |
| Victim | Alys Eberhardt |
| Victim’s Age | 18 |
| Year of Murder | 1965 |
| Location | Fair Lawn, NJ |
| Current Age | 79 |
| Prison | South Woods State Prison |
| Sentences | Three life sentences |
