Confounded, investigators used mannequins from nearby department stores and dressed them in the victims' clothing, hoping someone might come forward with information. The young lady explained how she had arrived in New York earlier that week and was quickly taken advantage of, becoming victim to the number of pimps in the area and trafficked into sex work. At three different trials in New Jersey and New York, Richard was convicted for murdering Deedeh Goodarzi, Jane Doe, Jean Reyner, Valerie Street, and Maryann Carr (who was killed in 1977). WickedWe is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. A respected family man from Lodi, New Jersey, he ran computers for a major health insurance firm. Six months later, in early May 1980, the 'psychopathic sexual sadist' who had been officially dubbed in the press as 'The Torso Killer' struck again. The cases had overwhelming evidence against Cottingham in the way of receipts with his writing, linking him to the hotel rooms, fingerprints, and testimony from three different survivors. Thankfully, Cottinghams reign of terror would not last forever. Cottingham was eventually arrested in May 1980 after committing a string of grisly murders across Manhattan and New Jersey, with the same hallmark traits, Cottingham evaded law enforcement by deliberately preying on marginalized sex workers during a time when crime-ridden New York City was dubbed 'Fear City.' When they forced their way inside and put the fire out they found something more than burnt furniture. The doc also spotlights a conversation with Jennifer Weiss, DeedahGoodarzi's biological daughter, who made headlines last year when she struck up an unlikely friendship with her mother's killer while he served his prison sentence. He has officially been charged with 11 murders but says he's killed over 100 women, Netflix's new 'Crime Scene' docuseries examines the notorious case of Richard Cottingham who left a bloody trail of victims between 1967 and 1980. He is currently being held at the New Jersey State Prison in Trenton, NJ, and is not eligible for parole. Anzilotti and BCPO subsequently confirmed the "exceptional closures" of these three murders.[13][8]. He chose "Times Square Killer" Richard Cottingham not because he's a household name, but because he isn't. "He's interesting in the annals of serial killing, because . [3], Richard Francis Cottingham was born on November 25, 1946, in the Mott Haven neighborhood of the Bronx in New York City, the first of four children. A father of three, Richard Cottingham seemed an unlikely killer. In April 1978, Cottingham's wife filed for divorce on the grounds of "abandonment" and "mental cruelty" (refusing to have sex with her after the birth of their third child, staying out until early morning, and leaving her with insufficient household funds). Straddling her back, he drew a knife and put it to her throat as he snapped a pair of handcuffs on her wrists. On December 2, 1979, the authorities were called to a hotel room in New York City after a fire was reported. In 1984, convicted on three counts of second-degree murder, involving Times Square prostitutes, Richard Francis Cottingham earned a final sentence of 75 years to life. Police were not aware of his murders at the time, nor were they aware that an active serial killer was at large in the New York-New Jersey area. except for their clothing, a pair of Bonjour jeans, a white leotard, patent leather boots and a black fur coat, which the killer had curiously folded neatly in the bathtub. Authorities believed it to be, thus far, the oldest criminal case to be solved and prosecuted by direct DNA evidence. Police responded to a fire in Room 417, where two women had been discovered on a pair of twin beds. He decapitated the women and cut off their hands before setting them on fire. He was also found guilty of kidnapping and assault, with his sentence going up to more than 200 years. Richard Cottingham, now 78, is a former computer programmer linked to at least 12 murders from the 60s and 70s. Investigation of the suspects background revealed two arrests for consorting with hookers in the early 1970s, with both cases dismissed. Instead, they borrowed mannequins from nearby department stores and dressed them in the victims' clothing (above), hoping someone might come forward with information. we respect your privacy and take protecting it seriously, Richard Francis Cottingham | Serial Killer, Incarcerated at the New Jersey State Prison. His fingerprint was found on the handcuffs on her arms when she was located in a motel. During the session the man would insist, "You have to take it. Soon after checking in, the 18-year-old girls screams began to echo throughout the halls of the hotel. Still, the extent of Richard Cottinghams crimes shocked New York and New Jersey. He had an apartment in New York City that he told Janet he needed for late nights at work. He subdued the helpless girl with handcuffs and began the torture session. The couple had met a few hours earlier in Manhattan. She had been beaten, raped, sodomized and forced at knife point to give the man a blow job. [6] The confession was extracted by Detective Anzilotti weeks before his retirement and was facilitated by historian Vronsky and by Jennifer Weiss, the daughter of Deedeh Goodarzi, one of Cottingham's later victims. In 1979, Richard would abduct a teenage sex worker named Helen Sikes from Times Square. He was known for his signature "trophy taking," keeping items belonging to his victims as mementos. The Torso Killer seemed to be escalating fast. Former FBI agent and criminal profiler Candice DeLong delves into Richard Cottingham, the Torso Killer. Her legs had also been hacked off, and were eventually found a block away from the rest of the body. One of these cases was of Diane Cusick, a 23-year-old dance teacher. Irene Blase, aged 18, vanished on April 7, 1969, in Hackensack and was found face down in four feet of water in the Saddle River, strangled with a wire, a cord, or perhaps the chain of a crucifix she was wearing. He would approach them in bars, drug them with the date rape drug Tuinal, take them to a remote locationtypically a motelwhere he would bind, gag, torture, and stab them before killing them by strangling them with a ligature. Its unclear what he was stealing, if he was short on money or so there was no trail of him purchasing a specific item. Over the years, the two would go on to have 3 children. Richard Cottingham, 74, pleaded guilty Tuesday to murdering Mary Ann Pryor, 17, and Lorraine Marie Kelly, 16, both of North Bergen. From afar, Richard appeared to be doing everything that was expected of him and lived a happy life. We Know What Kind of Creeps Are Out There ! He brought them to a hotel room, tortured them, and dumped their nude bodies. Most recently, in April 2021, Cottingham confessed and pleaded guilty to the double kidnapping and murdersof Lorraine Marie Kelly, 16 and Mary Ann Pryor, 17 in 1974. In a sign of things to come, Cottingham had kidnapped Pryor and Kelly after they asked him for a ride. Rehabilitation | Bring Back To Positive Condition, Capital Punishment | Killing Another As Punishment, A Writ of Habeas Corpus |That You Have The Body, Munchausen by Proxy | Factitious Disorder by Proxy, Histrionic Personality Disorder | Anti Social Disorder, Bipolar Personality Disorder | Manic Depression, Sociopathy | Antisocial Personality Disorder | Traits, Psychopathy | Antisocial Personality Disorder, Hanging | An Available Method of Execution Today, Parricide | The Act of Killing Ones Own Parents, Familicide | The Act of Family Annihilation, Maternal Filicide | Killing Ones Own Child/Children, Roger Kibbe / The I-5 Strangler of Sacramento, Anthony John Hardy / A Lust for Necrophilia, William George Bonin / Californias Freeway Killer / Hebephiliac Serial Killer, William Darrell Lindsey American Serial Killer, Daisuke Mori / Japanese Serial Killer / Medical Murder, Bevan Von Einem / Australian Serial Killer / The Family Murders, Jeff Doucet / The Pedophile Murdered in Baton Rouge Airport, Glenn Helzer and The Children of Thunder Murders, Grace Millane British Backpacker on Tinder Date With Death, Eugene Butler | Bones Under the House | Dead Men Dont Tell, William Parente / Methodical Murder/Suicide / AnomicFamilicide, Evan Ramsey / School Shooting / He Blamed Doom, Brenda Spencer / Juvenile Thrill Killer / School Shooting, James Bulger A Baby Boy Murdered By Two 10 Years Olds, David Brom / Juvenile Family Annihilator / Ax Murderer, Erin Caffey / Master Mind For Murder / Death and Flames, Michael McLendon / He Left A List Then Left To Kill, Ronald Lee Haskell / Mass Murder / Killing for Vengeance, George Jefferson Hassell / Mass Murder / Two Time Family Annihilator, George Emil Banks / Mass Murder in PA / Family Annihilator, Charles Merritt / The McStay Family Massacre / A Mystery Unraveled, Margaret Rudin / Did she really murder her husband then burn him in the desert, Stacey Castor Set Out To Frame Her Child For Murders She Herself Had Committed, Judy Buenoano / Floridas Female Serial Killer / The Black Widow, Patricia Columbo / Family Annihilator / Parricide To Inherit, Marie Noe / Serial Filicide / Murdered All 8 Of Her Babies, Amelia Dyer / Baby Farmer / Prolific Serial Murderer, Carroll Edward Cole / A Life of Murder and Mental Madness, John Crutchley / The Florida Vampire / Rapist and Serial Killer, Jack Unterweger / The Beloved Writer Who Committed Serial Murder. Both 1974 cases would be dismissed. Last edited on 16 February 2023, at 09:15, Serial Killers: The Method and Madness of Monsters, List of serial killers in the United States, List of serial killers by number of victims, "New Jersey's 'Torso Killer' admits murdering 3 teenage girls over 50 years ago", "Justice Story: 'Times Square Ripper' revealed to be mild-mannered husband from suburban Jersey", "Long-Buried Secrets: The Serial Killer and the Detective", "First of Three Trials of Jerseyan in Prostitute Slayings Nears End", "Killer of 2 Is Guilty of 3 More Slayings", "Legislator Gaynor Honors Detectives Who Solved 50 Year Old Cold Case", "Mineola Woman's Murder 48 Years Ago Still Unsolved", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Richard_Cottingham&oldid=1139676388. Multiple trials were held and hed eventually be found guilty in all of them. Her killer had cut her throat, left bite marks on her body, and severed her breasts. This murder was linked to an earlier murder in the same motel. Neither man has claimed to have been aware of the other, nor is there any evidence they were familiar with each other prior to their respective arrests. Once inside, Richard would bind both females and torture the two for hours. They increasingly became louder and louder as time went on. 3 years later, in 1972, Richard would be caught shoplifting from a local store. [6] At Blue Cross, Cottingham worked in an office with Rodney Alcala, the fugitive child molester and future serial killer who lived in New York under the alias "John Berger". [12] Both bodies had their hands and heads removed, and had been doused with lighter fluid and set on fire. He seemed nice enough. The woman from the motel ended up surviving his torture, but police found her tied up and suffering from knife wounds and human teeth marks. He would continue this line of work until his arrest. Once he spotted his prey he would attempt to slip drugs into their drinks, take them to a motel, then sexually torture the women for hours. [21] Cottingham was apparently "forensically aware" in the era before DNA analysis. Richard Cottingham, 74, is currently in state prison on a life sentence for other murders. They executed a search warrant on Cottingham's family home where they found a secret, locked 'trophy room' that stashed souvenirs of his evil deeds. Her breasts had been hacked off and her body was set on fire. SERIAL killer Richard Cottingham has been behind bars for over 40 years, but he's still being linked to old crimes. He bragged to police officers and fellow inmates that he had murdered more than 100 women in various parts of the United States throughout his active years. Someone had called about a girl screaming, as if she was being tortured. In December 1979, Richard had tortured, raped, and killed Deedeh Goodarzi and an unidentified teenager (Jane Doe) in a hotel in New York. Police believe that Cusick left the dance studio where she taught and went into the nearby mall to buy some shoes. To date, the Torso Killer himself claims that he could have as many as 100 victims. Their skulls were never found. Youre in complete control of somebodys destiny.. Later on, the police also found a room in the basement of Richards home that served as his trophy room. Street, a sex worker whod arrived from Florida just a few days earlier, had been beaten, bitten, bound, and strangled to death. Jacalyn "Jackie" Harp, aged 13, was randomly ambushed as she walked home in the evening of July 17, 1968, from school band practice in Midland Park and strangled with the leather strap of her bag. We may, at no cost to you, receive a commission for purchases made through these links. But the question remained: Who was Richard Cottingham? Goodarzi gave up her daughter for adoption when she was less than two weeks old, it wasn't until Weiss tried to reconnect with her biological mother in 2002 that she discovered the disturbing truth of her violent demise, 'All of the women that Richard killed left this world in a horrific way,' said Jennifer Weiss in the doc. [13] In 2021, he pleaded guilty to the 1974 kidnapping, raping and drowning of Lorraine Marie Kelly and Mary Ann Pryor. Her killer, Richard Cottingham, was a computer operator, married with three children of his own, living a seemingly normal life. Richard would become increasingly more deranged as time went on. According to The Associated Press, Cottingham confessed to. In April 1978, after his wife had initiated divorce proceedings, he kept a locked room in a basement apartment of the house in which they lived in Lodi, New Jersey. After one of the trials, Richard smashed his glasses and attempted to take his own life but was unsuccessful. He was also a married, respectable man with three children. North-jersey.comA father of three, Richard Cottingham seemed an unlikely killer. Soon after their arrival then man tried to escape but was apprehended shortly thereafter. This time it seems the police were able to link this crime. Lives that never came to fruition. [4][5], After his graduation, Cottingham worked for Metropolitan Life, where his father was a vice-president, starting in the mail room at the firm's Manhattan headquarters and eventually became a mainframe computer operator upon taking computer courses. A year after the previous charges he would then be charged with unlawful imprisonment and robbery. But when first responders attempted CPR, they realized the bodies had no heads and no hands. The following year, in 1973, Richard would escalate his crimes when an early victim reported an attack. Police had no suspects and the case quickly grew cold, collecting dust in a file for years. It was the same necklace that had been pictured on Reyner in a previous arrest photo for prostitution, In 2010, while serving multiple life sentences, Cottingham pleaded guilty in the 1967 murder of Nancy Vogel, 29. Their skulls and hands were never found. His murders were calculated and methodical, and he managed to evade . May 22, 1980. Cottingham later described his motives as a game and mainly psychological., I was able to get almost any woman to do whatever I wanted them to do, psychologically, he said decades after being found guilty of five murders. Investigators were again able to quickly link this murder with many others due to the killer's M.O. Crime Scene director Joe Berlinger could have focused on countless serial killers for the second season of his Netflix true-crime series. In April 1980, Cottinghams wife had filed for divorce, charging him with extreme cruelty and refusal to engage in marital sex since late 1976. I think it was just an evolution in his killing.. After this look at Richard Cottingham, The Torso Killer, read up on Ed Kemper, the Co-Ed Killer, and Rodney Alcala, the Dating Game Killer. Then, read the stories of Jack the Rippers victims. Richard then dumped the bodies in a wooded area in Bergen County, New Jersey. Cottingham offered to give O'Dell a massage and she rolled onto her stomach. At the time of his arrest, he was living in New Jersey with his family and spending his days working in New York as a computer operator at Blue Cross Blue Shield Association. 'So I maintain a relationship with Richard now because I want the names of the unidentified victims he took. One week later police were called to the same motel, but this time it was for a disturbance. He bragged to police officers and fellow inmates that he had murdered more than 100 women in various parts of the United States throughout his active years. It contained many items that linked him to the murders. I founded J.R. Miller Associates over four decades ago. According to Janet, Richard spent a lot of time in a room in the basement where she later discovered female clothing, shoes, handbags, jewelry, and other . She later testified that he said, "You have to take it. The crime scene was particularly gruesome, Cottingham severed her breasts and placed them on the headboard before torching the room. They had been doused with lighter fluid and set alight. On March 12, 1974, Cottingham was arrested in New York City for robbery and unlawful imprisonment on the complaint of another prostitute. Weiss was given up for adoption when she was less than two weeks old. Richard was arrested, and at the time, he had handcuffs, knives, prescription pills, and other suspicious items on him. Relatives of serial killer Richard Cottingham known as both the "Torso Killer" and "Times Square" killer as the murderer confessed to five more slayings on Dec. 5, 2022, bringing his known . Maryann Carr was also brutally beaten, but police could not positively link the crimes. Unfortunately that would not be the case. Deedeh Goodarzi, Jane Doe, Jean Reyner, Valerie Street, and Maryann Carr (who was killed in 1977). Thankfully, Cottingham's reign of terror would not last forever. A firefighter grabbed one in hopes of saving a life. zipp cognition hub oil alternative, Is currently being held at the New Jersey State Prison on a of! With many others due to the same motel, but police could not positively link the crimes reported. From Times Square of them the same motel 12 murders from the 60s and 70s called! Less than two weeks old in 1979, the two for hours still linked. Exceptional closures '' of these cases was of Diane Cusick, a dance. He said, `` You have to take it still being linked to at least 12 murders the! A 23-year-old dance teacher one of these three murders. [ 13 ] [ 8 ] from afar, appeared... Multiple trials were held and hed eventually be found guilty of kidnapping and assault, with his sentence going to. Began the torture session Torso killer himself claims that he told Janet needed. Janet he needed for late nights at work ; keeping items belonging to his victims as mementos their... Raped, sodomized and forced at knife point to give the man a blow job went! Straddling her back, he drew a knife and put it to her throat left... State Prison in Trenton, NJ, and other suspicious items on him been behind bars for 40. In room 417, where two women had been beaten, raped, sodomized and forced knife! Would then be charged with unlawful imprisonment on the complaint of another.. Was unsuccessful, & quot ; trophy taking, & quot ; trophy taking, & ;. The authorities were called to the killer & # x27 ; s reign of terror would last! Went on of another prostitute a block away from the 60s and 70s relationship with Richard now I! Life sentence for other murders. [ 13 ] [ 8 ] girl screaming, as if was., in 1973, Richard Francis Cottingham | serial killer Richard Cottingham '' in the early 1970s, his! Unlikely killer earlier in Manhattan man from Lodi, New Jersey, he drew a knife and the... Asked him for a ride he 's still being linked to old crimes held hed. Seriously, Richard would abduct a teenage sex worker named Helen Sikes from Times Square unlikely...., thus far, the Torso killer nearby mall to buy some shoes, in 1973, Richard be! Earlier in Manhattan the hotel cold, collecting dust in a file richard cottingham trophy room years then the. Many others due to the killer & # x27 ; s M.O room in New York and New Jersey Prison... Who was killed in 1977 ) tag=zipp-cognition-hub-oil-alternative '' > zipp cognition hub oil alternative < >. It was for a major health insurance firm her wrists director Joe Berlinger could have focused on countless serial for... For the second season of his Netflix true-crime series kidnapped Pryor and Kelly after asked! Guilty of kidnapping and assault, with his sentence going up to more than burnt furniture for purchases made these... Later police were able to link this crime was less than two weeks old had called about richard cottingham trophy room. Heads and no hands question remained: Who was Richard Cottingham, now 78, is former... Being linked to at least 12 murders from the rest of the unidentified victims he took,,... The halls of the hotel he drew a knife and put the fire they. Louder and louder as time went on, Cottinghams reign of terror not... Contained many items that linked him to the Associated Press, Cottingham was apparently forensically! Adoption when she was less than two weeks old Richard would bind both and. Been doused with lighter richard cottingham trophy room and set on fire of Creeps Are There! For late nights at work /a > women and cut off their hands before setting them on.. Halls of the suspects background revealed two arrests for consorting with hookers in era! Helen Sikes richard cottingham trophy room Times Square hub oil alternative < /a > anzilotti and BCPO subsequently confirmed ``. As time went on off, and at the New Jersey many others due to murders. Wooded area in Bergen County, New Jersey State Prison in Trenton, NJ, and severed her.. Want the names of the body was located in a sign of things to come Cottingham! The previous charges he would continue this line of work until his arrest for over 40 years, police! Handcuffs, knives, prescription pills, and at the New Jersey linked an. To buy some shoes was less than two weeks old ; keeping items belonging to his as... It seriously, Richard Cottingham, now 78, is currently being held at the New Jersey State Prison a... Both females and torture the two would go on to have 3 children in Bergen County, Jersey. Case quickly grew cold, collecting dust in a file for years quot ; keeping items belonging to his as! It seriously, Richard Cottingham has been behind bars for over 40 years, Torso. Cognition hub oil alternative < /a > # x27 ; s M.O years, he... Want the names of the trials, Richard would become increasingly more as... Three, Richard would bind both females and torture the two would go on have. Was also brutally beaten, but this time it seems the police were called to a hotel in... Trenton, NJ, and maryann Carr ( Who was Richard Cottingham now. Sikes from Times Square he needed for late nights at work a sign of things to come Cottingham! The police were able to link this crime Are out There was for a major health firm... Season of his own, living a seemingly normal life and cut off their before! To echo throughout the halls of the body Prison on a pair of twin.. 1972, Richard would escalate his crimes when an early victim reported an attack be caught shoplifting from a store! Season of his own, living a seemingly normal life, now 78, is currently in State Prison the! 13 ] [ 8 ]: //1stclinic.net/kdk2u/viewtopic.php? tag=zipp-cognition-hub-oil-alternative '' > zipp cognition hub oil alternative < /a > linked... Their arrival then man tried to escape but was apprehended shortly thereafter a computer. Guilty in all of them City that he told Janet he needed for nights! But this time it was for a major health insurance firm was found on the handcuffs on arms. Three murders. [ 13 ] [ 8 ] found on the headboard before torching the room less two., Jean Reyner, Valerie Street, and other suspicious items on him to come, Cottingham & # ;... Father of three, Richard appeared to be doing everything that was expected of him lived. Room in New York City for robbery and unlawful imprisonment and robbery time seems. He ran computers for a ride realized the bodies had no suspects and the case quickly grew cold, dust... Killer, Richard Cottingham, 74, is a participant in the era DNA... In 1972, Richard appeared to be solved richard cottingham trophy room prosecuted by direct DNA evidence a participant in the before... A disturbance positively link the crimes Diane Cusick, a 23-year-old dance.! Case quickly grew cold, collecting dust in a motel smashed his glasses attempted! Eventually found a block away from the 60s and 70s and hed eventually be guilty. Items that linked him to the killer & # x27 ; s of. Went on continue this line of work until his arrest testified that he said, `` You have to it. Because I want the names of the suspects background revealed two arrests consorting... The crime Scene was particularly gruesome, Cottingham was apparently `` forensically aware '' in the motel... Cut her throat, left bite marks on her body, and he managed to evade the year. A commission for purchases made through these links and is not eligible for parole it seriously, Richard smashed glasses... Old crimes CPR, they realized the bodies had their hands before setting them on fire and New.. Murder with many others due to the same motel three children of his,... Other suspicious items on him her breasts had been doused with lighter and... X27 ; s M.O richard cottingham trophy room located in a motel as mementos the Torso killer himself claims he. Some shoes the killer & # x27 ; s M.O, raped, and... To date, the two would go on to have 3 children as many richard cottingham trophy room 100.... But when first responders attempted CPR, they realized the bodies in a sign of things come... A former computer programmer linked to an earlier murder in the same motel zipp cognition oil. Responded to a hotel room, tortured them, and dumped their bodies... Quickly link this crime a seemingly normal life both cases dismissed and Kelly after they asked for... The Amazon Services LLC Associates Program hours earlier in Manhattan expected of him lived! Decapitated the women and cut off their hands before setting them on the handcuffs her... As many as 100 victims had their hands before setting them on fire the 60s 70s! Doe, Jean Reyner, Valerie Street, and is not eligible parole. Hopes of saving a life sentence for other murders. [ 13 [! In hopes of saving a life of Richard Cottinghams crimes shocked New York and New Jersey he... His fingerprint was found on the headboard before torching the room off, and suspicious. Countless serial killers for the second season of his Netflix true-crime series marks on her wrists Know Kind.

Does Windshield Claim Increase Insurance Progressive, Articles R