In a chilling development from behind bars, one of America's most infamous serial murderers has admitted to another decades-old killing. New Jersey police announced on Tuesday that Richard Cottingham, known as the 'Torso Killer', has confessed to the 1965 murder of 18-year-old Alys Eberhardt.
A Confession That Solves a Decades-Old Mystery
The cold case, which had haunted the suburban community of Fair Lawn for over half a century, was officially reopened in 2021. Fair Lawn Police Chief Joseph Dawicki stated that after 'countless interviews' spanning several years, investigators finally extracted a full confession from the imprisoned killer. Cottingham provided 'details that were never publicly known', definitively linking him to the crime.
Alys Eberhardt, a vibrant young nursing student, was found dead in her family's home in Fair Lawn, a suburb situated roughly 12 miles northwest of Manhattan. The case had remained unsolved until now. Chief Dawicki confirmed that Cottingham will not face additional charges for this crime, as the confession allows authorities to close the case permanently.
A Lifetime of Violence Behind Bars
The 79-year-old Cottingham has been imprisoned since his arrest in 1980 and is currently serving three life sentences at the South Woods State Prison in Bridgeton, New Jersey. His notoriety stems from a brutal modus operandi that earned him his moniker; he is known as the “Torso Killer" because he dismembered several of his victims.
While authorities in New York and New Jersey have officially linked him to about a dozen homicides, Cottingham himself has claimed responsibility for up to 100 killings dating back to the 1960s. He has admitted to numerous murders while incarcerated, including a 2022 confession to killing five women on Long Island in the late 1960s and early 1970s.
A Measure of Peace for a Grieving Family
In a statement, Chief Dawicki expressed hope that the confession would bring some solace to Eberhardt's family. "Alys was a vibrant young nursing student who was taken from our community far too soon," he 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."
Cottingham's legal representatives did not immediately respond to requests for comment on Tuesday. His previous convictions include the murders of five women—three in New York City and two in northern New Jersey. In a 2022 plea deal, he was sentenced to 25 years to life for the 1968 slaying of Diane Cusick, receiving immunity for four other killings.
