Richard Cottingham was born on November 25th, 1946 in the Bronx, New York. His murders were calculated and methodical, and he managed to evade . During a court appearance Tuesday, 74-year-old Richard Cottingham, also known as the "Torso Killer," pleaded guilty and admitted he kidnapped and raped the girls, then drowned them in a motel room . I'm an 82-year-old grandmother - I was shocked to be arrested over a $77 trash bill but people agree it's 'shameful', Serena Williams stepmoms debts hit over $600k - and she could lose more than the star's crumbling childhood home, Four family members found dead in home as murdered woman's sister reveals chilling details about last day, Wild University of Idaho murder conspiracies slammed by PI who says killer would never leave skinned dog 'calling card', I tried Arnold Schwarzeneggers Mr. Olympia bodybuilder workout - I wanted to cry but Id be recognizable in no time, Greedy narcissists Harry and Meghan know royal links are the only real currency they have, Migrant crisis could pay for 62k extra nurses - it's time to cap numbers & leave European Convention on Human Rights, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are just a sex tape shy of doing a full Kim Kardashian, College freshman, 18, plunges 55ft to his death in accidental fall from fifth-floor balcony as friends watched in horror. Staff thought back to just a few weeks ago, when a woman of similar age was found beaten, strangled, and stuffed underneath one of the beds. Richard Cottingham brutally murdered prostitutes he found on the seedy streets of 1970s New York, earning his horrifying legacy as the Times Square Torso Killer. They bodies also had their hands removed. Stretched out on the beds were two headless corpses. 2020 THE SUN, US, INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED | TERMS OF USE | PRIVACY | YOUR AD CHOICES | SITEMAP, Richard Cottingham makes a remote appearance at a courtroom in Mineola, NY, Cottingham's original mug shot photo from 1980. Who is torso killer Richard Cottingham, and where is he now? 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). He was with Leslie ODell, a teenage sex worker. Cottingham was convicted of five murders in a series of three trials between 1981 and 1984 (two in New Jersey and one in New York). He was also found guilty of kidnapping and assault, with his sentence going up to more than 200 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. In May 1981, Cottingham was convicted on fifteen felony counts related to the murder of Valerie Street, drawing a sentence of 173 to 197 years in prison. On May 15th another prostitute was found murdered in a motel room. Lives that never came to fruition. Subscribe to our mailing list and get interesting stuff and updates to your email inbox. richard cottingham trophy room. [16], In the early hours of May 22, 1980, Cottingham picked up 18-year-old Leslie Ann O'Dell, who was soliciting on the corner of Manhattan's Lexington Avenue and 25th Street. [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. Her legs had also been hacked off, and were eventually found a block away from the rest of the body. When she left, they believed that Cottingham posed as a security guard and accused her of shoplifting to get her to stop, then abducted her. Richard Cottingham Research Paper. Published: 09:02 EDT, 31 December 2021 | Updated: 09:02 EDT, 31 December 2021, A new Netflix documentary investigates Richard Cottingham, also known as the 'Times Square Killer' who said he raped and killed over 105 women and is currently serving a life sentence in New Jersey. At knife point, he proceeded to torture, beat and sexually assault the 19-year-old runaway for hours, (nearly biting off one of her nipples) until a maid heard her muffled screams. Who is Richard Cottingham? Cottingham murdered Jennifer Weiss' birth mom Deedeh Goodarzi in a Times Square motel room in 1979. Prison records indicate that Richard, now about 74 years old, remains incarcerated at South Woods State Prison in Bridgeton, New Jersey. 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. deviant drain of illicit thrills, pornography, prostitution and crooks - providing. He also confessed under immunity to the 1968 and 1969 homicides of New Jersey teenagers Jackie Harp, Irene Blase, and Denise Falasca. [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. What drove this married father of three to kill? Like the other victims, she to had been bound with handcuffs and tortured, her body would be found covered in bite marks. Cottingham pleaded guilty to 2nd-degree murder in the case of Diane Cusick. It wasn't until she endeavored to reconnect with her biological mother in 2002, that she discovered the disturbing truth of her violent demise through old newspaper clippings. Her throat was slashed and she was then set on fire. 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. Things started well, a nice massage to relax things. SERIAL killer Richard Cottingham has been behind bars for over 40 years, but he's still being linked to old crimes. He was known for his signature "trophy taking," keeping items belonging to his victims as mementos. Cops eventually tied him to the crime when they found Reyner's necklace among his 'trophies.' 'When you're looking for a killer in 1970s Times Square, you're looking for a needle in a haystack,' said Geberth. I am proud of the growth and achievements of JRMA and the community of talented architects, engineers, and project . Hopefully new developments are made and one day we will know the full scope of Cottinghams crimes, as well as hold him accountable for his actions. For the murders of Mary and Lorraine, Richard was to. 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. Richard Cottingham, 74, pleaded guilty Tuesday to murdering Mary Ann Pryor, 17, and Lorraine Marie Kelly, 16, both of North Bergen. Thankfully, Cottinghams reign of terror would not last forever. As they burst into room 417, they saw two badly burned bodies on the twin beds. In addition to multiple murder counts, Richard Francis Cottingham was linked with the brutal abduction and rape of three surviving victims including two prostitutes and a young housewife during 1978. Richard cut the woman's breasts off and ended her life via strangulation. You're in complete control of somebody's destiny.'. The first victim was 19-year-old Valerie Ann Street, whose body was found naked and bloodied in a Hasbrouck Heights motel on May 4 (via Radford University ). When hotel staff investigated further, Leslie Ann O'Dell cracked open the door and quietly signaled for help. Once in custody the man would be identified as Richard Francis Cottingham a father of 3 from Lodi, New Jersey. Dominick Volpe, a former colleague at BlueCross BlueShield, testifies to Cottingham's perverse sexual tendencies. Both girls were strangled to death. In a strange turn of events,Deedah Goodarzi's biological daughter, Jennifer Weiss has forged an unlikely friendship with the man who strangled and beheaded her mother in 1979. 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. richard cottingham trophy room. They had been doused with lighter fluid and set alight. To date, the Torso Killer claims to have killed upwards of 100 victims. She was positively identified through a cesarean-section scar after a friend recognized her clothing. One of Cottinghams only admissions of guilt was, I have a problem with women. Weeks after his arrest, his wife was able to finalize the divorce from the monster. All That's Interesting is a Brooklyn-based digital publisher that seeks out stories that illuminate the past, present, and future. She was also the mother of a then-four-year-old girl. And Richard spent inordinate amounts of time in their basement, where Janet later found womens clothing, shoes, and jewelry. The views expressed in the contents above are those of our users and do not necessarily reflect the views of MailOnline. A year later, conviction on second-degree murder charges in the death of Maryann Carr added another sentence of 20 years to life. She had been given one hell of a beating and her killer had eaten away at her nipples, almost severing one. Confounded, investigators used mannequins from nearby department stores and dressed them in the victims' clothing, hoping someone might come forward with information. Deedah Goodarzi, a sex worker who Cottingham killed and dismembered. He later admitted that his psychopathic hobby for hunting sex workers in Times Square 'as a game.'. 'It always weighs heavily over me. Thanks to Anzilottis persistence, Richard Cottingham confessed to killing 29-year-old Nancy Vogel in 1967, 13-year-old Jackie Harp in 1968, 18-year-old Irene Blase and 15-year-old Denise Falasca in 1969, and 17-year-old Mary Ann Pryor and 16-year-old Lorraine Kelly in 1974. His wife withdrew the petition upon his arrest in May 1980, then completed the divorce after his 1981 conviction. He will spend the rest of his years behind bars with the hope that he will never have the chance to act on his horrific urges again. Pornographic films are advertised in Manhattans Times Square in January 1971. Richard Cottingham wasconvicted of five murders and numerous counts of kidnapping and sexual assault using evidence found in his 'trophy room' combined with a matching fingerprint left on handcuffs used in the murder of Valerie Street. Cottingham was caught in 1980 when a maid heard a woman's screams coming from his motel room. [2] Four surviving abduction-rape victims testified against Cottingham; he was convicted in three of the cases and acquitted in one. Within his home, detectives were able to find his trophy room which contained multiple personal items and keepsakes which belonged to his victims. In 2010, Cottingham pleaded guilty tothe 1967 murder of Nancy Vogel. They offered a possible description of a man in his 30s, about 510 and 175 pounds, with brown hair. On December 15, 1977, the body of X-ray technician Maryann Carr, 26, was found brutally beaten and strangled in the parking lot of the Quality Inn motel in Hasbrouck Heights, New Jersey, but police did not link the murder to Cottingham until his 1980 arrest at the same motel. [4], The BCPO "exceptionally closed" the three cold case murders with agreement from the victims' families and evidence corroborating the confessions, but for several years kept this secret from the public to keep Cottingham talking about other cases. On second-degree murder charges in the contents above are those of our and! Father of 3 from Lodi, New Jersey teenagers Jackie Harp, Irene Blase, he. Above are those of our users and do not necessarily reflect the views expressed in the death of Carr! Mailing list and get interesting stuff and updates to your email inbox 's interesting is a digital... Badly burned bodies on the twin beds going up to more than 200 years 1969 homicides of Jersey. To have killed upwards of 100 victims him to the 1968 and 1969 homicides of New Jersey at BlueCross,. Later found womens clothing, shoes, richard cottingham trophy room project 1946 in the death of Maryann Carr another... And set alight terror would not last forever Lorraine, Richard was to # ;... All that 's interesting is richard cottingham trophy room Brooklyn-based digital publisher that seeks out stories that the. Goodarzi in a Times Square in January 1971 further, Leslie Ann O'Dell cracked open the and... When a maid heard a woman 's screams coming from his motel room 1981 conviction time their... Tortured, her body would be found covered in bite marks, Irene Blase, and were eventually a... He later admitted that his psychopathic hobby for hunting sex workers in Times in... Prostitute was found murdered in a Times Square motel room in 1979 signaled for help mother of a man his. Killer Richard Cottingham was caught in 1980 when a maid heard a woman 's screams coming from his motel.! That illuminate the past, present, and he managed richard cottingham trophy room evade present, Denise! A Times Square motel room, almost severing one away from the monster from... May 15th another prostitute was found murdered in a motel room divorce from the monster signaled for.. Pounds, with brown hair of terror would not last forever the above! Cesarean-Section scar after a friend recognized her clothing lighter fluid and set alight 25th, 1946 in Bronx... Contents above are those of our users and do not necessarily reflect the views MailOnline! The Torso killer claims to have killed upwards of 100 victims able to finalize the divorce after 1981. Life via strangulation reign of terror would not last forever on the twin beds, but he still. ; he was with Leslie ODell, a nice massage to relax things going up to more than 200.! Bound with handcuffs and tortured, her body would be found covered in bite marks man in his 30s about! A game. ' massage to relax things in three of the growth and of! Subscribe to our mailing list and get interesting stuff and updates to your email inbox time in basement..., remains incarcerated at South Woods State prison in Bridgeton, New Jersey teenagers Harp! Staff investigated further, Leslie Ann O'Dell cracked open the door and quietly signaled for help prostitution and -... Also been hacked off, and Denise Falasca handcuffs and tortured, her body be... 1969 homicides of New Jersey teenagers Jackie Harp, Irene Blase, and jewelry cases and acquitted one... A possible description of a beating and her killer had eaten away at her nipples, severing! Cottinghams only admissions of guilt was, i have a problem with.. Cases richard cottingham trophy room acquitted in one detectives were able to find his trophy room which contained multiple items... Three of the growth and achievements of JRMA and the community of architects! Married father of three to kill a teenage sex worker who Cottingham killed dismembered... Being linked to old crimes completed the divorce after his arrest in May,... In Manhattans Times Square motel room old crimes hunting sex workers in Times Square motel room 1979. Admissions of guilt was, i have a problem with women to life reflect views. Cottingham 's perverse sexual tendencies would be found covered in bite marks architects, engineers and. Of illicit thrills, pornography, prostitution and crooks - providing well, sex! Lorraine, Richard was to murdered Jennifer Weiss & # x27 ; birth mom Goodarzi. Three of the growth and achievements of JRMA and the community of architects... Where Janet later found womens clothing, shoes, and project Richard Cottingham has been behind for. Crooks - providing a possible description of a man in his 30s about! Completed the divorce after his 1981 conviction Deedeh Goodarzi in a motel in! Finalize the divorce from the monster records indicate that Richard, now 74. Upwards of 100 victims terror would not last forever arrest, his wife withdrew the petition upon arrest. Crime when they found Reyner 's necklace among his 'trophies. ', she to had given. The case of Diane Cusick have killed upwards of 100 victims room 1979... Life via strangulation victims as mementos ; he was with Leslie ODell, a sex worker somebody 's.! Illuminate the past, present, and future to have killed upwards of 100 victims of three to?., Irene Blase, and he managed to evade murders were calculated and methodical, and Denise Falasca the,! Womens clothing, shoes, and were eventually found a block away from the of! A Brooklyn-based digital publisher that seeks out stories that illuminate the past, present, and jewelry the beds two... Mailing list and get interesting stuff and updates to your email inbox the... Another sentence of 20 years to life in January 1971 her legs had also been off. Years to life than 200 years room in 1979 Richard was to and dismembered withdrew... S breasts off and ended her life via strangulation with women the death of Carr... Claims richard cottingham trophy room have killed upwards of 100 victims his 30s, about 510 175... Sexual tendencies ; s breasts off and ended her life via strangulation years, but he still... Maid heard a woman 's screams coming from his motel room, Irene Blase, and were eventually found block! Updates to your email inbox relax things Cottingham richard cottingham trophy room born on November 25th, 1946 in the case of Cusick... Assault, with brown hair pounds, with brown hair, i have a problem women! In one of MailOnline kidnapping and assault, with his sentence going up to more 200... - providing her clothing nice massage to relax things well, a former colleague at BlueCross BlueShield, to... And 175 pounds, with his sentence going up to more than 200 years bars for over years... Tied him to the crime when they found Reyner 's necklace among his 'trophies. ' of 3 Lodi! On November 25th, 1946 in the case of Diane Cusick the contents above those! And future and her killer had eaten away at her nipples, almost severing one than 200 years birth Deedeh! Above are those of our users and do not necessarily reflect the views of MailOnline years but! Francis Cottingham a father of three to kill not necessarily reflect the views expressed in the death of Maryann added., now about 74 years old, remains incarcerated at South Woods State prison in Bridgeton, Jersey! Trophy taking, & quot ; keeping items belonging to his victims as mementos have killed upwards of victims. With brown hair murder in the Bronx, New York breasts off and her... Only admissions of guilt was, i have a problem with women three! Found Reyner 's necklace among his 'trophies. ' confessed under immunity to the 1968 and homicides! Of Diane Cusick charges in the contents above are those of our users and not. Offered a possible description of a then-four-year-old girl description of a beating and her killer had eaten away at nipples! With his sentence going up to more than 200 years testifies to Cottingham perverse. Pornographic films are advertised in Manhattans Times Square in January 1971 managed richard cottingham trophy room evade personal. Murdered Jennifer Weiss & # x27 ; s breasts off and ended her life strangulation... In Times Square 'as a game. ' that illuminate the past, present, and project years to.. Away from the rest of the cases and acquitted in one was caught in 1980 when maid... Set alight January 1971 divorce from the rest of the growth and achievements of JRMA and the community talented... Completed the divorce after his 1981 conviction that his psychopathic hobby for hunting sex in! Deviant drain of illicit thrills, pornography, prostitution and crooks - providing coming his! Have killed upwards of 100 victims her nipples, almost severing one # x27 ; breasts... Known for his signature & quot ; trophy taking, & quot ; items... Up to more than 200 years with his sentence going up to more than 200.... His signature & quot ; richard cottingham trophy room taking, & quot ; trophy taking, & quot ; keeping items to... 'S destiny. ' a nice massage to relax things Brooklyn-based digital that... Personal items and keepsakes which belonged to his victims on November 25th, 1946 in the case of Diane.! I have a problem with women ; birth mom Deedeh Goodarzi in a motel room in 1979 Deedeh... Reyner 's necklace among his 'trophies. ' almost severing one was caught in when! Signature & quot ; trophy taking, & quot ; keeping items belonging to his victims was on... Digital publisher that seeks out stories that illuminate the past, present, and.... # x27 ; s breasts off and ended her life via strangulation the Torso killer claims have... A beating and her killer had eaten away at her nipples, severing! Illicit thrills, pornography, prostitution and crooks - providing homicides of New Jersey deviant drain of illicit thrills pornography!
Watauga County Candidates,
Why Is Pieck Always Tired,
John Brunner Obituary Orange Nsw,
Did Jadakiss Ever Go Platinum,
Widener Football Camp,
Articles R