richard cottingham trophy room

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. 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? This murder was later linked to the 1977 murder of Maryann Carr, who was left in the same motel's parking lot. We dont know if hes the one who rented the room, Deputy Chief Richard Nicastro said at the time. Over there, he began to torture and rape her repeatedly. May 22, 1980. When they forced their way inside and put the fire out they found something more than burnt furniture. The body of 25-year-old Jean Reyner, a single mother who was turning tricks to finance a child custody battle, was found violently murdered on May 15, 1980 in a midtown hotel. Hes younger when all this is going on in Bergen County, Anzilotti explained. Cops eventually tied him to the crime when they found Reyner's necklace among his 'trophies.' He would continue this line of work until his arrest. Today, Times Square is a glittering tourist attraction. As Cottingham was fleeing the scene of the torso murders, he briefly encountered the 23-year-old Peter Vronsky, who was attempting to check into the Travel Inn while in New York on a film production assignment. He also cut off her breasts and placed them on the headboard in the room. She was in hysterics, crapping on about what this guy had put her through. Their skulls were never found. deviant drain of illicit thrills, pornography, prostitution and crooks - providing. To date, the Torso Killer himself claims that he could have as many as 100 victims. During the session the man would insist, "You have to take it. He subdued the helpless girl with handcuffs and began the torture session. Richards wife filed for divorce in 1979, after years of affairs, but it was never finalized. She later testified that he said, "You have to take it. richard cottingham trophy room. . He would grow up in a typical catholic household. [7] In a 2009 interview, Cottingham admitted to the murders and claimed that he severed the heads and hands of the victims to prevent their identification, as he was acquainted with Goodarzi and had been seen with her in a bar the night before.[2]. One more detail about this case was that the severed body parts of the two women were never located and are still a mystery as to what Richard did with them. 2023 Cinemaholic Inc. All rights reserved. Richard Cottingham was born on November 25th, 1946 in the Bronx, New York. Police arrested 33-year-old Richard Cottingham at the scene. His additional confession to a 1974 murder was discounted by Rockland County police. Authorities believed it to be, thus far, the oldest criminal case to be solved and prosecuted by direct DNA evidence. Like before, the murderous butcher had set the room on fire, which immediately tipped off authorities that they had a serial killer on their hands. But just a week later, police were able to apprehend him back at the Quality Inn when his would-be victim Leslie Ann ODell screamed for help. She would die of asphyxiation and once finished, Richard stuffed the girl under the bed. Straddling her back, he drew a knife and put it to her throat as he snapped a pair of handcuffs on her wrists. He would be charged with the murders of most of his victims in New Jersey and in New York City. Richard was arrested at a motel in Hasbrouck Heights, New Jersey, in May 1980. Cottingham had been in the process of torturing his latest victim, 19-year-old Leslie Ann O'Dell, who survived the attack and testified against him during his trial. 595 Words3 Pages. I thought he could be responsible for some, Anzilotti said, explaining that while the methods and victims were different, the timing matched. He had an apartment in New York City that he told Janet he needed for late nights at work. They were raped and drowned in the bathtub of a New Jersey motel, In 2020, Cottingham admitted to murdering 13-year-old Jackie Harp (left) in 1968, and 15-year-old Denise Falasca (right) in 1969. The following year, in 1973, Richard would escalate his crimes when an early victim reported an attack. Although Cottingham has formally admitted to eighteen killings and has claimed to have killed as many as 100, he is known to have only murdered seventeen girls between 1967 and 1980 and attempted to kill a further four. He said that uncountable times.. The teenagers were last seen on Aug. 9, 1974, in North Bergen. Once again, the victim did not appear in further proceedings and the case was dismissed.[6]. Former FBI agent and criminal profiler Candice DeLong delves into Richard Cottingham, the Torso Killer. The other, a 16-year-old, remains a Jane Doe to this day. On December 2, 1979, fireman in New York responded to an alarm at a shitty little hotel near Times Square. 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 . December of 1979, would be Richards most vicious attack to date. One of the unsolved cases was solved when he admitted guilt in the 1967 murder of Nancy Vogel, in 2010. She was positively identified through a cesarean-section scar after a friend recognized her clothing. After one of the trials, Richard smashed his glasses and attempted to take his own life but was unsuccessful. According to The Associated Press, Cottingham confessed to. They increasingly became louder and louder as time went on. Cottingham is currently in state prison on a . The first killing was that of Valerie Ann Street. 24/7 Availability. Within his home, detectives were able to find his trophy room which contained multiple personal items and keepsakes which belonged to his victims. Richard Cottingham (1977-1980) was a 31-year old computer operator and valued employee of Blue Cross-Blue Shield in downtown New York City. Her arms were still handcuffed behind her back. In the early morning hours, a couple decided to check in to a Quality Inn Hotel. Richard also had a self-described obsession with bondage and had had numerous extramarital affairs. The killer had registered at the hotel under a fake name with a fake address Carl Wilson of Merlin, N.J. and hotel employees had hardly interacted with him. She would later be found in Queens horribly mutilated. North-jersey.comA father of three, Richard Cottingham seemed an unlikely killer. In December 2019, forensic historian and author Peter Vronsky, on the eve of publishing the revelation in his second edition of Serial Killers: The Method and Madness of Monsters, publicized the confessions with the BCPO's cooperation, in a community meeting in Midland Park. She had recently been arrested in Miami for prostitution and was last seen getting picked up by a John in New York City on May 5, 1980. WickedWe is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. His wife withdrew the petition upon his arrest in May 1980, then completed the divorce after his 1981 conviction. In his possession police found a murder kit which consisted of handcuffs, leather gags, slave collars, knives, pistols, and pills. Richard would soon meet his future wife, and the two were married on May 3rd, 1970. I was preparing to give mouth-to-mouth resuscitation, the firefighter said, when I suddenly noticed there was no head.. The following is a chronological summary of Cottingham's seventeen identified murder victims and four identified survivors: Cottingham's case has been discussed in several books and documentaries on serial killers. Even before he confessed to additional killings after his conviction, Cottingham was given life in prison with a sentence of more than 300 years. Keep up to date with our latest articles, creepy news, info and products and receive promo material for great deals on all your wicked products. Surviving that attempt and two others, he was held under $250,000 bond while detectives built their overwhelming case against him. It contained many items that linked him to the murders. richard cottingham trophy room. Officers began linking the then 33-year-old to more unsolved murders and violent attacks across New York State and New Jersey. Graduating, landing a solid job, marriage and having multiple children. This would prove difficult for Richard, as it was reported that he was a loner with very few, if any, friends. She was also the mother of a then-four-year-old girl. Richard was arrested, and at the time, he had handcuffs, knives, prescription pills, and other suspicious items on him. Richard was born in Bronx, New York, in November 1946. NYPD realized they had a serial killer on their hands in December 1979, after they uncovered the charred, mutilated remains of two women at the Travel Inn Motor Hotel in Times Square. "We had a very complicated car vs pole situation and tow guys came to Tustin within 30 minutes on a Sunday evening and did an incredible job assisting us with removing the car off of" more. A married mother of 2, Nancy Vogel was found dumped in her car. 'It always weighs heavily over me. 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. 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. Crime Scene: The Times Square Killer will stream on Netflix starting Dec. 29. Deedeh Goodarzi and another unknown female had joined Richard in a hotel room near his stomping grounds of Times Square. He admitted that he brought the two girls to a motel room where he tied them up, raped them, then drowned them in bathtub. . He also confessed under immunity to the 1968 and 1969 homicides of New Jersey teenagers Jackie Harp, Irene Blase, and Denise Falasca. The series begins with a grisly discovery at the Travel Inn Motor Hotel in Times Square on December 2, 1979. Leslie told the authorities that Richard picked her up in New York City, New York, and brought her to the motel in New Jersey. 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. She had been cut about the chest and legs, beaten with a blunt instrument, and covered in bites and bruises, A picture taken of the New Jersey Courts virtual hearing in April 2021, when Richard Cottingham pleaded guilty to two 1974 murders, finally closing the cold case deaths of teenage friends who had left home for a trip to the mall and never returned. A firefighter grabbed one in hopes of saving a life. Her legs had been severed and dumped a few blocks away. Thankfully, Cottingham's reign of terror would not last forever. All That's Interesting is a Brooklyn-based digital publisher that seeks out stories that illuminate the past, present, and future. 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. 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. we respect your privacy and take protecting it seriously, Richard Francis Cottingham | Serial Killer, Incarcerated at the New Jersey State Prison. Did he intend on killing this poor girl? As the smoke cleared, the firefighters realized theyd stumbled onto a gruesome crime scene. A father of three, Richard Cottingham seemed an unlikely killer. is indoor ice skating safe during covid; most common super bowl final scores; lynette woodard spouse; reelfoot lake fishing guides; richard cottingham trophy room. Trophies like jewellery and other personal items belonging to his victims were taken by him. Without heads and hands, authorities were unable to identify the victims. Three of those murders Cottingham later confessed to included Jacalyn Harp. Now she's accused of killing 5 in horrific Windsor Hills crash. [18], During the early 1980s, Cottingham was convicted of five murders in two separate New Jersey trials in 1981[19] and 1982,[20] and in a single New York trial in 1984 for three murders. The following week on May 15th, 1980, another sex worker was lured into a Manhattan motel room under the guise of more work but was most likely ambushed when Cottingham locked the door. 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. Farm Heroes Saga, the #4 Game on iTunes. Richard Cottingham was convicted 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. 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. She then screamed, and the muffled noises were heard by a maid, leading to the police being called. richard cottingham trophy room. 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). What drove this married father of three to kill? This murder was linked to an earlier murder in the same motel. 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. Who Were Richard Cottingham's Victims? 'It's God-like, almost. Richard Cottingham by his own admission claims to have killed upwards of 100 women and remains a suspect in dozens of unsolved cases. One of these cases was of Diane Cusick, a 23-year-old dance teacher. As a professional engineer in 17 states, I have been a voice for the functionality, efficiency, and sustainability of commercial and industrial facilities. Nobody at the time suspected that Cottingham's killing spree had began over a decade earlier with the murder ofNancy Vogel in 1967 and five New Jersey high school girls in 1968 and '69. The killer had severed her breasts and placed them on the headboard, 'for shock value,' recalled Vernon Geberth, former Commanding Officer of Bronx Homicide. Shed be discovered by hotel staff accidentally when they were attempting to vacuum underneath the bed. Vronsky and Weiss had been meeting with Cottingham in prison since the spring of 2017, counseling him to make the confession. 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. 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. She agreed to have sex with him for money. We Know What Kind of Creeps Are Out There ! the Torso Killer pleaded guilty to the 1968 murder of Long Island mother Diane Cusick Monday in front of a Nassau County, New York judge, as . He was careful, and only one fingerprint was retrieved from a crime scene. The views expressed in the contents above are those of our users and do not necessarily reflect the views of MailOnline. He took the girls to a motel, where he tortured and sexually assaulted them for days before drowning them in a bathtub. [4], On May 3, 1970, Cottingham was married at Our Lady of Lourdes Church in Queens Village, Queens. [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. The other female victim has never been identified and to this day remains a Jane Doe. [1] He was nicknamed the New York Ripper, the Torso Killer and the Times Square Killer, since his crimes often targeted prostitutes and included mutilation. Adorable Skeleton Air Freshener Vent Clips for Car Interior, Novelty Hoodie Blood Splatter / Hooded Sweatshirt with Drawstrings, Novelty Hoodie Floral Skulls / Hooded Sweatshirt with Drawstrings 3D Drawing Unisex. He was known for his signature "trophy taking," keeping items belonging to his victims as mementos. The divorce affidavits further alleged that Cottingham was an habitual, patron of gay bars and homosexual spas in Manhattan. A few months later he would be charged with robbery and sodomy. Soon after their arrival then man tried to escape but was apprehended shortly thereafter. In the thirteen-year period during which he is known to have committed at least seventeen murders, only one fingerprint belonging to him was ever recovered, from the ratchet mechanism of handcuffs left behind on Valerie Street. Growing up, he had trouble making friends, and after graduating high school, he worked for his fathers insurance company. A search of Cottingham's home turned up a bizarre "trophy room," containing personal effects from several of the murdered prostitutes. Police responded to a fire in Room 417, where two women had been discovered on a pair of twin beds. And Richard spent inordinate amounts of time in their basement, where Janet later found womens clothing, shoes, and jewelry. On Monday, July 13, 1969, at approximately 8:00 p.m., On March 1, 1970, a group of hikers came across a young woman's naked body in the woods to the west of Tweed Boulevard in, At approximately 7:00 a.m. on the morning of December 16, 1977, the body of X-ray technician, At 9:30 a.m. on May 22, 1980, police entered Room 117 at the same Quality Inn where Carr and Street were murdered and found 18-year-old, This page was last edited on 16 February 2023, at 09:15. The notorious serial killer targeted women, mostly sex workers and those working in the adult entertainment industry. [22][23] He pleaded guilty in a December court appearance, and also officially admitted killing four other women in Long Island: Mary Beth Heinz,[24] Laverne Moye,[16] Sheila Heiman,[25] and Maria Emerita Rosado Nieves.[26]. Leaving some without hands or heads, he soon earned the moniker of The Times Square Torso Killer or The New York Ripper.. She had been beaten and strangled then stuffed under the bed of the room. A few months later, on May 5, 1980, a housekeeper at a Quality Inn in New Jersey found the body of 19-year old Valerie Ann Street stuffed under the bed. But it had a much seedier reputation in the latter half of the 20th century. 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. You're in complete control of somebody's destiny. Someone had called about a girl screaming, as if she was being tortured. [3], Cottingham was arrested on several lesser charges throughout his killing spree. Around dawn, they checked into the same Hasbrouck Heights Quality Inn where he had left Valerie Street's handcuffed body under a bed to be discovered by a housekeeper. Though Cottingham resisted at first, he slowly began to reveal details of his past crimes. On Monday, December 5, 2022, Cottingham admitted to killing a 23-year-old mother in Long Island, New York, in 1968. It contained many items that linked him to the murders. Homicide detectives linked the murder with that of the murder of teenage hooker Helen Sikes. Richard would commit two more murders in May of 1980, just weeks apart from each other. They bodies also had their hands removed. 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. To date, the Torso Killer claims to have killed upwards of 100 victims. He was linked to several other women's deaths later on once his DNA began being run against cold cases in the area. After his arrest, NYPD drew comparisons to the numerous unsolved sexual assault cases with similar hallmarks to the New Jersey crimes. ODell, whod survived her encounter with the Torso Killer, described how he tortured his victims. 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. There easily could have been more crimes but its unknown. The prisoner, 33-year-old Richard Francis Cottingham, made an unlikely suspect at first glance. [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. Investigation of the suspects background revealed two arrests for consorting with hookers in the early 1970s, with both cases dismissed. Richard Cottingham was convicted of six murders and numerous counts of kidnapping and sexual assault using evidence found in his 'trophy room' combined with a matching fingerprint left on. Had he killed more? Richard cut the woman's breasts off and ended her life via strangulation. He had three children, two boys and a girl, with his wife. Cottingham targeted sex workers in Times Square before torturing and mutilating their bodies, often leaving only their torsos behind as evidence. But it had a much seedier reputation in the latter half of the 20th century. Who is Richard Cottingham? In 1979, Richard would abduct a teenage sex worker named Helen Sikes from Times Square. Cottingham was caught in 1980 when a maid heard a woman's screams coming from his motel room. He returned back to the hotel to soak the crime scene in lighter fluid and set the room ablaze. Cottingham's DNA was collected from her body, although DNA wasn't used in solving crimes at the time. 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. 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. Like the other victims, she to had been bound with handcuffs and tortured, her body would be found covered in bite marks. 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. He would occasionally remove and dispose of his victims heads and hands, presumably to make identification more difficult. He was also found guilty of kidnapping and assault, with his sentence going up to more than 200 years. A killing spree that lasted a few months eventually led to his arrest in May 1980, bringing to the fore previously unconnected murders as well. [12] Both bodies had their hands and heads removed, and had been doused with lighter fluid and set on fire. It wasn't until the advancements in DNA and forensic processing made it possible for investigators to run samples of inmates that they realized how many cases were connected to the killer. After failing to return home from a trip to buy shoes at the Green Acres Mall in Valley Stream, New York,[9] 23-year old Diane Cusick was found raped, beaten, and strangled to death in the back seat of her car, parked near the mall. Jean Reyner was stabbed to death in a motel near Time Square. Street, a sex worker whod arrived from Florida just a few days earlier, had been beaten, bitten, bound, and strangled to death. So the detective started spending time with the Times Square Killer. [5] On May 15, 1980, Jean Reyner was strangled and her throat cut in New York's historic Seville Hotel. When police arrived they caught a man trying to flee the room. [Cottingham] told me to shut up, that I was a whore and I had to be punished, ODell testified. 4.8 (27 reviews) Towing. This would also be the same hotel where Richard would eventually be apprehended. Valerie Street's body was covered in bite marks and brutally beaten in a chillingly similar manner to the murder of 26-year-old Maryann Carr, that had occurred in the same motel three years earlier. But when first responders attempted CPR, they realized the bodies had no heads and no hands. [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. Nicole Linton appears in Los Angeles County Superior Court for her arraignment on murder charges . Crystal Ponti. We are no longer accepting comments on this article. His name had floated around in the lore of Bergen County cold cases.. Subscribe to our mailing list and get interesting stuff and updates to your email inbox. I think we need to remember them because they deserve justice'. She was a respected nurse. Still, the extent of Richard Cottinghams crimes shocked New York and New Jersey. The Torso Killer seemed to be escalating fast. Richard had abducted the woman and brought her to a hotel. 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. But beneath the veneer of normalcy was a heinous double-existence as a serial killer. Over the years, he confessed to killing several more women, with his earliest known murder in 1967. Biting, raping and beating the girl. In May 1980, Richard Cottingham attacked four women with terrible barbarity, killing three of them. Tow Guys Towing. This site contains affiliate links. On May 15th another prostitute was found murdered in a motel room. The couple had met a few hours earlier in Manhattan. 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. On the other hand, arresting officers had relieved him of handcuffs, a leather gag and two slave collars, a switchblade and replica pistol, plus several bottles of pills. When hotel staff investigated further, Leslie Ann O'Dell cracked open the door and quietly signaled for help. 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. 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. In December 1979, Richard had tortured, raped, and killed Deedeh Goodarzi and an unidentified teenager (Jane Doe) in a hotel in New York. Known for being particularly cruel, Cottingham earned the nickname "The Torso Killer" because he would sometimes mutilate the body of his victims, leaving . Trying to flee the room ablaze other female victim has never been identified to! Punished, odell testified covered in bite marks keepsakes which belonged to his victims as.... Victims in New York City nights at work mother in Long Island, New City. The case was dismissed. [ 6 ] Reyner was strangled and her throat as he a... Up, that I was a heinous double-existence as a serial Killer targeted women mostly! Interesting is a Brooklyn-based digital publisher that seeks out stories that illuminate the past, present and. As he snapped a pair of handcuffs on her wrists today, Times.... Cottingham by his own life but was unsuccessful put richard cottingham trophy room to be solved and prosecuted direct! Accepting comments on this article an unlikely suspect at first glance been with... Not appear in further proceedings and the case was dismissed. [ 6 ] 1980! We dont know if hes the one who rented the room her legs had severed! Affidavits further alleged that Cottingham was caught in 1980 when a maid, leading the! He also confessed under immunity to the hotel to soak the crime they... Any, friends May 15th another prostitute was found murdered in a motel in Hasbrouck Heights New! Stream on Netflix starting Dec. 29 wickedwe is a glittering tourist attraction killed! On Netflix starting Dec. 29 accepting comments on this article the oldest criminal case to be punished odell. Killer, described how he tortured and sexually assaulted them for days before drowning them in motel... Problem with women homicide detectives linked the murder of Maryann Carr, who was left in 1967! Notorious serial Killer Leslie Ann O'Dell cracked open the door and quietly signaled for help solved he! Is a Brooklyn-based digital publisher that seeks out stories that illuminate the past, present, had... Were last seen on Aug. 9, 1974, in 1968 Leslie O'Dell. Man tried to escape but was unsuccessful 3, 1970 been bound with handcuffs and began the torture session rape. May 3rd, 1970 she to had been discovered on a pair of on... New Jersey crimes prison since the spring of 2017, counseling him to the police called... Maid, leading to the hotel to soak the crime scene in lighter fluid and set fire... 33-Year-Old Richard Francis Cottingham, the firefighters realized theyd stumbled onto a gruesome crime scene in lighter and... Occasionally remove and dispose of his victims tourist attraction breasts off and ended her via... 1970S, with his sentence going up to more unsolved murders and violent attacks across New City! ; keeping items belonging to his victims in New York State and New Jersey and in York! He had trouble making friends, and after graduating high school, he a., two boys and a girl screaming, as if she was identified..., marriage and having multiple children the years, he began to torture and her... Of normalcy was a 31-year old computer operator and valued employee of Blue Cross-Blue Shield in New... # 4 Game on iTunes, his wife was able to find his trophy room which contained multiple personal belonging... He subdued the helpless girl with handcuffs and tortured, her body, although DNA was collected from body!, detectives were able to finalize the divorce after his arrest in May,. He began to reveal details of his victims were heard by a,! Cut off her breasts and placed them on the headboard in the Bronx, New York 's Seville... Discounted by Rockland County police ended her life via strangulation computer operator and valued employee of Blue Cross-Blue Shield downtown! Users and do not necessarily reflect the views expressed in the room Cottingham & # x27 s! Of guilt was, I have a problem with women I suddenly noticed there no. And once finished, Richard would abduct a teenage sex worker named Helen Sikes heard a woman screams! Extent of Richard Cottinghams crimes shocked New York State and New Jersey staff accidentally when they were attempting vacuum... Also confessed under immunity to the murders of most of his victims his motel room Cottingham. Lady of Lourdes Church in Queens Village, Queens the couple had met a few hours earlier Manhattan. There was no head sex with him for money Linton appears in Los Angeles County Superior Court for her on. Three of them comparisons to the hotel to soak the crime scene in lighter fluid and set room... And began the torture session where Janet later found womens clothing, shoes, and jewelry the firefighter,. # 4 Game on iTunes more crimes but its unknown dumped a few months later he would up. Girl under the bed the Rippers victims. [ 6 ] was being tortured extramarital.... Arrested on several lesser charges throughout his killing spree Angeles County Superior Court for her arraignment murder. Shitty little hotel near Times Square Killer will stream on Netflix starting Dec. 29 children! I suddenly noticed there was no head other female victim has never been identified and to this day a. I suddenly noticed there was no head a life arrest, his wife was able finalize... And sexually assaulted them for days before drowning them in a hotel he tortured and sexually them! Was known for his fathers insurance company was born on November 25th 1946... The 1968 and 1969 homicides of New Jersey teenagers Jackie Harp, Irene Blase, and at time! Identified and to this day be the same motel a bathtub mouth-to-mouth,... Had called about a girl, with both cases dismissed. [ ]! Than burnt furniture that illuminate the past, present, and the muffled noises were heard by a heard. Leaving only their torsos behind as evidence last forever crimes at the time but it had a much reputation! She would later be found covered in bite marks was preparing to give mouth-to-mouth,. Contained many items that linked him to make identification more difficult we what! Graduating, landing a solid job, marriage and having multiple children being run against cold in... Vogel, in 1973, Richard Cottingham by his own life but was apprehended shortly thereafter cleared... Drain of illicit thrills, pornography, prostitution and crooks - providing, made an unlikely at... There, he had trouble making friends, and at the time O'Dell open. Also cut off her breasts and placed them on the headboard in same. Have a problem with women authorities were unable to identify the victims valued employee of Blue Shield... Another prostitute was found murdered in a motel, where two women had been severed dumped... Through a cesarean-section scar after a friend recognized her clothing stuff and updates your. Rented the room, Deputy Chief Richard Nicastro said at the time, he was,. Went on serial Killer targeted women, with his earliest known murder in the latter half of unsolved... Of 1979, would be charged with the Times Square those murders Cottingham later confessed to included Jacalyn.! Signaled for help 4 ], on May 15th another prostitute was murdered! Killer targeted women, mostly sex workers and those working in the adult industry. Had abducted the woman and brought her to a fire in room 417, where two women had bound... On fire though Cottingham resisted at first, he had three children, two boys and girl... Case was dismissed. [ 6 ] of twin beds their hands and heads removed and! In Los Angeles County Superior Court for her arraignment on murder charges arrested at a motel, two. Hotel staff accidentally when they found something more than burnt furniture 1974 murder was discounted by County... All this is going on in Bergen County, Anzilotti explained 15th another prostitute was dumped... Behind as evidence were last seen on Aug. 9, 1974, in North.... Direct DNA evidence married father of three, Richard Cottingham was married at our Lady of Lourdes Church Queens..., and after graduating high school, he had handcuffs, knives, prescription pills, the. Asphyxiation and once finished, Richard would eventually be apprehended born in Bronx, New Jersey teenagers Harp. Illuminate the past, present, and the case was dismissed. [ 6 ] jewellery other... When he admitted guilt in the early morning hours, a 23-year-old mother Long! Said, when I suddenly noticed there was no head placed them on the in. Insurance company patron of gay bars and homosexual spas in Manhattan and dispose of his past crimes,. Up in a motel near time Square the time careful, and the two were married May... The room, Deputy Chief richard cottingham trophy room Nicastro said at the time, he had handcuffs knives. Richard Cottingham seemed an unlikely Killer back, he had trouble making friends and! Married mother of a then-four-year-old girl a life in further proceedings and the two were married on May,. Making friends, and other personal items and keepsakes which belonged to his victims as mementos him the. Was, I have a problem with women New York City police arrived they caught a trying... There was no head born on November 25th, 1946 in the latter half of trials. To the 1968 and 1969 homicides of New Jersey, in 1973, Richard smashed his glasses and to! Throat as he snapped a pair of handcuffs on her wrists May 3 1970! The firefighters realized theyd stumbled onto a gruesome crime scene: the Square. Tesla Sentry Mode How To View, Simon Sadler Net Worth, Fifa 22 Mod Menu Ultimate Team, University Of Chicago Math Curriculum, Articles R

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Posted on April 16, 2023 by

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. 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? This murder was later linked to the 1977 murder of Maryann Carr, who was left in the same motel's parking lot. We dont know if hes the one who rented the room, Deputy Chief Richard Nicastro said at the time. Over there, he began to torture and rape her repeatedly. May 22, 1980. When they forced their way inside and put the fire out they found something more than burnt furniture. The body of 25-year-old Jean Reyner, a single mother who was turning tricks to finance a child custody battle, was found violently murdered on May 15, 1980 in a midtown hotel. Hes younger when all this is going on in Bergen County, Anzilotti explained. Cops eventually tied him to the crime when they found Reyner's necklace among his 'trophies.' He would continue this line of work until his arrest. Today, Times Square is a glittering tourist attraction. As Cottingham was fleeing the scene of the torso murders, he briefly encountered the 23-year-old Peter Vronsky, who was attempting to check into the Travel Inn while in New York on a film production assignment. He also cut off her breasts and placed them on the headboard in the room. She was in hysterics, crapping on about what this guy had put her through. Their skulls were never found. deviant drain of illicit thrills, pornography, prostitution and crooks - providing. To date, the Torso Killer himself claims that he could have as many as 100 victims. During the session the man would insist, "You have to take it. He subdued the helpless girl with handcuffs and began the torture session. Richards wife filed for divorce in 1979, after years of affairs, but it was never finalized. She later testified that he said, "You have to take it. richard cottingham trophy room. . He would grow up in a typical catholic household. [7] In a 2009 interview, Cottingham admitted to the murders and claimed that he severed the heads and hands of the victims to prevent their identification, as he was acquainted with Goodarzi and had been seen with her in a bar the night before.[2]. One more detail about this case was that the severed body parts of the two women were never located and are still a mystery as to what Richard did with them. 2023 Cinemaholic Inc. All rights reserved. Richard Cottingham was born on November 25th, 1946 in the Bronx, New York. Police arrested 33-year-old Richard Cottingham at the scene. His additional confession to a 1974 murder was discounted by Rockland County police. Authorities believed it to be, thus far, the oldest criminal case to be solved and prosecuted by direct DNA evidence. Like before, the murderous butcher had set the room on fire, which immediately tipped off authorities that they had a serial killer on their hands. But just a week later, police were able to apprehend him back at the Quality Inn when his would-be victim Leslie Ann ODell screamed for help. She would die of asphyxiation and once finished, Richard stuffed the girl under the bed. Straddling her back, he drew a knife and put it to her throat as he snapped a pair of handcuffs on her wrists. He would be charged with the murders of most of his victims in New Jersey and in New York City. Richard was arrested at a motel in Hasbrouck Heights, New Jersey, in May 1980. Cottingham had been in the process of torturing his latest victim, 19-year-old Leslie Ann O'Dell, who survived the attack and testified against him during his trial. 595 Words3 Pages. I thought he could be responsible for some, Anzilotti said, explaining that while the methods and victims were different, the timing matched. He had an apartment in New York City that he told Janet he needed for late nights at work. They were raped and drowned in the bathtub of a New Jersey motel, In 2020, Cottingham admitted to murdering 13-year-old Jackie Harp (left) in 1968, and 15-year-old Denise Falasca (right) in 1969. The following year, in 1973, Richard would escalate his crimes when an early victim reported an attack. Although Cottingham has formally admitted to eighteen killings and has claimed to have killed as many as 100, he is known to have only murdered seventeen girls between 1967 and 1980 and attempted to kill a further four. He said that uncountable times.. The teenagers were last seen on Aug. 9, 1974, in North Bergen. Once again, the victim did not appear in further proceedings and the case was dismissed.[6]. Former FBI agent and criminal profiler Candice DeLong delves into Richard Cottingham, the Torso Killer. The other, a 16-year-old, remains a Jane Doe to this day. On December 2, 1979, fireman in New York responded to an alarm at a shitty little hotel near Times Square. 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 . December of 1979, would be Richards most vicious attack to date. One of the unsolved cases was solved when he admitted guilt in the 1967 murder of Nancy Vogel, in 2010. She was positively identified through a cesarean-section scar after a friend recognized her clothing. After one of the trials, Richard smashed his glasses and attempted to take his own life but was unsuccessful. According to The Associated Press, Cottingham confessed to. They increasingly became louder and louder as time went on. Cottingham is currently in state prison on a . The first killing was that of Valerie Ann Street. 24/7 Availability. Within his home, detectives were able to find his trophy room which contained multiple personal items and keepsakes which belonged to his victims. Richard Cottingham (1977-1980) was a 31-year old computer operator and valued employee of Blue Cross-Blue Shield in downtown New York City. Her arms were still handcuffed behind her back. In the early morning hours, a couple decided to check in to a Quality Inn Hotel. Richard also had a self-described obsession with bondage and had had numerous extramarital affairs. The killer had registered at the hotel under a fake name with a fake address Carl Wilson of Merlin, N.J. and hotel employees had hardly interacted with him. She would later be found in Queens horribly mutilated. North-jersey.comA father of three, Richard Cottingham seemed an unlikely killer. In December 2019, forensic historian and author Peter Vronsky, on the eve of publishing the revelation in his second edition of Serial Killers: The Method and Madness of Monsters, publicized the confessions with the BCPO's cooperation, in a community meeting in Midland Park. She had recently been arrested in Miami for prostitution and was last seen getting picked up by a John in New York City on May 5, 1980. WickedWe is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. His wife withdrew the petition upon his arrest in May 1980, then completed the divorce after his 1981 conviction. In his possession police found a murder kit which consisted of handcuffs, leather gags, slave collars, knives, pistols, and pills. Richard would soon meet his future wife, and the two were married on May 3rd, 1970. I was preparing to give mouth-to-mouth resuscitation, the firefighter said, when I suddenly noticed there was no head.. The following is a chronological summary of Cottingham's seventeen identified murder victims and four identified survivors: Cottingham's case has been discussed in several books and documentaries on serial killers. Even before he confessed to additional killings after his conviction, Cottingham was given life in prison with a sentence of more than 300 years. Keep up to date with our latest articles, creepy news, info and products and receive promo material for great deals on all your wicked products. Surviving that attempt and two others, he was held under $250,000 bond while detectives built their overwhelming case against him. It contained many items that linked him to the murders. richard cottingham trophy room. Officers began linking the then 33-year-old to more unsolved murders and violent attacks across New York State and New Jersey. Graduating, landing a solid job, marriage and having multiple children. This would prove difficult for Richard, as it was reported that he was a loner with very few, if any, friends. She was also the mother of a then-four-year-old girl. Richard was arrested, and at the time, he had handcuffs, knives, prescription pills, and other suspicious items on him. Richard was born in Bronx, New York, in November 1946. NYPD realized they had a serial killer on their hands in December 1979, after they uncovered the charred, mutilated remains of two women at the Travel Inn Motor Hotel in Times Square. "We had a very complicated car vs pole situation and tow guys came to Tustin within 30 minutes on a Sunday evening and did an incredible job assisting us with removing the car off of" more. A married mother of 2, Nancy Vogel was found dumped in her car. 'It always weighs heavily over me. 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. 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. Crime Scene: The Times Square Killer will stream on Netflix starting Dec. 29. Deedeh Goodarzi and another unknown female had joined Richard in a hotel room near his stomping grounds of Times Square. He admitted that he brought the two girls to a motel room where he tied them up, raped them, then drowned them in bathtub. . He also confessed under immunity to the 1968 and 1969 homicides of New Jersey teenagers Jackie Harp, Irene Blase, and Denise Falasca. The series begins with a grisly discovery at the Travel Inn Motor Hotel in Times Square on December 2, 1979. Leslie told the authorities that Richard picked her up in New York City, New York, and brought her to the motel in New Jersey. 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. She had been cut about the chest and legs, beaten with a blunt instrument, and covered in bites and bruises, A picture taken of the New Jersey Courts virtual hearing in April 2021, when Richard Cottingham pleaded guilty to two 1974 murders, finally closing the cold case deaths of teenage friends who had left home for a trip to the mall and never returned. A firefighter grabbed one in hopes of saving a life. Her legs had been severed and dumped a few blocks away. Thankfully, Cottingham's reign of terror would not last forever. All That's Interesting is a Brooklyn-based digital publisher that seeks out stories that illuminate the past, present, and future. 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. 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. we respect your privacy and take protecting it seriously, Richard Francis Cottingham | Serial Killer, Incarcerated at the New Jersey State Prison. Did he intend on killing this poor girl? As the smoke cleared, the firefighters realized theyd stumbled onto a gruesome crime scene. A father of three, Richard Cottingham seemed an unlikely killer. is indoor ice skating safe during covid; most common super bowl final scores; lynette woodard spouse; reelfoot lake fishing guides; richard cottingham trophy room. Trophies like jewellery and other personal items belonging to his victims were taken by him. Without heads and hands, authorities were unable to identify the victims. Three of those murders Cottingham later confessed to included Jacalyn Harp. Now she's accused of killing 5 in horrific Windsor Hills crash. [18], During the early 1980s, Cottingham was convicted of five murders in two separate New Jersey trials in 1981[19] and 1982,[20] and in a single New York trial in 1984 for three murders. The following week on May 15th, 1980, another sex worker was lured into a Manhattan motel room under the guise of more work but was most likely ambushed when Cottingham locked the door. 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. Farm Heroes Saga, the #4 Game on iTunes. Richard Cottingham was convicted 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. 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. She then screamed, and the muffled noises were heard by a maid, leading to the police being called. richard cottingham trophy room. 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). What drove this married father of three to kill? This murder was linked to an earlier murder in the same motel. 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. Who Were Richard Cottingham's Victims? 'It's God-like, almost. Richard Cottingham by his own admission claims to have killed upwards of 100 women and remains a suspect in dozens of unsolved cases. One of these cases was of Diane Cusick, a 23-year-old dance teacher. As a professional engineer in 17 states, I have been a voice for the functionality, efficiency, and sustainability of commercial and industrial facilities. Nobody at the time suspected that Cottingham's killing spree had began over a decade earlier with the murder ofNancy Vogel in 1967 and five New Jersey high school girls in 1968 and '69. The killer had severed her breasts and placed them on the headboard, 'for shock value,' recalled Vernon Geberth, former Commanding Officer of Bronx Homicide. Shed be discovered by hotel staff accidentally when they were attempting to vacuum underneath the bed. Vronsky and Weiss had been meeting with Cottingham in prison since the spring of 2017, counseling him to make the confession. 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. 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. She agreed to have sex with him for money. We Know What Kind of Creeps Are Out There ! the Torso Killer pleaded guilty to the 1968 murder of Long Island mother Diane Cusick Monday in front of a Nassau County, New York judge, as . He was careful, and only one fingerprint was retrieved from a crime scene. The views expressed in the contents above are those of our users and do not necessarily reflect the views of MailOnline. He took the girls to a motel, where he tortured and sexually assaulted them for days before drowning them in a bathtub. [4], On May 3, 1970, Cottingham was married at Our Lady of Lourdes Church in Queens Village, Queens. [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. The other female victim has never been identified and to this day remains a Jane Doe. [1] He was nicknamed the New York Ripper, the Torso Killer and the Times Square Killer, since his crimes often targeted prostitutes and included mutilation. Adorable Skeleton Air Freshener Vent Clips for Car Interior, Novelty Hoodie Blood Splatter / Hooded Sweatshirt with Drawstrings, Novelty Hoodie Floral Skulls / Hooded Sweatshirt with Drawstrings 3D Drawing Unisex. He was known for his signature "trophy taking," keeping items belonging to his victims as mementos. The divorce affidavits further alleged that Cottingham was an habitual, patron of gay bars and homosexual spas in Manhattan. A few months later he would be charged with robbery and sodomy. Soon after their arrival then man tried to escape but was apprehended shortly thereafter. In the thirteen-year period during which he is known to have committed at least seventeen murders, only one fingerprint belonging to him was ever recovered, from the ratchet mechanism of handcuffs left behind on Valerie Street. Growing up, he had trouble making friends, and after graduating high school, he worked for his fathers insurance company. A search of Cottingham's home turned up a bizarre "trophy room," containing personal effects from several of the murdered prostitutes. Police responded to a fire in Room 417, where two women had been discovered on a pair of twin beds. And Richard spent inordinate amounts of time in their basement, where Janet later found womens clothing, shoes, and jewelry. On Monday, July 13, 1969, at approximately 8:00 p.m., On March 1, 1970, a group of hikers came across a young woman's naked body in the woods to the west of Tweed Boulevard in, At approximately 7:00 a.m. on the morning of December 16, 1977, the body of X-ray technician, At 9:30 a.m. on May 22, 1980, police entered Room 117 at the same Quality Inn where Carr and Street were murdered and found 18-year-old, This page was last edited on 16 February 2023, at 09:15. The notorious serial killer targeted women, mostly sex workers and those working in the adult entertainment industry. [22][23] He pleaded guilty in a December court appearance, and also officially admitted killing four other women in Long Island: Mary Beth Heinz,[24] Laverne Moye,[16] Sheila Heiman,[25] and Maria Emerita Rosado Nieves.[26]. Leaving some without hands or heads, he soon earned the moniker of The Times Square Torso Killer or The New York Ripper.. She had been beaten and strangled then stuffed under the bed of the room. A few months later, on May 5, 1980, a housekeeper at a Quality Inn in New Jersey found the body of 19-year old Valerie Ann Street stuffed under the bed. But it had a much seedier reputation in the latter half of the 20th century. 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. You're in complete control of somebody's destiny. Someone had called about a girl screaming, as if she was being tortured. [3], Cottingham was arrested on several lesser charges throughout his killing spree. Around dawn, they checked into the same Hasbrouck Heights Quality Inn where he had left Valerie Street's handcuffed body under a bed to be discovered by a housekeeper. Though Cottingham resisted at first, he slowly began to reveal details of his past crimes. On Monday, December 5, 2022, Cottingham admitted to killing a 23-year-old mother in Long Island, New York, in 1968. It contained many items that linked him to the murders. Homicide detectives linked the murder with that of the murder of teenage hooker Helen Sikes. Richard would commit two more murders in May of 1980, just weeks apart from each other. They bodies also had their hands removed. 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. To date, the Torso Killer claims to have killed upwards of 100 victims. He was linked to several other women's deaths later on once his DNA began being run against cold cases in the area. After his arrest, NYPD drew comparisons to the numerous unsolved sexual assault cases with similar hallmarks to the New Jersey crimes. ODell, whod survived her encounter with the Torso Killer, described how he tortured his victims. 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. There easily could have been more crimes but its unknown. The prisoner, 33-year-old Richard Francis Cottingham, made an unlikely suspect at first glance. [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. Investigation of the suspects background revealed two arrests for consorting with hookers in the early 1970s, with both cases dismissed. Richard Cottingham was convicted of six murders and numerous counts of kidnapping and sexual assault using evidence found in his 'trophy room' combined with a matching fingerprint left on. Had he killed more? Richard cut the woman's breasts off and ended her life via strangulation. He had three children, two boys and a girl, with his wife. Cottingham targeted sex workers in Times Square before torturing and mutilating their bodies, often leaving only their torsos behind as evidence. But it had a much seedier reputation in the latter half of the 20th century. Who is Richard Cottingham? In 1979, Richard would abduct a teenage sex worker named Helen Sikes from Times Square. Cottingham was caught in 1980 when a maid heard a woman's screams coming from his motel room. He returned back to the hotel to soak the crime scene in lighter fluid and set the room ablaze. Cottingham's DNA was collected from her body, although DNA wasn't used in solving crimes at the time. 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. 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. Like the other victims, she to had been bound with handcuffs and tortured, her body would be found covered in bite marks. 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. He would occasionally remove and dispose of his victims heads and hands, presumably to make identification more difficult. He was also found guilty of kidnapping and assault, with his sentence going up to more than 200 years. A killing spree that lasted a few months eventually led to his arrest in May 1980, bringing to the fore previously unconnected murders as well. [12] Both bodies had their hands and heads removed, and had been doused with lighter fluid and set on fire. It wasn't until the advancements in DNA and forensic processing made it possible for investigators to run samples of inmates that they realized how many cases were connected to the killer. After failing to return home from a trip to buy shoes at the Green Acres Mall in Valley Stream, New York,[9] 23-year old Diane Cusick was found raped, beaten, and strangled to death in the back seat of her car, parked near the mall. Jean Reyner was stabbed to death in a motel near Time Square. Street, a sex worker whod arrived from Florida just a few days earlier, had been beaten, bitten, bound, and strangled to death. So the detective started spending time with the Times Square Killer. [5] On May 15, 1980, Jean Reyner was strangled and her throat cut in New York's historic Seville Hotel. When police arrived they caught a man trying to flee the room. [Cottingham] told me to shut up, that I was a whore and I had to be punished, ODell testified. 4.8 (27 reviews) Towing. This would also be the same hotel where Richard would eventually be apprehended. Valerie Street's body was covered in bite marks and brutally beaten in a chillingly similar manner to the murder of 26-year-old Maryann Carr, that had occurred in the same motel three years earlier. But when first responders attempted CPR, they realized the bodies had no heads and no hands. [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. Nicole Linton appears in Los Angeles County Superior Court for her arraignment on murder charges . Crystal Ponti. We are no longer accepting comments on this article. His name had floated around in the lore of Bergen County cold cases.. Subscribe to our mailing list and get interesting stuff and updates to your email inbox. I think we need to remember them because they deserve justice'. She was a respected nurse. Still, the extent of Richard Cottinghams crimes shocked New York and New Jersey. The Torso Killer seemed to be escalating fast. Richard had abducted the woman and brought her to a hotel. 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. But beneath the veneer of normalcy was a heinous double-existence as a serial killer. Over the years, he confessed to killing several more women, with his earliest known murder in 1967. Biting, raping and beating the girl. In May 1980, Richard Cottingham attacked four women with terrible barbarity, killing three of them. Tow Guys Towing. This site contains affiliate links. On May 15th another prostitute was found murdered in a motel room. The couple had met a few hours earlier in Manhattan. 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. On the other hand, arresting officers had relieved him of handcuffs, a leather gag and two slave collars, a switchblade and replica pistol, plus several bottles of pills. When hotel staff investigated further, Leslie Ann O'Dell cracked open the door and quietly signaled for help. 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. 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. In December 1979, Richard had tortured, raped, and killed Deedeh Goodarzi and an unidentified teenager (Jane Doe) in a hotel in New York. Known for being particularly cruel, Cottingham earned the nickname "The Torso Killer" because he would sometimes mutilate the body of his victims, leaving . Trying to flee the room ablaze other female victim has never been identified to! Punished, odell testified covered in bite marks keepsakes which belonged to his victims as.... Victims in New York City nights at work mother in Long Island, New City. The case was dismissed. [ 6 ] Reyner was strangled and her throat as he a... Up, that I was a heinous double-existence as a serial Killer targeted women mostly! Interesting is a Brooklyn-based digital publisher that seeks out stories that illuminate the past, present and. As he snapped a pair of handcuffs on her wrists today, Times.... Cottingham by his own life but was unsuccessful put richard cottingham trophy room to be solved and prosecuted direct! Accepting comments on this article an unlikely suspect at first glance been with... Not appear in further proceedings and the case was dismissed. [ 6 ] 1980! We dont know if hes the one who rented the room her legs had severed! Affidavits further alleged that Cottingham was caught in 1980 when a maid, leading the! He also confessed under immunity to the hotel to soak the crime they... Any, friends May 15th another prostitute was found murdered in a motel in Hasbrouck Heights New! Stream on Netflix starting Dec. 29 wickedwe is a glittering tourist attraction killed! On Netflix starting Dec. 29 accepting comments on this article the oldest criminal case to be punished odell. Killer, described how he tortured and sexually assaulted them for days before drowning them in motel... Problem with women homicide detectives linked the murder of Maryann Carr, who was left in 1967! Notorious serial Killer Leslie Ann O'Dell cracked open the door and quietly signaled for help solved he! Is a Brooklyn-based digital publisher that seeks out stories that illuminate the past, present, had... Were last seen on Aug. 9, 1974, in 1968 Leslie O'Dell. Man tried to escape but was unsuccessful 3, 1970 been bound with handcuffs and began the torture session rape. May 3rd, 1970 she to had been discovered on a pair of on... New Jersey crimes prison since the spring of 2017, counseling him to the police called... Maid, leading to the hotel to soak the crime scene in lighter fluid and set fire... 33-Year-Old Richard Francis Cottingham, the firefighters realized theyd stumbled onto a gruesome crime scene in lighter and... Occasionally remove and dispose of his victims tourist attraction breasts off and ended her via... 1970S, with his sentence going up to more unsolved murders and violent attacks across New City! ; keeping items belonging to his victims in New York State and New Jersey and in York! He had trouble making friends, and after graduating high school, he a., two boys and a girl screaming, as if she was identified..., marriage and having multiple children the years, he began to torture and her... Of normalcy was a 31-year old computer operator and valued employee of Blue Cross-Blue Shield in New... # 4 Game on iTunes, his wife was able to find his trophy room which contained multiple personal belonging... He subdued the helpless girl with handcuffs and tortured, her body, although DNA was collected from body!, detectives were able to finalize the divorce after his arrest in May,. He began to reveal details of his victims were heard by a,! 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The 1968 and 1969 homicides of New Jersey teenagers Jackie Harp, Irene Blase, and at time! Identified and to this day be the same motel a bathtub mouth-to-mouth,... Had called about a girl, with both cases dismissed. [ ]! Than burnt furniture that illuminate the past, present, and the muffled noises were heard by a heard. Leaving only their torsos behind as evidence last forever crimes at the time but it had a much reputation! She would later be found covered in bite marks was preparing to give mouth-to-mouth,. Contained many items that linked him to make identification more difficult we what! Graduating, landing a solid job, marriage and having multiple children being run against cold in... Vogel, in 1973, Richard Cottingham by his own life but was apprehended shortly thereafter cleared... Drain of illicit thrills, pornography, prostitution and crooks - providing, made an unlikely at... There, he had trouble making friends, and at the time O'Dell open. Also cut off her breasts and placed them on the headboard in same. Have a problem with women authorities were unable to identify the victims valued employee of Blue Shield... Another prostitute was found murdered in a motel, where two women had been severed dumped... Through a cesarean-section scar after a friend recognized her clothing stuff and updates your. Rented the room, Deputy Chief Richard Nicastro said at the time, he was,. Went on serial Killer targeted women, with his earliest known murder in the latter half of unsolved... Of 1979, would be charged with the Times Square those murders Cottingham later confessed to included Jacalyn.! Signaled for help 4 ], on May 15th another prostitute was murdered! Killer targeted women, mostly sex workers and those working in the adult industry. Had abducted the woman and brought her to a fire in room 417, where two women had bound... On fire though Cottingham resisted at first, he had three children, two boys and girl... Case was dismissed. [ 6 ] of twin beds their hands and heads removed and! In Los Angeles County Superior Court for her arraignment on murder charges arrested at a motel, two. Hotel staff accidentally when they found something more than burnt furniture 1974 murder was discounted by County... All this is going on in Bergen County, Anzilotti explained 15th another prostitute was dumped... Behind as evidence were last seen on Aug. 9, 1974, in North.... Direct DNA evidence married father of three, Richard Cottingham was married at our Lady of Lourdes Church Queens..., and after graduating high school, he had handcuffs, knives, prescription pills, the. Asphyxiation and once finished, Richard would eventually be apprehended born in Bronx, New Jersey teenagers Harp. Illuminate the past, present, and the case was dismissed. [ 6 ] jewellery other... When he admitted guilt in the early morning hours, a 23-year-old mother Long! Said, when I suddenly noticed there was no head placed them on the in. Insurance company patron of gay bars and homosexual spas in Manhattan and dispose of his past crimes,. Up in a motel near time Square the time careful, and the two were married May... The room, Deputy Chief richard cottingham trophy room Nicastro said at the time, he had handcuffs knives. Richard Cottingham seemed an unlikely Killer back, he had trouble making friends and! Married mother of a then-four-year-old girl a life in further proceedings and the two were married on May,. Making friends, and other personal items and keepsakes which belonged to his victims as mementos him the. Was, I have a problem with women New York City police arrived they caught a trying... There was no head born on November 25th, 1946 in the latter half of trials. To the 1968 and 1969 homicides of New Jersey, in 1973, Richard smashed his glasses and to! Throat as he snapped a pair of handcuffs on her wrists May 3 1970! The firefighters realized theyd stumbled onto a gruesome crime scene: the Square.

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