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Torso Killer Confesses to 1965 Cold Case
6 Jan
Summary
- Cottingham confessed to the 1965 murder of Alys Eberhardt.
- The confession came after a medical emergency nearly took his life.
- Eberhardt's family received answers after waiting six decades.
Richard Cottingham, infamously known as the 'torso killer,' has confessed to the 1965 murder of Alys Jean Eberhardt, an 18-year-old nursing student. This confession, obtained on December 22, 2025, represents the earliest confirmed case for Cottingham, who was then 19 years old. Investigative historian Peter Vronsky assisted Fair Lawn Police in securing the admission, prompted by Cottingham's critical medical condition.
Cottingham, who is serving multiple life sentences for other murders and is suspected in up to 100 deaths, revealed details of the crime, noting Eberhardt's unexpected resistance. He confessed to staging 62 shallow cuts on her body to confuse investigators. Eberhardt's family, who had waited since September 24, 1965, for the truth, has finally found peace.
Eberhardt was last seen leaving Hackensack Hospital School of Nursing before heading home to meet her father, only to be attacked by Cottingham, who had followed her. Her father discovered her body later that evening. The case, which went cold due to a lack of evidence, was reopened in Spring 2021, leading to this long-awaited confession.
