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60-Year-Old Cold Case Solved: Killer Confesses
7 Jan
Summary
- Serial killer Richard Cottingham confessed to an unsolved 1965 murder.
- The victim was 18-year-old nursing student Alys Eberhardt.
- The confession brings closure to the victim's family after nearly six decades.
The Fair Lawn Police Department has closed its only unsolved homicide case, resolving the 1965 murder of 18-year-old Alys Eberhardt. Convicted serial killer Richard Cottingham has confessed to the crime, bringing an end to a decades-long wait for justice for Eberhardt's family. The nursing student was found stabbed and bludgeoned in her home.
The investigation into Eberhardt's murder was notably reopened in 2021. Detectives dedicated significant effort to the renewed inquiry, eventually connecting Cottingham, who is already serving multiple life sentences for other murders, to the 1965 case. His admission of guilt occurred during interviews late last year.
Cottingham provided specific details about the crime scene that had never been publicly released, solidifying his confession. While he cannot face new charges, his confession offers a measure of peace to the Eberhardt family. Authorities expressed hope that this resolution allows them to find some solace, knowing their daughter's killer has been identified and is incarcerated.
