Notorious ‘Torso Killer’ admits to another murder from the 1960s
Authorities in New Jersey say the notorious serial killer known as the “Trunk Killer,” who operated in the New York City area in the 1960s and ’70s, has confessed to another murder, closing a case spanning more than six decades.
Nursing student Alys Eberhardt was 18 when she was stabbed and bludgeoned to death on September 24, 1965, at her family’s home in Fair Lawn, New Jersey, a suburb of New York City. Despite the efforts of county, state and federal law enforcement, her killer managed to elude authorities for decades.
The case was reopened in spring 2021 at the direction of former Fair Lawn Police Chief Glen Cauwels. Detectives Eric Eleshewich and Brian Rypkema were assigned to review the files of the initial investigation.
He was convicted at the time serial killer Richard CottinghamKnown as the “Body Killer”, he made new admissions to authorities about his involvement in several murders in the Bergen County area decades ago.
Alys Jean Eberhardt is pictured in this file photo. He was murdered in Fair Lawn, New Jersey, in September 1965, at the age of 18. Authorities say they now know who the killer is.
Detectives began examining him as a suspicious person, and the possibility emerged that Eberhardt’s death might have been one of his first crimes, according to the Fair Lawn Police Department. Authorities decided not to pursue additional criminal charges if the confession was obtained.
“In order to provide closure to the family, additional charges are not being sought in this case,” the Fair Lawn Police Department said in a statement. he said.
Fair Lawn detectives began interviewing Cottingham in 2021, the police department said. Soon Cottingham’s confidants, Dr. They met and formed relationships with Peter Vronsky and Jennifer Weiss. Over the next four years, detectives from Fair Lawn, the New Jersey State Police, and the Bergen County District Attorney’s Office conducted a series of personal interviews with Cottingham.
In November, Fair Lawn detectives were told Cottingham was in failing health and wanted to speak with them. The Fair Lawn Police Department said two additional interviews were conducted with detectives.
At the last interview in December, Cottingham made a full verbal confession and later made a written confession admitting to killing Eberhardt, police said. Police said these confessions contained information about the circumstances leading up to the crime, the home and details about the murder that were not publicly disclosed.
Victim’s family has ‘a long overdue sense of peace’
Eberhardt’s family, in a statement through his nephew Michael Smith, thanked the Fair Lawn Police Department for their work and persistence.
“Our family has been waiting for the truth since 1965. Getting this news over the holidays and being able to tell my mother, Alys’ sister, that we had finally found the answers was a moment I never saw coming,” Smith said. “As Alys’s niece, I am deeply touched that our family was finally able to honor her memory with the truth. Your efforts have brought a long-overdue sense of peace to our family and proven that victims like Alys are never forgotten, no matter how much time passes.
“Richard Cottingham is the embodiment of evil, yet I am grateful that he has chosen to finally answer the questions that have plagued our family for decades. We may never know why, but at least we finally know who he is.”
Who is ‘Body Killer’ Richard Cottingham?
Cottingham, now 79 and also known as the “Times Square Matador,” killed women and girls throughout the New York City area, including the New Jersey suburbs. He is known for dismembering his victims and targeting large numbers of sex workers.
Cottingham has been in custody since his arrest in 1980 and is serving three life sentences at South Woods State Prison in Bridgeton, New Jersey. Since his arrest, he has confessed to at least a dozen murders and been convicted in five cases.
Many of these confessions have come in recent years.
Previous confessions: Serial killer known for dismembering his victims admits to strangling two girls in North Bergen
As part of his plea agreement, Cottingham admitted in court in 2022 to the 1968 murders of 23-year-old dance teacher Diane Cusick, who was found strangled in her car in Valley Stream, New York, and four other women: Mary Beth Heinz in May 1972, Laverne Moy in July 1972, Sheila Hyman and Maria Emerita Rosado in July 1973. Nieves in December 1973.
in 2021 He admitted to strangling 17-year-old Mary Ann Pryor and her friend, 16-year-old Lorraine Kelly. In 1974, they dumped their bodies in a motel bathtub and into the woods in Montvale, New Jersey.
Credit: Steve Janoski and Kaitlyn Kanzer, NorthJersey.com
This article was first published on NorthJersey.com: ‘Body Killer’ Richard Cottingham confesses to 1965 murder
