Torso Killer Richard Cottingham confesses to 1965 New Jersey teen's murder

Richard Cottingham, long linked to a series of killings, confessed to the 1965 death of 18-year-old Alys Eberhardt in Fair Lawn, New Jersey; police say he is already serving multiple life sentences and will not be prosecuted for this case.

Richard Cottingham, known in press accounts as the "Torso Killer," has confessed to the 1965 killing of 18-year-old Alys Eberhardt at her Fair Lawn, New Jersey, home, authorities reported. Eberhardt was found dead on Sept. 24, 1965. Fair Lawn police say the town's only unsolved homicide was reopened in 2021 and investigators interviewed Cottingham several times before he provided a full confession. Cottingham, now 79, is already serving multiple life sentences and law enforcement announced he will not face prosecution for this case. Known details: - Richard Cottingham admitted responsibility for the 1965 death of 18-year-old Alys Eberhardt, according to Fair Lawn police. - Eberhardt was found dead on Sept. 24, 1965; her case was the only unsolved homicide in Fair Lawn and was reopened in 2021. - Police have linked Cottingham to more than 20 murders in New York and New Jersey from the 1960s and 1970s, while some of his wider claims remain under review. - Cottingham is serving multiple life sentences and authorities said he will not be prosecuted for Eberhardt's death. Summary: The confession brings closure to a decades-old investigation in Fair Lawn and reinforces investigators' ties between Cottingham and a series of historical murders. Police say no additional prosecution will occur in this matter, and no further legal action has been announced.