'Torso Killer' admits killing 5 women decades ago near NYC

[Omaha Steve]

Source: AP

MINEOLA, N.Y. (AP) — A serial slayer known as the “Torso Killer” already convicted of 11 homicides admitted on Monday that he also killed five women on Long Island in the late ’60s and early ’70s.

Richard Cottingham was sentenced Monday to 25 years to life for the slaying of 23-year-old Diane Cusick, who was killed in February 1968 after buying shoes at the Green Acres Mall in Nassau County.

As part of a plea deal, Cottingham received immunity from prosecution for the four other killings. The 76-year-old prisoner attended the hearing via a video feed from a New Jersey prison.

“Today is one of the most emotional days we’ve ever had in the Nassau County district attorney’s office,” District Attorney Anne Donnelly said at a news conference where she was joined by several family members of Cottingham’s victims. “In the case of Diane Cusick, her family has waited nearly 55 years for someone to be held accountable for her death.”



Read more: https://apnews.com/article/new-jersey-homicide-f3ddc29a14287aaf57b473feea2399e1?utm_source=Connatix&utm_medium=HomePage

[bucolic_frolic]

1. So now he feels better after getting it off his chest?

Humankind has its broken parts.

[TreasonousBastard]

2. Nothing has been said about how he feels about it all, but...

he did fess up about earlier killings whe he was about to go to trial in NJ. Leads me to think he just might have been glad it was over.

Serial killers are not like the rest of us.

Btw, he was called torso killer becauae it was believed he cut the arms and legs off his victims.

[Irish_Dem]

4. Disclosure is often a part of the plea deal for the benefit of victims' families.

The killer may be offered something in return for disclosing the identity of victims or location of bodies.
Or how the crime was committed, etc.

This brings much needed closure to the families of the victims who went missing.

[Scrivener7]

3. Lots of serial killers seem to work on Long Island.