Richard Cottingham
Richard Cottingham killed in New York between 1967 and 1980. He became known as “The Torso Killer” for his habit of dismembering his victims, leaving nothing but a torso behind. He was convicted of six murders, but claims to have killed between 85 and 100.
Demographic Info
| AKA | Victims | Sex | Ethnicity | Country | Type | Motivation | Birth | Death |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Torso Killer | 6 | Male | Caucasian | USA | Territorial | Sexual | 1946/11/25 (Bronx, New York, USA) | n/a |
Bibliography
| Title | Author | Sources |
|---|---|---|
| Prostitute Murders, The: The People Vs. Richard Cottingham | Rod Leith | Amazon |
| Torso Killer, The | Rod Leith | Amazon |
Blog Posts
Episode 051: The Serial Killer Cycle, Part 1
on October 21st, 2011 in Podcast Episodes, Psychology, Serial Killers by Brian Combs | 7 CommentsThis week, we look at the serial killer cycle, a theory proposed by Joel Norris in 1988. While the theory is rather lacking in scientific testing, it ties in well with the concept of serial murder as addictive behavior, a concept I believe has considerable merit. Dr. Norris’ “Phases of…
Continue reading...Why Do Serial Killers Target Prostitutes
on December 17th, 2010 in Serial Killers, Victimology by Brian Combs | No CommentsBoth Philadelphia and Long Island seem to currently have serial killers targeting prostitutes. They’re a very common target. Joel RIfkin, Richard Cottingham, and Gary Ridgway targeted sex workers almost exclusively. What makes prostitutes so attractive a target for serial killers? There certainly are mission-oriented serial killers who target prostitutes to…
Continue reading...Episode 005: Power/Control, Hedonistic, Mission-Oriented, Visionary
on November 26th, 2010 in Law Enforcement, Podcast Episodes, Psychology, Serial Killers by Brian Combs | No CommentsRonald M. Holmes and James Deburger developed a system for categorizing serial murderers in 1998. Stephan T. Holmes joined them in developing later versions. The system is now referred to as the Holmes Typology. It was based upon the analysis of case material and interviews from 110 serial murders. Their…
Continue reading...Richard Cottingham Confesses to 43 Year Old Murder
on September 19th, 2010 in Serial Killers by Brian Combs | No CommentsRichard Cottingham (aka “The Torso Killer”) was found guilty of murdering murdering five women between 1977 and 1980, although he claims to have killed between 85 and 100. He received his nickname because he usually left nothing but a torso behind. Last month, he confessed to the 1967 murder of…
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