Richard Cottingham, born November 25, 1946, is an American serial killer infamously known as the “Torso Killer” or “Times Square Ripper” due to his gruesome acts of mutilation, dismemberment, and torture in several murders. Active primarily from the mid-1960s through 1980 across New York and New Jersey, he targeted women, including sex workers in New York City’s Times Square area and others in suburban locations. Cottingham was arrested in May 1980 after being caught in the act in a motel, leading to convictions for multiple murders—including high-profile cases involving dismembered torsos left in hotels—and sentences of multiple life terms without parole. He is confirmed to have killed at least 19 women, with convictions for nine and additional confessions (including cold cases from as early as 1965 and into the 1970s) obtained in later years through interviews while imprisoned, such as admissions in 2022 to five Long Island murders and more recent confessions in 2026 to older New Jersey cases. Authorities believe his total victim count may be higher, though claims of up to 80–100 killings are considered exaggerated. Cottingham, who outwardly lived as a family man and computer operator, continues to serve his sentences in a New Jersey prison.

Audio version:

Video version:

Please support us on Patreon! Don’t forget to subscribe to our YouTube channel, like us on Facebook, and follow us on Instagram. Also check out Jenny’s horror channel, The Scare Salon, and her true crime channel, Crime Immemorial. Check out Fright On Cue, a cool horror writing journal with image and text prompts.

Please try out TubeBuddy!

And check out our cool merch at our Zazzle store, and some board and card games designed by Jenny at Giallo Games!

Visit Jenny’s Amazon author page! And check out our awesome cookbook!

THANK YOU TO ALL OUR SUPPORTERS! The show is made possible by: Allison, Amanda, Amanda O., Amber, Ambition Writing, Amy H., Anthony, Antonio, Arezo, Arif, Armand, Ashley, Austin, Ben, BlackMarigold, Blake, Brad, Brandon, Brian, Bryce, Bunjip, Bunny, Cady, Calexico Mom, Cami, Chris, Christopher, Ciarra, Cody, Corinthian, creepy crepes, D. Newton, Dae, Damian, Dan, Darkskull, Darren, Dave B., David P., Dean, Denise, Dermot, Dominic, Duncan, Dwayne, Ed, Elizabeth, Elliot, Eric, Erin, Esther, Fade, Feeky, Gareth, Geare, Ginger, Gramthars Hammer, Greg, Gwen, Gwendoline, Hanna, Hayden, Heather, HoboNasty, Holly, Hugo, Iain, Ilse, Ima Shrew, Jaime, Jake A., Jake S., James, James H., Jamin, Jana & Scott, Janet, Jason, Jason W., Jeanette, Jen, Jessica, Jesus, Jill, Joanie, Jocifer, Joe, John A. Brown, John H., John M., Jon R., Jonathan, Jonathan H., Joseph, Juli, Juliana, Justin, Justyn, Karin, Kat, Katrina, Keith, Kelley G., Ken, Kieron, Klaus, Knothead Studios, Kool Kitty, Lana, Lars, Leander, Liam, Lindsey, Logan, Lonna, Lynx_13, Macy, Marcus, Mark, Mary Ellen, Master of Dungeons, Matt, Matthew, Maximillian, Melanie, Melissa, Melissa G., Michael, Miguel, Mike, Misty, Mother of Beasts, Natalia, Nathalie, Nicodemus, Nilay, Noah, Oddcatt, Oli, out_running_erins, Paul, Poppa77 Morrison, Rabbit, Rachel, Rebecca, Rebecca L., Rebecca M., Richard J., Richard & Sheena, Rik, Rob, Robina, Ryan, Samantha, Sandra, Saul, Scarlett, Scott, Sean, seven lines, Shaebie, Shae-Nicole, Sheena, Sophie, Stephanie, Steven Vincent, Stop Prop, Sydney, Tabitha, Tammie, Tanja, Tara, Terrie, TheMysteryGamer, Thomas, Thomm, Tiffany, Timothy, Tina, Travon, Trevor, Trey, Tyran, Valtrina, Vashti, Veronica, Via, Victor, Victoria, Victoria E., Virginia, Weaponsandstuff93, Will S., and Xánada.

Channel art and audio & video editing by Jenny Ashford. Music & sound effects courtesy of freesound.org users jamespotterboy, corsica-s, enjoypa, capturedlv, luffy, kiddpark, and justkiddink. Video clips courtesy of Videezy & Videvo.