Episode 20- Richard Cottingham: The Torso Killer Part 1

Leslie was attacked by Richard Cottingham at the Quality Inn Hotel in Hasbrouck Heights, New Jersey after he had lured her into coming with him with promises of helping her out of her current situation. Leslie had come to New York City from Washington State to start a new life a few days before, but her vulnerability led to her being sex trafficked around New York City. After hours of torture at Richard's hands, Leslie was able to fight back and her screams were heard by employees at the Quality Inn. Employees would call police, leading to Richard Cottingham's arrest on May 22, 1980. Leslie survived her ordeal and would later testify against him in multiple trials bringing him to justice for his crimes against her and many other women. 

Valorie Street

The beaten and nude body of Valorie Street was found by a maid at the Quality Inn Hotel in Hasbrouck Heights, New Jersey on May 5, 1980. She had been brutally tortured, sexually assaulted, and strangled. Her hands were secured behind her back with handcuffs and she had adhesive tape covering her mouth. Valorie was a sex worker who had signed in to the Quality Inn Hotel the previous morning under the name Shelley Dudley. She had recently come to New York City from Florida. Investigators would be able to pull a thumbprint off the handcuffs that was later matched to Richard Cottingham. 

Mary Ann Carr

On December 15, 1977, 26-year-old Mary Ann Carr went missing from her home at Ledgewood Terrace Apartments. Her body would be found the following day on December 16th in the parking lot of the Quality Inn Hotel in Hasbrouck Heights. She had been beaten, but there were no signs of sexual assault. The key to her the exterior door of her apartment building was found in Richard Cottingham's Lodi Home in a locked room of his basement with items connected to crimes against many other women. 

Karen Schilt

As investigators continued to build their case against Cottingham, they brought in some of the women who had been victims of torture and sexual assault that might be connected to their case. One of the first of those known victims was Karen Schilt on March 22, 1978, a few months after the murder of Mary Ann Carr. Karen was working as a waitress at a bar called Tuesday’s in Manhattan at the time. She was approached in a bar by Richard Cottingham, who bought her a drink. She started to feel unwell and tried to walk home, but was not able to. Cottingham offered her a ride, which she accepted due to her condition. He abducted her and took her to Hasbrouck Heights, New Jersey, where he viciously assaulted her and left her in a ditch near the Ledgewood Terrace Apartment Complex. 

Susan Geiger

On September 10, 1978, Susan Geiger, would have her first encounter with Richard Cottingham. She was walking from an apartment of a regular client at the corner of 47th and Broadway when a man in a 1973 Ford Thunderbird called her over to him. He asked to purchase her services for the night, but she was tired so she gave him the number to where she was staying. He called the following day and they set up a time to meet. They went to a bar in Manhattan. He would purchase her a drink, after which she started to feel unwell. She asked him to take her to a nearby hotel, but he took her to New Jersey. He would viciously assault her at the Airport Hotel and leave her on the bathroom floor of the room. She would attempt to pick him out of mug shots but could only find someone that vaguely resembled him. He would approach her again on the street a few days later, but would be spooked off by a few men that came to check on a distressed Susan. 

Pamela Weisenfeld