Decades later, “Torso Killer” was charged with murder in a New York mall

More than five decades after the lifeless body of Diane Cusick was discovered in the parking lot of a mall in of New York In Long Island, authorities have linked her death to the so-called “Torso Killer”, a serial killer has already been convicted of 11 other murders.
The suspect, Richard Cottingham – believed to be one of America’s most prolific serial killers – was taken to second place on Wednesday. murder charge in connection with Cusick’s assassination in 1968.

From a hospital bed in New Jersey, where he is already serving a life sentence for other murders, Cottingham pleaded not guilty.

Diane Cusick was 23 years old when she was killed in the parking lot of Green Acres Mall.
Diane Cusick was 23 years old when she was killed in the parking lot of Green Acres Mall. (Is provided)

While he has claimed responsibility for up to 100 homicides, authorities in New York and New Jersey have officially linked him to just a dozen so far, including Kusik’s death.

He has been a prisoner since 1980, when he was arrested when a motel waitress heard a woman screaming in his room. Authorities found her alive but handcuffed and suffering from sting and knife wounds.

Cottingham asked to be referred by video from the New Jersey hospital on Wednesday because he was in poor health, bedridden and not walking, Judge Karin Fink said. His lawyer, Jeff Gronder, needed to repeat the judge’s questions several times because he had difficulty hearing them, Gronder said.

“He is a violent predator and no matter what he looks like in a hospital bed today, he has not always been a weak old man,” Nassau County Attorney Anne Donnelly told the Associated Press.

Richard Cottingham was revealed as the
Richard Cottingham was revealed as the “Trunk Killer” in 1980. (Is provided)

Authorities believe Cusick, 23, quit her job at a children’s dance school and then stopped at the Green Acres Mall in Nassau to buy a pair of shoes when Cottingham followed her.

Detectives believe she pretended to be a security guard or police officer, accused her of stealing and then beat Cushick, 44, said Nassau County Police Detective Captain Stephen Fitzpatrick.

“He was brutally beaten, killed and raped in this car,” Fitzpatrick said. The medical examiner concluded that Cusick had been hit in the face and head and suffocated until she died.

She had defensive wounds on her hands and police were able to collect DNA evidence at the scene. But at that time, there was no DNA test.

Police interviewed dozens of people, followed in their footsteps and never stopped chasing her killer. But the path went cold.

Darlene Altman, left, daughter of Diane Cusick, watches as Nassau County Attorney Anne Donnelly speaks during a press conference Wednesday, June 22, 2022, in Mineola, New York. More than 50 years after a woman was found dead in her car at a mall in Long Island, prosecutors are expected to announce DNA evidence linking the murder to Richard Cottingham, a serial killer linked to 11 murders in New York and New Jersey between 1965 and 1980. (AP Photo / Mary Al
Darlene Altman, left, daughter of Diane Cusick, looks on as Nassau County Attorney Anne Donnelly speaks during a press conference Wednesday, June 22, 2022, in Mineola, NY. (AP)
Assau County Attorney Anne Donnelly holds a photo of Diane Cusick during an interview with the Associated Press on Wednesday, June 22, 2022, in Mineola, New York. More than 50 years after a woman was found dead in her car at a mall in Long Island, prosecutors are expected to announce DNA evidence linking the murder to Richard Cottingham, a serial killer linked to 11 murders in New York and New Jersey between 1965 and 1980. (AP Photo / Mary Altaffer)
More than 50 years after Cusick was found dead in her car at a mall on Long Island, prosecutors are expected to announce that DNA evidence has linked the murder to Richard Cottingham, a serial killer linked to 11 murders in New York and New York. Jersey between 1965 and 1980. (AP Photo / Mary Altaffer) (AP)

“The police did a great job searching for any information they could find.

“They spoke to hundreds of people at the Green Acres Mall to see if anyone had seen Diane,” Donnelly said.

“Unfortunately, the path went cold and the case got cold.”

In 2021, Nassau County police received information that a suspect who could be responsible for murder in the county, just east of New York, was arrested in New Jersey. They started DNA tests again for colds and ended up in a fight with Cottingham.

Cottingham also led police to believe he was responsible for the death by providing some information about the case, such as telling detectives that he was near a Drive-in Theater, which was next to the mall at the time. But he did not directly confess to Kusik’s death, Donnelly said.

Richard Cottingham, center, known as "Trunk killer," He pleads guilty on Tuesday, April 27, 2021, to two murders in 1974, finally closing the cold case of the death of teenage friends.  (New Jersey Courts via AP)
Richard Cottingham, at the center, known as the “Trunk Killer”, pleaded guilty on Tuesday, April 27, 2021, to two murders in 1974, closing the cold-blooded death of his teenage friends – Lauren Marie Kelly, 16, and Mary Ann Pryor, 17 years old. (New Jersey Courts via AP) (AP)

“It did not give full acceptance. “What he planned was small steps in the path that we were able to take with the help of the police department to complete this story,” he said.

Prosecutors are now examining all the open cases at the same time and running DNA to see if Cottingham may have been responsible for other killings.

“Based on the evidence we have in this case, we are looking at all the murders of young women from 1967 to 1980 to see if we can put together other cases against Mr Cottingham,” Donnelly said.

Cusick’s daughter, Darlene Altman, said she was shocked to see Cottingham on the video in the courtroom. Altman was four years old when her mother was killed.

“It simply came to our notice then. “I felt he was looking at me well,” Altman said. “It was creepy.”

Leave a Comment

error: Content is protected !!