Richard Cottingham (born November 25, 1946) is an American serial killer from New Jersey operating in New York between 1967 and 1980. Cottingham was given several nicknames including “The Butcher of Times Square”, “The Torso Killer”, “The New York (city) Ripper”, and “The Times Square Torso Ripper” due to his habit of dismembering his victims, usually leaving nothing but a torso behind. Times Square in the 1970s was a seedy environment and Cottingham took full advantage as he searched for prostitutes to satisfy his desires.

He was eventually convicted of murder in 1981, after being caught fleeing an attempted murder. Officially Cottingham killed six people but he claims between 85 and 100 murders.

Cottingham is incarcerated in New Jersey State Prison in Trenton, New Jersey.

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