A notorious serial killer known as the "Torso Killer" and the "Times Square Killer" has confessed to murdering an 18-year-old New Jersey nursing student, according to police.
The convicted serial killer, Richard Cottingham, has been tied to many murders.
Alys Eberhardt, 18, was "stabbed and bludgeoned to death at her family's home."
"Today, the Fair Lawn Police Department announces the closure of the 1965 murder case of Alys Eberhardt," the New Jersey department announced on Facebook on January 6.
Cottingham has been in prison since 1981 on a string of other murders. In early December, he confessed to an additional five murders along Long Island. According to Patch, he has been linked to at least 11 deaths, some sex workers and others young women or teens that he abducted off the streets.
A website devoted to his crimes describes how he got his name. "Cottingham lured two sex workers to his hotel room, where he tortured, raped, murdered, mutilated and severed their heads and hands," in other murders, the site says. "He then set fire to the mattresses under the torsos and fled with the severed heads and hands in a valise."
The website says Cottingham has claimed to be linked to up to 100 murders, but officially all of those cases have not been made.
In Eberhardt’s case, she was a nursing student when she was murdered inside her family’s home.
"Alys was just 18 years old when her life was tragically taken in her family home in 1965. For nearly six decades, her family lived without answers," the statement says.
"While nothing can undo this loss, we hope that today finally brings some measure of peace to those who have carried this pain for so long. After the case was reopened in 2021, Fair Lawn detectives worked tirelessly to re-examine the investigation," police wrote.
"Over the course of several years, and through countless interviews and persistent effort, Richard Cottingham ultimately provided a full confession, including details that were never publicly known," the police statement continues.
"Cottingham is currently serving three life sentences after being convicted on other murders, as well as being held on out of state murder charges. In the interest of getting closure for the family, additional charges are not being sought in this case."
“Alys was a vibrant young nursing student who was taken from our community far too soon," Chief Joseph Dawicki said in the statement. "While we can never bring her back, I am hopeful that her family can find some peace knowing the person responsible has confessed and can no longer harm anyone else. This case is a testament to the dedication of our officers and to the fact that law enforcement never gives up in the pursuit of justice.”
"This case stands as a reminder that Alys Eberhardt is not forgotten — and she never will be. Our thoughts remain with the Eberhardt family today and always," added the police.