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Richard Cottingham: The True Story of The Torso Killer: Historical Serial Killers and Murderers
The prostitutes working New York City's Times Square were more than a little bit nervous.
A deranged serial killer who apparently melted into the crowd was picking up hookers and sadistically torturing them, leaving some girls wondering if there was a real-life Dr. Frankenstein out there attempting to create his own personal plaything from pieces of his dismembered victims.
Some working girls were butchered in seedy hotel rooms, their heads, hands or breasts sliced off, their remains then set ablaze in an effort to dispose of any incriminating evidence.
Others narrowly escaped death, but only after enduring hours of terrifying torture that included brutal bite marks, surface knife slashes and stab wounds that all served as bloody foreplay for frenzied sexual assaults.
Survivors were found bleeding and delirious, unable to remember much due to the cocktail of drugs they'd been given by their assailant. But their bodies told a horrific story that was almost worse than death, and the sadistic calling cards left by the serial killer would eventually tie together victims in this true crime murder spree that crossed two states.
It wasn't until one victim's screams grew loud enough that Richard Cottingham, an American serial killer who was part narcissist, part sadist and all evil, was finally caught by police as he fled his hotel room carrying his bag of torture devices. His capture allowed them to close the books on some of the most horrific murder cases in U.S. history.
This serial killer biography not only unearths Cottingham's sick, twisted crime spree, it also delves into the murderer's psyche, attempting to reveal why an insurance company IT guy's seemingly normal life would devolve into madness.
Among true crime stories, Richard Cottingham's is particularly brutal, and will likely make you look twice at your own coworkers, and wonder what sick secrets they might be keeping.
A deranged serial killer who apparently melted into the crowd was picking up hookers and sadistically torturing them, leaving some girls wondering if there was a real-life Dr. Frankenstein out there attempting to create his own personal plaything from pieces of his dismembered victims.
Some working girls were butchered in seedy hotel rooms, their heads, hands or breasts sliced off, their remains then set ablaze in an effort to dispose of any incriminating evidence.
Others narrowly escaped death, but only after enduring hours of terrifying torture that included brutal bite marks, surface knife slashes and stab wounds that all served as bloody foreplay for frenzied sexual assaults.
Survivors were found bleeding and delirious, unable to remember much due to the cocktail of drugs they'd been given by their assailant. But their bodies told a horrific story that was almost worse than death, and the sadistic calling cards left by the serial killer would eventually tie together victims in this true crime murder spree that crossed two states.
It wasn't until one victim's screams grew loud enough that Richard Cottingham, an American serial killer who was part narcissist, part sadist and all evil, was finally caught by police as he fled his hotel room carrying his bag of torture devices. His capture allowed them to close the books on some of the most horrific murder cases in U.S. history.
This serial killer biography not only unearths Cottingham's sick, twisted crime spree, it also delves into the murderer's psyche, attempting to reveal why an insurance company IT guy's seemingly normal life would devolve into madness.
Among true crime stories, Richard Cottingham's is particularly brutal, and will likely make you look twice at your own coworkers, and wonder what sick secrets they might be keeping.
170 pages, Paperback
Published September 25, 2016
103 people are currently reading
153 people want to read
About the author
Jack Rosewood
91 books146 followersI live in one of the most beautiful places in Florida, Jupiter, with my wife, two kids and our golden retriever, Vincent. I've been a full time author for the last 15 years and I wouldn't trade it against anything in the world!
My father was a journalist and wrote about some of the worst crimes you could ever imagine, and that's where my big interest from serial killers and other horrible crimes comes from. Just to hear my father talk about the evil acts of Ted Bundy as we were out fishing as a kid are some of my best memories.
My father was a journalist and wrote about some of the worst crimes you could ever imagine, and that's where my big interest from serial killers and other horrible crimes comes from. Just to hear my father talk about the evil acts of Ted Bundy as we were out fishing as a kid are some of my best memories.
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
November 19, 2016
Richard Cottingham: The True Story of The Torso Killer: Historical Serial Killers and Murderers (True Crime by Evil Killers Book 20) by Jack Rosewood is a gruesome by interesting book. I didn't know anything about this serial killer before I started this book and now I know too much, ugh! Great background on the killers life and on the murders themselves. The only fault I had with the book is it had no pictures at all. None of the killer who is still in prison and doing over 200 yrs. No picture of the victim when they were alive, none of the sites, nothing. So, these are things readers like to know.
November 6, 2016
This audiobook was very difficult to listen to, not because of the brutality of the crimes, but because of the mangled narration by Gaius M Thynne. His performance is so amateurish and poor that it's inexcusable. He reads slowly and pauses after every phrase as though it contained a period.
The book is far too short and inadequately researched. It lacks real substance. I can't recommend this one. I suspect there are better sources for this information.
NOTE: I received a free copy of this audiobook in exchange for this unbiased review.
The book is far too short and inadequately researched. It lacks real substance. I can't recommend this one. I suspect there are better sources for this information.
NOTE: I received a free copy of this audiobook in exchange for this unbiased review.
June 27, 2023
The overall story was a good one, BUT there were too many grammatical errors to count. The editors of this book ought to be ashamed 🙄🤦🏽♀️
September 28, 2016
Living in the NYCity metropolitan area I can remember the days in Times Square when there was a huge number of sex stores, many of them next to each other, each selling the same selection of pornographic magazines, sex toys and those inflatable dolls for sex driven men who could have their fantasies with. You didn’t have to go into any of these stores to see what they were selling; everything was invisible from the streets through the windows, and especially during the summer when the doors to these stores had been kept wide open. There was a wide range of men constantly walking in and out of these stores, from an ordinary looking guys to well-dressed businessmen.
At the same time there were scores of prostitutes applying their trade in the Times Square area, and just as many seedy, cheap hotel rooms where they could do it. But when the word got out that a possible John, an unbalanced, depraved man was picking them up and then torturing them mercilessly, they became increasingly nervous about who they were picking up.
Once tortured he would then mutilate and dissect them, removing their breasts and other parts of their bodies, including their heads, so what had been left was basically their torso, hence the nickname this sadistic serial killer got. If what he did wasn’t enough, to remove possible evidence that he was the one responsible, he set his victims and the hotel rooms afire.
A major problem regarding Richard Cottingham, is that he was able to easily melt into the crowd of people and tourists who constantly inhabited the Times Square area.
And to make sure his victims didn’t resist his actions he gave them drug cocktails. Luckily there were survivors who were found bleeding, but were too traumatized due to the drugs and sadistic torture they had endured to recall any definitive details of what had happened.
Usually all of his victims screams were ignored and went unanswered until his last intended victim’s screams were loud enough that he fled and in the process got caught.
Once again, Mr. Rosewood succeeds in not only telling his readers the story of this depraved individual and his victims, the author dwells into the psyche of an intelligent, normal looking individual who had a job as an IT technician working for an insurance company; which proves you don’t really know who’s working right next to you on your job, as they might have secrets they don’t want anyone else to know about.
For having written another informative, insightful expose of another mass murderer/serial killer, I’m happy to give this endeavor 5 STARS.
At the same time there were scores of prostitutes applying their trade in the Times Square area, and just as many seedy, cheap hotel rooms where they could do it. But when the word got out that a possible John, an unbalanced, depraved man was picking them up and then torturing them mercilessly, they became increasingly nervous about who they were picking up.
Once tortured he would then mutilate and dissect them, removing their breasts and other parts of their bodies, including their heads, so what had been left was basically their torso, hence the nickname this sadistic serial killer got. If what he did wasn’t enough, to remove possible evidence that he was the one responsible, he set his victims and the hotel rooms afire.
A major problem regarding Richard Cottingham, is that he was able to easily melt into the crowd of people and tourists who constantly inhabited the Times Square area.
And to make sure his victims didn’t resist his actions he gave them drug cocktails. Luckily there were survivors who were found bleeding, but were too traumatized due to the drugs and sadistic torture they had endured to recall any definitive details of what had happened.
Usually all of his victims screams were ignored and went unanswered until his last intended victim’s screams were loud enough that he fled and in the process got caught.
Once again, Mr. Rosewood succeeds in not only telling his readers the story of this depraved individual and his victims, the author dwells into the psyche of an intelligent, normal looking individual who had a job as an IT technician working for an insurance company; which proves you don’t really know who’s working right next to you on your job, as they might have secrets they don’t want anyone else to know about.
For having written another informative, insightful expose of another mass murderer/serial killer, I’m happy to give this endeavor 5 STARS.
May 8, 2017
Richard Cottingham was a sadistic sexual serial killer. He tortured the women he picked up. Most of his victims were prostitutes, since he did not consider them to be real people. His crimes were heinous, and have traumatized the victims and their loved ones forever. His family as well. This book talks about each known victim and their lives, and then their deaths. It is straight and to the point, no extra fluff. It is interesting and talks about serial killers in general as well. I liked this book very much.
March 13, 2017
This book was not quite as good as most of Rosewood's efforts. The story had no foreward thrust; the tale being related with facts that were laid out chronologically, but without any immediacy. The book was just flat. RIchard Cottingham was presented as the worst of the worst as far as the glee with which he tortured then murdered his victims. But an earlier, and far more horrifying story of Robert Berdella, written by the same author, puts this degenerate into a lesser catagory. That is, unless there were aspects of this tale that just weren't presented in such a way that the reader could capture the true horror of the situations. I like Rosewood's books very much, but this one was disappointing to a degree. Still, three stars are warranted because this effort is better than most of the true crime books available.
December 11, 2022
I listened to the audiobook for this and it was so difficult to listen to. The narration is so robotic and actually sounded like a text-to-speech sort of narration and the narrator ends every sentence with this odd inflection. Awful. The book is very short and definitely could've provided more detail. I don't jump at the chance to read Rosewood's books because they are usually littered with spelling errors and this one is no different. The narrator also incorrectly pronounces things too. Cannot recommend.
October 27, 2025
I’ve always been into true crime, and this one was definitely gruesome—especially with all the details about Richard Cottingham’s murders. I had never heard of him before, and wow… his crimes were horrifying. The book also talks about other serial killers, which kept it interesting, but there were a lot of grammar issues that threw me off.
It was a quick read, but honestly, I probably wouldn’t pick it up again or recommend it.
It was a quick read, but honestly, I probably wouldn’t pick it up again or recommend it.
December 10, 2017
Another One
Wow, Mr. Rosewood, you did it again. I had never heard of Mr. Cottingham until I read this book. It is an amazing story and very sad for his victims. I cannot just imagine this. You know, I often wonder when I read your books what your dreams must be like. Keep up the good work.
Wow, Mr. Rosewood, you did it again. I had never heard of Mr. Cottingham until I read this book. It is an amazing story and very sad for his victims. I cannot just imagine this. You know, I often wonder when I read your books what your dreams must be like. Keep up the good work.
December 21, 2017
Eh. It was okay. I was left wondering what he really did, though, to make his murders so bad (in the realm of serial killers). I guess that's something I have to find out about elsewhere. The rest explained a lot, so we've got 3 stars.
November 7, 2016
This is an account of the horrific crimes of Richard Cottingham. A killer I had never heard of before. A truly revolting psychopath. Intense and informative
June 12, 2019
This was gruesome but it was a good read if you are into true crime.
February 12, 2020
Terrible job with editing. Couldnt stand all the grammatical errors.
June 19, 2020
Very detailed book, with a lot of insights.
I really liked it!
I really liked it!
May 12, 2022
Second book about a serial killer I have read. First book I read on kindle.
November 12, 2024
I read this book because I was doing a podcast episode on Richard Cottingham. I dislike rating non fic books especially when it comes to things like murder and crime and therefore I'm going to leave my rating at a 3. I did notice a lot of spelling mistakes in the book and one personal preference was that the book was structures in a bit of a weird way but other than that it was an interesting read. It did feel a bit too informational. It felt as if there was so emotion and just stating the facts but maybe this topic isn't really the right one to be doing that.
September 29, 2016
This is yet another biopic read that’s really hard to put down. It's an insightful and graphically detailed account of some of the most horrific serial killers. In fact, while reading yet another of Jack Rosewoods books, I just had to keep turning the pages yet again. Not necessarily because it's all that enjoyable in any way, shape or form, to delve a little too deeply into the malefic minds of such murderous men, but because I sincerely believe that most people are fascinated in one way or another by serial killers. Perhaps it’s the human morbid fascination with death. I’m not exactly sure. However, maybe it just astounds the average person as to how depraved another individual can be.
Richard Francis Cottingham (born November 25, 1946) is an American serial killer from New Jersey operating in New York between 1967 and 1980. He was nicknamed "the torso killer" due to his habit of dismembering his victims, usually leaving nothing but a torso behind. He was eventually convicted of murder in 1981, after being caught fleeing an attempted murder. Officially Cottingham killed six people but he makes claim to having killed between 85 and 100 individuals. Cottingham is incarcerated in New Jersey State Prison in Trenton, New Jersey.
Cottingham was the first born of three children on November 25, 1946, in The Bronx, New York City. In 1958, when he was 12, his family moved to River Vale, New Jersey. In 1964, he graduated from Pascack Valley High School, in Hillsdale, New Jersey. After graduating, he worked for his father at the Metropolitan Life insurance company until 1966 as a computer operator, while taking computer courses. Cottingham was a computer operator and a well-liked employee at Blue Cross Blue Shield Association in New York from 1966 until his arrest.
Even if you are a seasoned campaigner of true crime, Richard Cottingham: The True Story of The Torso Killer will surely raise more than a few hairs on the back of your neck. It was a good read and the author gave a perspective to these horrific crimes that was both fascinating and intriguing. This was one of the better true crime books that I have read recently.
I would highly recommend this read to all fans of the crime genre. I’m also a big fan of Jack Rosewood so it’s another 5 Stars from me. Well done again!
Richard Francis Cottingham (born November 25, 1946) is an American serial killer from New Jersey operating in New York between 1967 and 1980. He was nicknamed "the torso killer" due to his habit of dismembering his victims, usually leaving nothing but a torso behind. He was eventually convicted of murder in 1981, after being caught fleeing an attempted murder. Officially Cottingham killed six people but he makes claim to having killed between 85 and 100 individuals. Cottingham is incarcerated in New Jersey State Prison in Trenton, New Jersey.
Cottingham was the first born of three children on November 25, 1946, in The Bronx, New York City. In 1958, when he was 12, his family moved to River Vale, New Jersey. In 1964, he graduated from Pascack Valley High School, in Hillsdale, New Jersey. After graduating, he worked for his father at the Metropolitan Life insurance company until 1966 as a computer operator, while taking computer courses. Cottingham was a computer operator and a well-liked employee at Blue Cross Blue Shield Association in New York from 1966 until his arrest.
Even if you are a seasoned campaigner of true crime, Richard Cottingham: The True Story of The Torso Killer will surely raise more than a few hairs on the back of your neck. It was a good read and the author gave a perspective to these horrific crimes that was both fascinating and intriguing. This was one of the better true crime books that I have read recently.
I would highly recommend this read to all fans of the crime genre. I’m also a big fan of Jack Rosewood so it’s another 5 Stars from me. Well done again!
November 6, 2016
Another eye-opening great quickie read by Jack Rosewood.
Here’s another eye-opening great quickie read by Jack Rosewood. It almost seems wrong to say these books are really good when they are about such terrible deeds being done to human beings but they do fascinate me with regard to advances in forensic science, how the killers are caught etc.
As well as the actual crimes, the author provides background information about the killer's early life and upbringing. He had a hobby raising homing pigeons-not a usual hobby for a young lad? But it seems a caring one? Animals, living things-who would expect him to go on to destroy so much human life after this? There are also a few words from school friends at the time.
Oh my goodness, this was eerie! I'd just finished a book the night before I decided to read this next. The date I started this book was 27th October. Then I read the date he murdered his first victim-27th October! Chance coincidences like this all add to the impact a book can make on you at the time. Such an amazing and unexpected twist that some of his victims survived. Cottingham committed unspeakable horrors and the book made me exclaim many times whilst reading it.
I’ve read many of this author’s true crime offerings and again this provided gripping reading-but there were a few little errors. It finishes at approx. 80%-and again there was the H H Holmes bonus chapter: This has been included a few times before-ideally swap the bonus content about a bit I think. (Although for someone who hasn’t read many or any of his others this wouldn’t matter at all). Another fascinating read and of course I’ll be reading more from this author.
Here’s another eye-opening great quickie read by Jack Rosewood. It almost seems wrong to say these books are really good when they are about such terrible deeds being done to human beings but they do fascinate me with regard to advances in forensic science, how the killers are caught etc.
As well as the actual crimes, the author provides background information about the killer's early life and upbringing. He had a hobby raising homing pigeons-not a usual hobby for a young lad? But it seems a caring one? Animals, living things-who would expect him to go on to destroy so much human life after this? There are also a few words from school friends at the time.
Oh my goodness, this was eerie! I'd just finished a book the night before I decided to read this next. The date I started this book was 27th October. Then I read the date he murdered his first victim-27th October! Chance coincidences like this all add to the impact a book can make on you at the time. Such an amazing and unexpected twist that some of his victims survived. Cottingham committed unspeakable horrors and the book made me exclaim many times whilst reading it.
I’ve read many of this author’s true crime offerings and again this provided gripping reading-but there were a few little errors. It finishes at approx. 80%-and again there was the H H Holmes bonus chapter: This has been included a few times before-ideally swap the bonus content about a bit I think. (Although for someone who hasn’t read many or any of his others this wouldn’t matter at all). Another fascinating read and of course I’ll be reading more from this author.
October 6, 2016
I think the only thing I can say about Richard Cottingham (the Torso Killer, aka John Schaefer, aka Carl Wilson, aka Tommy, Blue Cross Blue Shield), thank God he only committed his horror murderers in New Jersey.
Warning: This book contains extremely graphic adult content, violence, or expletive language &/or uncensored sexually explicit material which is only suitable for mature readers. It may be offensive to some readers.
I did not receive any type of compensation for reading & reviewing this book. While I receive free books from publishers & authors, I am under no obligation to write a positive review, only an honest one. All thoughts & opinions are entirely my own.
A very awesome book cover, great font & writing style. A very well written book. It was very easy for me to read/follow from start/finish & never a dull moment. There were no grammar/typo errors, nor any repetitive or out of line sequence sentences. Lots of exciting scenarios, with several twists/turns & a great set of unique characters to keep track of. This could also make another great true crime movie, college PP presentation, or better yet a mini TV series or even a documentary (True Crime; American Crime Story; Investigative Discovery). Your references were great, but you still need to list them at the end of your book in MLA format. That said I will still only rate it at 4/5 stars.
Thank you for the free Goodreads; Making Connections; Author; PDF book
Tony Parsons MSW (Washburn)
Warning: This book contains extremely graphic adult content, violence, or expletive language &/or uncensored sexually explicit material which is only suitable for mature readers. It may be offensive to some readers.
I did not receive any type of compensation for reading & reviewing this book. While I receive free books from publishers & authors, I am under no obligation to write a positive review, only an honest one. All thoughts & opinions are entirely my own.
A very awesome book cover, great font & writing style. A very well written book. It was very easy for me to read/follow from start/finish & never a dull moment. There were no grammar/typo errors, nor any repetitive or out of line sequence sentences. Lots of exciting scenarios, with several twists/turns & a great set of unique characters to keep track of. This could also make another great true crime movie, college PP presentation, or better yet a mini TV series or even a documentary (True Crime; American Crime Story; Investigative Discovery). Your references were great, but you still need to list them at the end of your book in MLA format. That said I will still only rate it at 4/5 stars.
Thank you for the free Goodreads; Making Connections; Author; PDF book
Tony Parsons MSW (Washburn)
February 23, 2017
This is a decent, quick read and full up on facts but didn't delve as deeply into the background of the killer and his intimates as some of my more favorite true crime reads do, but, on the whole it's a pretty good pass at the horrendous doings of the Torso Killer. The narrator of the audiobook had some strange vocal quirks (think Christopher Walken) and odd pronunciation that caught me off guard (the one that sticks in my head is pronouncing epitome as epi-TOHM instead of epi-toe-me) on more than a few occasions, but they were neither so bad nor so frequent that it damaged my ability to enjoy the book.
This audiobook was voluntarily given to me by the narrator, author, or publisher in exchange for an unbiased review.
This audiobook was voluntarily given to me by the narrator, author, or publisher in exchange for an unbiased review.
November 22, 2016
One sick puppy
Richard Cottingham was not only sick, he was sickening. Completely without remorse, he tortured women for many hours because it aroused him sexually.
Like many other serial killers, he felt that women, especially prostitutes, were his toys to do with as he pleased. They didn't exist as persons, but solely to fulfill his sick, twisted fantasies.
If I had proofread this book, I would have corrected 25 errors.
Richard Cottingham was not only sick, he was sickening. Completely without remorse, he tortured women for many hours because it aroused him sexually.
Like many other serial killers, he felt that women, especially prostitutes, were his toys to do with as he pleased. They didn't exist as persons, but solely to fulfill his sick, twisted fantasies.
If I had proofread this book, I would have corrected 25 errors.
October 7, 2016
Another winner from Mr.Rosewood
Excellent narrative from a very talented writer. This book was apparently meticulously researched,filled with interesting facts about the murderer. And the afterward covered a list of other serial killers, with the best explanation of why they kill ,I have read. I am confounded by the motives behind such behavior. This book helped to understand.
Good job,Mr. Ridgewood.
Excellent narrative from a very talented writer. This book was apparently meticulously researched,filled with interesting facts about the murderer. And the afterward covered a list of other serial killers, with the best explanation of why they kill ,I have read. I am confounded by the motives behind such behavior. This book helped to understand.
Good job,Mr. Ridgewood.
November 5, 2016
Richard Cottingham: The True Story of The Torso Killer
: Jack Rosewood
This is a graphic account of serial torture and murder of Time Square prostitutes, that I hadn't heard of before this book. A very sick individual that lived among normal society.
The narration was well done.Gaius M. Thynne voiced this book of inhumanity in a humane way.
"I was voluntarily provided this review copy audiobook at no charge by the author, publisher and/or narrator."
: Jack Rosewood
This is a graphic account of serial torture and murder of Time Square prostitutes, that I hadn't heard of before this book. A very sick individual that lived among normal society.
The narration was well done.Gaius M. Thynne voiced this book of inhumanity in a humane way.
"I was voluntarily provided this review copy audiobook at no charge by the author, publisher and/or narrator."
November 15, 2016
Another great read by Jack Rosewood. This particular sadistic killer was one that I do not remember hearing about before listening to Mr. Rosewood’s book. It is a disturbing story about Richard Cottingham, an unassuming Blue Cross Blue Shield employee and family man who, by his own admission, killed over 85 women. But, he doesn't just murder these poor women, he tortures them for his own sexual sadism.
I was provided a copy of this book for my honest review.
I was provided a copy of this book for my honest review.
October 5, 2016
I love reading about True Crimes. So far all the True Crime books I have read written by Jack Rosewood are excellent. He gives you a look inside a very eveil mind. Very Good Read
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews