The ghost of Diane Cusick, a 23-year-old dance teacher, has finally found a measure of peace. More than five decades after her brutal murder in the parking lot of a Long Island mall, authorities have used DNA evidence to link her death to Richard Cottingham, the notorious “Torso Killer,” a serial predator already serving life sentences for 11 other murders.
Cottingham, now a frail and elderly man confined to a hospital bed in New Jersey, was arraigned Wednesday via video feed and pleaded not guilty to second-degree murder charges in Cusick’s case. This latest development adds another grim chapter to the saga of one of America’s most prolific serial killers. While Cottingham has boasted of committing up to 100 murders, only 12, including Cusick’s, have been officially linked to him by law enforcement across New York and New Jersey.
A Cold Case Thawed by DNA: The Diane Cusick Murder
In 1968, Diane Cusick left her job at a children’s dance school and stopped at the Green Acres Mall in Nassau County to purchase shoes. This seemingly ordinary errand turned tragic when Richard Cottingham, then a 22-year-old computer programmer, allegedly followed her into the parking lot. Investigators believe Cottingham, posing as a security guard or police officer, accused Cusick of shoplifting and then overpowered the petite 98-pound woman.
Inside her car, Cusick was brutally beaten, raped, and suffocated. The medical examiner’s report documented the savage attack, noting defensive wounds on her hands. Despite collecting evidence at the scene, including crucial DNA material, the limitations of forensic science at the time prevented investigators from identifying her killer. The case went cold, leaving Cusick’s family, including her then 4-year-old daughter, Darlene Altman, with unanswered questions and a gaping wound of grief.
Decades of Impunity: Cottingham’s Reign of Terror
Cottingham’s reign of terror spanned from the late 1960s to 1980, when he was finally apprehended after a motel maid overheard a woman screaming inside his room. Police found the woman alive, but bound and suffering from bite marks and stab wounds. This arrest marked the beginning of unraveling Cottingham’s horrific crimes. He was subsequently convicted of multiple murders in both New York and New Jersey.
A Tip, a Database, and Justice Delayed: Connecting the Dots
The breakthrough in Cusick’s case came in 2021, spurred by a tip to Nassau County police that a suspect responsible for unsolved murders in the county was incarcerated in New Jersey. This prompted a renewed examination of cold cases, including Cusick’s, utilizing advanced DNA technology. The results yielded a match to Richard Cottingham, whose DNA profile had been entered into a national database in 2016 after a guilty plea in another New Jersey murder.
While Cottingham has stopped short of a full confession in Cusick’s case, he provided investigators with details corroborating his involvement, including information about a nearby drive-in theater that was adjacent to the mall at the time of the murder. This partial disclosure, combined with the irrefutable DNA evidence, has led to the current charges.
Seeking Closure and Further Justice: The Ongoing Investigation
Nassau County District Attorney Anne Donnelly has stated that her office is actively reviewing all unsolved murders of young women from 1967 to 1980, Cottingham’s period of known activity, to determine if he is responsible for other unsolved crimes. This comprehensive review underscores the commitment to seeking justice for all of Cottingham’s potential victims.
For Darlene Altman, now grown and still grappling with the loss of her mother, seeing Cottingham in the courtroom via video feed was a chilling experience. She described his “dead stare” and the unsettling feeling that he was looking directly at her. While the arraignment marked a significant step towards closure, the emotional scars of this decades-old crime remain.
Conclusion: A Legacy of Loss and the Pursuit of Justice
The case of Diane Cusick highlights the enduring power of forensic science to solve even the coldest of cases. While justice has been long delayed, the identification of Richard Cottingham as her killer brings a measure of solace to her family and reinforces the unwavering dedication of law enforcement to pursue justice for victims of violent crime. The ongoing investigation into Cottingham’s potential involvement in other unsolved murders serves as a stark reminder of the devastating impact of serial predators and the continuing need for vigilance and comprehensive investigative work. The specter of the Torso Killer continues to haunt, but with each new revelation, the light of truth shines brighter, offering hope for closure and accountability.
