'Times Square killer' pleads guilty to 1 woman's murder and admits killing 4 others - CNN

CNN  — 

A antheral known arsenic the “Times Square Killer” – already serving beingness for execution – admitted 5 further cold-case killings Monday successful a New York court.

Richard Cottingham, 76, pleaded blameworthy to 1 number of execution successful the 2nd grade for the 1968 sidesplitting of Diane Cusick, and told the tribunal helium caused the deaths of 4 different women decades ago: Mary Beth Heinz, Laverne Moye, Sheila Heiman and Maria Emerita Rosado Nieves.

The Nassau County DA agreed not to prosecute for those 4 deaths arsenic Cottingham volition beryllium incarcerated for the remainder of his beingness owed to different multi-state execution convictions.

Cottingham has been serving a beingness condemnation for execution since 1981 successful New Jersey authorities prison, CNN affiliate WABC reported, and is present accused of murdering much than a twelve young women and girls successful New York and New Jersey betwixt 1967 and 1980, according to affiliate and CNN reporting.

The admittance brings closure to the Long Island murders that went unsolved for decades, the Nassau County District Attorney’s bureau said.

“For much than 50 years these 5 families waited, hoped and wondered if they would ever find retired who killed their loved one,” said Nassau County Assistant District Attorney Jared Rosenblatt, his dependable breaking and successful tears.

Cottingham was linked done DNA to Cusick erstwhile authorities got a interruption successful the lawsuit successful June.

Cusick, past a 23-year-old creation teacher surviving connected Long Island, near for the promenade to bargain caller dancing shoes and ne'er returned. Her begetter discovered her assemblage successful the backseat of her car successful a promenade parking lot, bound and with an adhesive set implicit her mouth.

Authorities determined she had been strangled.

Cusick’s member Jim Martin called Cottingham a “beast” erstwhile helium spoke successful tribunal Monday. “He turned our lives upside down,” helium said.

“Like it was thing helium strangled the beingness retired of my beauteous sister.” Sniffles were heard echoing though the courtroom arsenic Martin work his interaction statement.

It was his sister who showed the patience to thatch him however to drive, helium said.

“I conscionable privation myself oregon my member would person recovered you successful the streets, and we would person torn you apart,” Martin said to Cottingham.

Diane’s girl Darleen Altman told the tribunal that she was conscionable 3 years aged erstwhile her parent died, “and I person nary memories of her.”

Through sobs, she said the time Cottingham “murdered my parent the lives of everyone who loved her changed forever.”

“There are 4 different families present contiguous who besides got answers to who murdered their loved one. I anticipation we tin each find immoderate measurement of peace,” she said.

Heinz’s assemblage was recovered successful 1972 successful Rockville Centre connected Long Island. Her assemblage was recovered floating look down successful a muddy stream, besides strangled. She was 21 astatine the time.

Laverne Moye, past 23, was recovered successful the aforesaid country aboriginal that year, besides strangled to death. She was the parent of 2 children, authorities said.

In 1973, Sheila Heiman’s assemblage was recovered bludgeoned to decease successful her location connected Long Island. Her hubby had near the location that greeting to spell to a section store, and erstwhile helium came back, helium recovered her dormant successful the bathroom. Her kids were distant astatine summertime camp.

In the wintertime of 1973, Nieves was discovered successful a weeded country of Jones Beach. Nieves, 18 astatine the time, had besides been strangled to death. Park attraction workers recovered her covered successful integrative bags and wrapped successful a grey blanket.

Cottingham simply said “yes” successful tribunal erstwhile helium was asked to admit his relation successful the killings. That helium did not talk further “just goes to beryllium the coward that helium truly is,” Nassau County District Attorney Anne Donnelly said.

“Richard Cottingham killed who helium wanted, erstwhile helium wanted, due to the fact that he’s a serial killer. That is what helium is.” Donelly said.

Cottingham volition dice successful prison, Rosenblatt said.

“I anticipation determination is immoderate justness for the families successful knowing that helium volition unrecorded and instrumentality each enactment successful a situation cell,” said Rosenblatt.

“This suspect took from these women immoderate dreams and goals these women had,” Rosenblatt said.

The adjunct territory lawyer implored Cottingham to inquire for forgiveness.

“For the involvement of immoderate small psyche you have, this is your infinitesimal and your opportunity,” Rosenblatt said.

Cottingham simply replied “no” erstwhile asked by Judge Caryn Fink if helium wanted to bash so. “There are nary words to picture however purely evil you are,” said Fink earlier sentencing him to 25 years to beingness successful situation Monday. The condemnation is expected to tally consecutively to his existent beingness sentence.