Back to today’s briefing

Story perspectives

Cold Case Closed: Cottingham Confesses to 1965 Murder

1/9/2026

35 8

Summary

Story summary

Richard Cottingham confessed to the 1965 murder of Alys Eberhardt in Fair Lawn, New Jersey, closing an old unsolved case.
Alys Eberhardt, an 18-year-old nursing student, was found beaten in her Fair Lawn home.
Cottingham, 79, provided new details during interviews after the case was reopened in 2021.
Cottingham, who is serving multiple life sentences for other murders, has confessed to several cold cases in New Jersey and New York.

1 of 1

Story summary

Richard Cottingham confessed to the 1965 murder of Alys Eberhardt in Fair Lawn, New Jersey, closing an old unsolved case.
Alys Eberhardt, an 18-year-old nursing student, was found beaten in her Fair Lawn home.
Cottingham, 79, provided new details during interviews after the case was reopened in 2021.
Cottingham, who is serving multiple life sentences for other murders, has confessed to several cold cases in New Jersey and New York.