In this episode of Criminal Mischief, Carolyn returns to one of the most disturbing and long-running cases in modern American criminal history: The Torso Killer, Richard Cottingham.

After decades of suspicion, denials, and unanswered questions, Cottingham has now admitted to an additional murder—a development that reignites public scrutiny and raises fresh questions about how many victims may still remain unaccounted for.

Carolyn breaks down what this new admission means, why it matters, and what investigators and advocates have been pushing for all along: accountability, documentation, and the truth—no matter how late it comes.

To deepen the conversation, Carolyn sits down with serial killer historian and author Peter Vronsky (author of The Golden Age of Serial Killers), one of the voices who has helped keep pressure on law enforcement and institutions to continue revisiting Cottingham’s case. Together, they explore the cultural, institutional, and investigative forces that allowed serial predators like Cottingham to operate—and why these cases so often remain unresolved for decades.

This is an episode about belated truth, persistent advocacy, and the chilling reality that, in some cases, the full story may still be unfolding.

In This Episode

    •    Carolyn’s latest update on Richard Cottingham, “The Torso Killer”

    •    Cottingham’s recent admission to an additional murder

    •    What this means for the broader list of suspected victims

    •    Interview with historian and author Richard Vronsky (The Golden Age of Serial Killers)

    •    Why ongoing pressure matters—even decades later

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