New York's Dark Side

Thursday October 10, 1991, was just normal fall day in New York City for most people and started out that way for Tiffany Dixon. After dropping her eight-year-old cousin Israel off at Carroll Elementary School, 12-year-old Tiffany began the four blocks walk through Brooklyn towards her junior high school… She would never make it, vanishing without a trace and leading to a mystery that has yet to be solved decades later… What happened to Tiffany Madia Dixon? This mystery has haunted me since I came across her story earlier this year. While there's not a lot of information to go on, and as far as I can tell, there's been no publicized persons of interest, I want to share her story in the hopes that someone knows something that may help solve this mystery.

⁠Episode Transcript⁠⁠

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Have feedback or want to get in contact with Amanda? Reach out via email at [email protected]

The intro theme for this podcast are sections of Nightmare Machine by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com), CC BY 3.0 <⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠>, via Wikimedia Commons

On Tuesday, May 13, 1997, 11-year-old Quin Rong Wu was walking to Public School No. 2 in Brooklyn, New York with her mother. They split ways about 100 yards from the doors to the building, and unfortunately, Quin-Rong would never make it to the school that day, disappearing in broad daylight never to be seen by her family again… What happened to Quin-Rong Wu? Was it the bearded man that a woman would report seeing twice on the subway with a young girl? Or the stranger that people would report seeing hanging around the school? Or was it someone else entirely? That remains a mystery to this day.

Episode Transcript⁠

⁠Check out our Patreon Page!⁠

For all episode sources and additional information about this case, please check out our episode page following this ⁠LINK⁠. 

Don't forget you can also follow the show on the following Social Media Platforms

Facebook: ⁠New York's Dark Side⁠

X: ⁠@NYDarkSidePod⁠

Instagram: ⁠@NYDarkSidePod⁠

Have feedback or want to get in contact with Amanda? Reach out via email at [email protected]

The intro theme for this podcast are sections of Nightmare Machine by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com), CC BY 3.0 <⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠>, via Wikimedia Commons

On the evening of April 1st 2008, in a small hamlet of Killowag, New York, 18-year-old Logan Dougherty was winding down for the night after a long day. He hugged and kissed his mother goodnight and went to bed. When Logan awoke on Wednesday April 2nd, 2008 at 6:00 AM, he found the house empty. The clothing that his mother had set out to wear for her early morning shift at the  Xtra-mart was still set out. It's been almost 16 years, and what happened to Bethanie remains a mystery. This episode is presented by a special guest host, Amanda's long time best friend, Stephanie Yoder.

Episode Transcript

Check out our Patreon Page!

For all episode sources and additional information about this case, please check out our episode page following this LINK.

Don't forget you can also follow the show on the following Social Media Platforms

Facebook: New York's Dark Side

X: @NYDarkSidePod

Instagram: @NYDarkSidePod

Have feedback or want to get in contact with Amanda? Reach out via email at [email protected]

The intro theme for this podcast are sections of Nightmare Machine by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com), CC BY 3.0 <⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠>, via Wikimedia Commons

Monday, October 30, 1967, was a normal day for two young girls who had returned from school and gone up to a bedroom to play. A while later, while peering out of one of the upstairs windows they saw what they would later recount appeared to them a waxy mannequin lying in a car parked on the street below. Curious, they went outside to investigate but when they got closer, to their horror they realized it was a woman lying naked in the backseat of the car. In this episode we finish out our coverage of Richard Cottingham with the stories of the victims he confessed to while serving his life sentences.

Link to our fundraising campaign with the Polaris Project⁠

⁠Check us out on Patreon! ⁠⁠

Source Material Information:

Berlinger, J. (Director). (2021). Crime Scene: The Times Square Killer [Documentary].

Bonvillian, C. (2021, April 30). Infamous New Jersey 'Torso Killer' admits to abducting, torturing, and drowning 2 teens in 1974. Retrieved from Boston 25 News: ⁠⁠https://www.boston25news.com/news/trending/infamous-new-jersey-torso-killer-admits-abducting-torturing-drowning-2-teens-1974/R4NVRGWOPNA7TCWOTJCV765NQI/⁠⁠

Cheng, P.-S. (2022, December 5). Infamous 'Torso Killer' Admits Murdering Long Island Dance Teacher, 4 others. Retrieved from nbcnewyork.com: ⁠⁠https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/long-island-serial-killer-richard-cottingham-diane-cusick-valley-stream-court-murder-torso-killer-nj/3983727/⁠⁠

District Attorney: County of Nassau, N.Y. (2022, June 22). Richard Cottingham Indicted for 1968 Murder Outside Green Acres Mall. Retrieved from nassauda.org: ⁠⁠https://nassauda.org/civicalerts.aspx?aid=1420⁠⁠

Ehrlich, B. (2022, February 5). 'Darkness Enveloped My Soul': The Final Confessions of The Torso Killer. Retrieved from Rolling Stone: ⁠⁠https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/culture-features/torso-killer-richard-cottingham-murder-confessions-1295148/⁠⁠

Gusoff, C. (2022, December 5). Richard Cottingham confesses to 1968 killing of Diane Cusick, 4 other murders on Long Island. Retrieved from CBS News: ⁠⁠https://www.cbsnews.com/newyork/news/richard-cottingham-confesses-to-1968-killing-of-diane-cusick-4-other-murders-on-long-island/⁠⁠

Leith, R. (1983). The Prostitute Murders. New York: Pinnacle Books.

Murphy, M. (2022, August 24). Adult Children of Victims Traumatized by Serial killer. Retrieved from PIX11: ⁠⁠https://pix11.com/news/local-news/adult-children-of-victims-traumatized-by-serial-killer/⁠⁠

Rosewood, J. (2016). Richard Cottingham: The True Story of The Torso Killer. Wiq Media.

Stuart, M. (1971, July 18). Profile of the Killer. The Sunday Record, pp. D-3. Valentin, M. (Director). (2023, 9 March). The Torso Killer Confessions [Documentary].

The intro theme for this podcast are sections of Nightmare Machine by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com), CC BY 3.0 <⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠>, via Wikimedia Commons

On December 2, 1979, firefighters were responding to the Travel Inn Motor Lodge on 42nd Street in Manhattan, two blocks from Times Square where it had been reported that there was a fire in Room 417. A member of the squad, Jim Rogers, entered the smoke-filled room and saw a person lying on one of the rooms double beds. Acting quickly, he pulled the motionless figure from the room to the hallway and prepared to start administering CPR. To his horror, once out of the smoke, he found that the body was missing a head. In this episode we continue our coverage of Richard Cottingham, covering his New York victims and the court proceedings that led to his first convictions.

Episode Transcript

Link to our fundraising campaign with the Polaris Project

Check us out on Patreon! ⁠

Source Material Information:

Berlinger, J. (Director). (2021). Crime Scene: The Times Square Killer [Documentary].

Bonvillian, C. (2021, April 30). Infamous New Jersey 'Torso Killer' admits to abducting, torturing, and drowning 2 teens in 1974. Retrieved from Boston 25 News: ⁠https://www.boston25news.com/news/trending/infamous-new-jersey-torso-killer-admits-abducting-torturing-drowning-2-teens-1974/R4NVRGWOPNA7TCWOTJCV765NQI/⁠

Cheng, P.-S. (2022, December 5). Infamous 'Torso Killer' Admits Murdering Long Island Dance Teacher, 4 others. Retrieved from nbcnewyork.com: ⁠https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/long-island-serial-killer-richard-cottingham-diane-cusick-valley-stream-court-murder-torso-killer-nj/3983727/⁠

District Attorney: County of Nassau, N.Y. (2022, June 22). Richard Cottingham Indicted for 1968 Murder Outside Green Acres Mall. Retrieved from nassauda.org: ⁠https://nassauda.org/civicalerts.aspx?aid=1420⁠

Ehrlich, B. (2022, February 5). 'Darkness Enveloped My Soul': The Final Confessions of The Torso Killer. Retrieved from Rolling Stone: ⁠https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/culture-features/torso-killer-richard-cottingham-murder-confessions-1295148/⁠

Gusoff, C. (2022, December 5). Richard Cottingham confesses to 1968 killing of Diane Cusick, 4 other murders on Long Island. Retrieved from CBS News: ⁠https://www.cbsnews.com/newyork/news/richard-cottingham-confesses-to-1968-killing-of-diane-cusick-4-other-murders-on-long-island/⁠

Leith, R. (1983). The Prostitute Murders. New York: Pinnacle Books.

Murphy, M. (2022, August 24). Adult Children of Victims Traumatized by Serial killer. Retrieved from PIX11: ⁠https://pix11.com/news/local-news/adult-children-of-victims-traumatized-by-serial-killer/⁠

Rosewood, J. (2016). Richard Cottingham: The True Story of The Torso Killer. Wiq Media.

Stuart, M. (1971, July 18). Profile of the Killer. The Sunday Record, pp. D-3. Valentin, M. (Director). (2023, 9 March). The Torso Killer Confessions [Documentary].

The intro theme for this podcast are sections of Nightmare Machine by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com), CC BY 3.0 <⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠>, via Wikimedia Commons

On May 22, 1980, around 9 AM a housekeeper named Eleanor at the Quality Inn Hotel in Hasbrouck Heights, New Jersey was making her usual rounds checking the rooms when she heard screams coming from room 117. Inside, eighteen-year-old Leslie Ann O’Dell had been enduring hours of torture at the hands of one of New York and New Jersey’s most prolific serial killers. The quick actions of the hotel staff at the Quality Inn likely saved the life of Leslie as well as countless other future potential victims. In the first part of our three episode deep dive into the life and crimes of Richard Francis Cottingham, we discuss his attack on Leslie Ann O'Dell and how the actions of the staff of the Quality Inn Hotel led to the arrest of Cottingham and the start of the investigation that would uncover other past victims- solving the cases of the deaths of two other women left at the same hotel- one in 1977 and the other only a few week's before Leslie's attack, as well as the rape and torture of three other women.

Episode Transcript: https://www.nydarksidepodcast.com/episodes-16-20/episode-20-richard-cottingham-the-torso-ripper-part-1/episode-20-transcript

Link to our fundraising campaign with the Polaris Project: https://polaris.gospringboard.com/p2p/NYDSpodcast-polaris-fundraising-campaign

Link to the show's Patreon Page: patreon.com/user?u=90374045

Source Material Information:

Berlinger, J. (Director). (2021). Crime Scene: The Times Square Killer [Documentary].

Bonvillian, C. (2021, April 30). Infamous New Jersey 'Torso Killer' admits to abducting, torturing, and drowning 2 teens in 1974. Retrieved from Boston 25 News: https://www.boston25news.com/news/trending/infamous-new-jersey-torso-killer-admits-abducting-torturing-drowning-2-teens-1974/R4NVRGWOPNA7TCWOTJCV765NQI/

Cheng, P.-S. (2022, December 5). Infamous 'Torso Killer' Admits Murdering Long Island Dance Teacher, 4 others. Retrieved from nbcnewyork.com: https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/long-island-serial-killer-richard-cottingham-diane-cusick-valley-stream-court-murder-torso-killer-nj/3983727/

District Attorney: County of Nassau, N.Y. (2022, June 22). Richard Cottingham Indicted for 1968 Murder Outside Green Acres Mall. Retrieved from nassauda.org: https://nassauda.org/civicalerts.aspx?aid=1420

Ehrlich, B. (2022, February 5). 'Darkness Enveloped My Soul': The Final Confessions of The Torso Killer. Retrieved from Rolling Stone: https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/culture-features/torso-killer-richard-cottingham-murder-confessions-1295148/

Gusoff, C. (2022, December 5). Richard Cottingham confesses to 1968 killing of Diane Cusick, 4 other murders on Long Island. Retrieved from CBS News: https://www.cbsnews.com/newyork/news/richard-cottingham-confesses-to-1968-killing-of-diane-cusick-4-other-murders-on-long-island/

Leith, R. (1983). The Prostitute Murders. New York: Pinnacle Books.

Murphy, M. (2022, August 24). Adult Children of Victims Traumatized by Serial killer. Retrieved from PIX11: https://pix11.com/news/local-news/adult-children-of-victims-traumatized-by-serial-killer/

Rosewood, J. (2016). Richard Cottingham: The True Story of The Torso Killer. Wiq Media.

Stuart, M. (1971, July 18). Profile of the Killer. The Sunday Record, pp. D-3.
Valentin, M. (Director). (2023, 9 March). The Torso Killer Confessions [Documentary].

The intro theme for this podcast are sections of Nightmare Machine by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com), CC BY 3.0 <⁠⁠⁠⁠https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0⁠⁠⁠⁠>, via Wikimedia Commons

On February 26, 1931, the body of vivacious red head Vivian Gordon was found by an oil worker on his way to work in Van Cortland Park. News of her death would dominate the press, catching the attention of Governor Franklin Delano Roosevelt who had already been investigating rumors of corruption in New York City's government. He would urge the commission investigating the government to also look into the murder of Vivian Gordon, as she had reached out to the commission to testify regarding schemes involving the police framing women across New York City to scam them out of thousands of dollars in fake prostitution busts. The death of Vivian Gordon would lead to the downfall of New York City's mayor James J. Walker and the dissolution of Tammany Hall. How's that for revenge?

Episode Transcript: https://www.nydarksidepodcast.com/episodes-16-20/episode-19-vivian-gordon/episode-19-transcript

Episode Sources:

Blakemore, E. (2019, April 22). The Insane 1930s Graft Investigation That Took Down New York’s Mayor—and Then Tammany Hall. Retrieved from History: https://www.history.com/news/tammany-hall-corruption-downfall-fdr-seabury-investigation

Cobb, G. (2022, January 31). New York's Mayor Walker: Charming and Corrupt. Retrieved from The Irish Echo: https://www.irishecho.com/2022/1/new-york-s-mayor-walker-charming-and-corrupt

Cobb, K. R. (5, February 2021). Mayor James J. Walker. Retrieved from NYC DEPARTMENT OF RECORDS & INFORMATION SERVICES: https://www.archives.nyc/blog/2021/2/5/mayor-james-j-walker

Downey, P. (2016). Notorious New Yorkers Vivian Gordon.

Murder on Moshulu. (1931, March 9). Retrieved from Time: https://content.time.com/time/subscriber/article/0,33009,741172-2,00.html

Shteir, R. (2013, February 25). The Dead Woman Who Brought Down the Mayor. Retrieved from Smithsonialn Magazine: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/the-dead-woman-who-brought-down-the-mayor-27003776/

The intro theme for this podcast are sections of Nightmare Machine by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com), CC BY 3.0 <⁠⁠⁠https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0⁠⁠⁠>, via Wikimedia Commons

On October 28, 1999, Susan Fassett was gunned down as she was entering her jeep to head home from choir practice. Investigators would get more than they bargained for as they searched for answers as to who killed Susan. This is a tale of love, betrayal, corruption, extortion, political scandal, and a twisted love triangle that shattered multiple families.

Episode Transcript: https://www.nydarksidepodcast.com/episodes-16-20/episode-18-susan-fassett-a-tale-of-love-betrayal-murder/episode-18-transcript

Episode Sources:

Associate Press. (2001, February 24). Former Water Official Convicted of Murder. Retrieved from The New York Times: https://www.nytimes.com/2001/02/24/nyregion/former-water-official-convicted-of-murder.html

Chen, D. W. (2000, July 8). Sentencing of Ex-G.O.P. Head Caps Scandal in Dutchess County. Retrieved from The New York Times: https://www.nytimes.com/2000/07/08/nyregion/sentencing-of-ex-gop-head-caps-scandal-in-dutchess-county.html

Davis, J., & Stewart, E. (2014, March 22). Disgraced Republican giant William Paroli Sr. dies at 86. Retrieved from Poughkeepsie Journal: https://www.poughkeepsiejournal.com/story/news/2014/03/22/william-paroli-sr-controversial-former-gop-leader-has-died/6730283/

National Law Enforcement and Corrections Technology Center. (2002). Time Proves the Crime. Retrieved from TECH Beat: https://www.ojp.gov/pdffiles1/nij/nlectc/211888.pdf

Packer, H., & Packer, D. (2020). Love Triangle: The Murder of Susan Fassett. Mountain Murders. Mountain Murders Podcast.

Silvernail, D. (2009, October 25). A Murder in Pleasant Valley. (P. Zahn, Interviewer)

Obituary for Fred A. Andros (2002). Poughkeepsie Journal. Pg. 4B Retrieved from: https://www.newspapers.com/article/poughkeepsie-journal-obituary-for-fred-a/46866361/

Dowling, P. (Producer) (2010, October 22) Forensic Files: Three’s a Crowd. Season 14, Episode 4. [Television Broadcast]

Katie & Whitney. (2020, April 10) Breaking Dawn: Murder of Susan Fassett. True Crime Campfire. Spreaker Prime Network. 

The intro theme for this podcast are sections of Nightmare Machine by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com), CC BY 3.0 <⁠⁠https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0⁠⁠>, via Wikimedia Commons

In the 1690's neighboring colonies of Massachusetts and Connecticut were plagued with a hysteria regarding concerns that they were besieged with witches. This is the era of the dark history of the Salem Witch Trials. New York had its own problems, as it fought alone to try to maintain its borders from destruction in the King Williams War. This is the story of Philip and Mary English, Nathanial and Elizabeth Cary, and Goodwife Miller who had all been accused of witchcraft and fled the neighboring colonies to seek safe harbor in New York.

Transcript: https://www.nydarksidepodcast.com/episodes-16-20/episode-17-colonial-new-york-in-the-1690s-witch-trial-hysteria/episode-17-transcript

Join my Patreon to help support the show: patreon.com/user?u=90374045

References:

Blue Anchor Tavern, Site of. (n.d.). Retrieved from Salem Witch Museum: https://salemwitchmuseum.com/locations/blue-anchor-tavern-site-of/

Brooks, R.B. (2002, August 21). The Witchcraft Trial of Philip English. Retrieved from History of Massachusetts Blog: https://historyofmassachusetts.org/philip-english-salem/

Britannica, T. Editors of Encyclopaedia (2020, September 14). King William’s War. Encyclopedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/event/King-Williams-War 

Dunlap, D. (2020, April 6). Seven Badass Women of Salem: Eleanor Hollingsworth & Mary English. Retrieved from Salem Daughters of Darkness: https://www.salemdaughtersofdarkness.com/post/seven-baddass-women-of-salem-eleanor-hollingsworth-mary-english

Ferrera, S. (2023). Accused of Witchcraft in New York. The History Press. 

Godbeer, R. (2005). Escaping Salem: The other witch hunt of 1692. Oxford University Press. 

No Author. Eleanor Hollingsworth. (No Date). WikiTree. https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Unknown-334287#_note-SalemWitch

The intro theme for this podcast are sections of Nightmare Machine by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com), CC BY 3.0 <⁠https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0⁠>, via Wikimedia Commons

Don Bolles had a meeting with a potential informant on June 2nd, 1976 at the Clarendon House Hotel in downtown Phoenix. When his informant didn't arrive and he was going to leave the parking lot, his car exploded, leaving him mangled in the parking lot. There would be a lot of questions raised regarding his homicide, some that are still unanswered to this day. One of those questions was if there was a connection to a Buffalo, New York multi-million dollar organization- The Emprise Corporation. We dive deeper into the rabbit hole of this case in part two.

Episode Transcript LINK

References:

Adamson v. Superior Court of Arizona, 14898 (Superior Court of Arizona May 29, 1980).

Bradshaw, J. (1976, September 6). The Death of a Reporter Who Knew Too Much. Retrieved from The Stacks Reader: 1976 http://www.thestacksreader.com/the-death-of-a-reporter-who-knew-too-much/ 

Devereux, D. (2012). Devereux Reports. Retrieved from dondevereux.com: https://dondevereux.com

Doudna, M. (2023, June 2). 47 years after bombing, friends,fans, and coworkers gather to remember Don Bolles. Retrieved from 12 News: https://www.12news.com/article/news/local/valley/47-years-after-bombing-don-bolles/75-ac66c126-38cf-46c2-a193-fbd318fcfdde

Jacobson, R. R. (2023, September 18). Delaware North Companies Incorporated. Retrieved from encyclopedia.com: https://www.encyclopedia.com/books/politics-and-business-magazines/delaware-north-companies-incorporated

Leitch, C., & Prince, A. (2023, February 7). The Patsy. Voyage Media.

Possley, M. (2012, May). James Albert Robison. Retrieved from The National Registry of Exonerations: https://www.law.umich.edu/special/exoneration/Pages/casedetail.aspx?caseid=3588

Ruelas, R. (2016, July 6). James Robison, accused of bombing Republic reporter Don Bolles in 1976, dead at 90. Retrieved from AZ Central: https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/phoenix/2016/07/06/james-robison-accused-bombing-republic-reporter-don-bolles-1976-dead-90/86001272/

Session Laws Thirty Third Legislature First Regulary Session (State of Arizona January 10, 1977).

STATE of Arizona, Appellee, v. James Albert ROBISON, Appellant, 4127 (Supreme Court of Arizona February 25, 1980).

STATE of Arizona, Appellee, v. John Harvey ADAMSON, Appellant, No. 5155 (Supreme Court of Arizona April 11, 1983).

STATE of Arizona, Appellee, v. John Harvey ADAMSON, Appellant, 5155 (Supreme Court of Arizona, In Banc. April 11, 1983).

State v. Dunlap, 4128 (Supreme Court of Arizona, In Banc. February 25, 1980).

State v. Dunlap, 94-0068 (Superior Court of Maricopa County September 5, 1996).

Whitney, B. (2023, April 20). Daughter of convicted murderer in 1976 Don Bolles car-bomb claims dad was framed. Retrieved from AZ Family: http://www.azfamily.com/2023/04/21/daughter-convicted-murderer-1976-don-bolles-car-bomb-claims-dad-was-framed/

The intro theme for this podcast are sections of Nightmare Machine by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com), CC BY 3.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0>, via Wikimedia Commons