> At a Glance
> – Richard Cottingham, already serving three life terms, admits to 1965 Fair Lawn murder of 18-year-old Alys Eberhardt
> – Reopened cold-case team secured confession with never-public crime details
> – Family waited 59 years for answers; no new charges filed
> – Why it matters: Longest-standing local homicide is closed, giving relatives closure and showing cold-case units can crack even decades-old crimes
A 59-year-old homicide that haunted a New Jersey community is officially solved after imprisoned serial killer Richard Cottingham admitted he stabbed and bludgeoned nursing student Alys Eberhardt inside her family home.
The Confession
Fair Lawn detectives reopened the investigation in 2021 and conducted extensive interviews with Cottingham, who has been in state custody since 1981. During those talks he supplied specifics-information police say was never released publicly-confirming he killed Eberhardt.
Fair Lawn Police Department stated:
> “Alys was just 18 years old when her life was tragically taken in her family home in 1965. For nearly six decades, her family lived without answers.”
Why Prosecutors Are Not Filing New Charges
Authorities chose not to pursue additional charges, citing the goal of family closure and Cottingham’s existing three life sentences. The 78-year-old killer is housed at South Woods State Prison, where his failing health reportedly prompted him to clear up lingering cases.
Family Reaction
Nephew Michael Smith told local media:
> “Our family has waited since 1965 for the truth. To receive this news during the holidays, and to be able to tell my mother, Alys’ sister, that we finally have answers was a moment I never thought would come.”
Key Takeaways
- Richard Cottingham confessed to the previously unsolved 1965 murder of Alys Eberhardt
- Detectives verified his account through non-public case details
- No new charges will be filed; Cottingham remains imprisoned on other convictions
- Police credit re-examined evidence and persistent interviews for the breakthrough
- Family members say the admission brings long-awaited closure
The department praised detectives and the Eberhardt family for their perseverance, noting the resolution ensures “Alys Eberhardt is not forgotten-and she never will be.”
