Skip to content
E|167 UPDATE! The Torso Killer Talks! episode artwork

Jan 13, 2026 54 min

E|167 UPDATE! The Torso Killer Talks!

from Criminal Mischief Hosted by 657804

Criminal Mischief - The Torso Killer Talks! 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 Listen / Follow Follow Criminal Mischief to stay current on ongoing investigations, case updates, and deep-dive interviews. 🎧 LISTEN & FOLLOW If you’re enjoying the show, make sure you’re following the entire Evio Creative lineup wherever you get your podcasts—The Devil Within, The Ides of April, Criminal Mischief, Taboo Treasures, Finding Me with Josh Wolf and more—so you never miss a new episode. ⭐ RATE & REVIEW Ratings and reviews genuinely help independent shows grow. If you have a moment, leave us a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify—it helps more than you think, and yes, we read them. 📺 WATCH & SUBSCRIBE ON YOUTUBE You can now watch full video episodes, clips, and exclusives from all Evio Creative shows on our YouTube channel. 👉 Subscribe to Evio Creative on YouTube and turn on notifications so you don’t miss new drops across the network. 📲 FOLLOW ON SOCIAL Follow us on Instagram for updates, visuals, and behind-the-scenes content: • @thedevilwithinpod • @idesofaprilpod • @eviocreative 🌐 VISIT THE NETWORK Explore all of our shows, projects, and upcoming releases at eviocreative.com ✉️ GET IN TOUCH Have a story, tip, correction, or something you think we should cover? Email us at [email protected] 🔁 SHARE THE SHOW If you know someone who loves true crime, history, horror, or stories that refuse to let go—share the episode. Word of mouth keeps this network alive. 💼 SPONSORS 🧥 QUINCE Luxury essentials at affordable prices. Free shipping + 365-day returns: www.QUINCE.com/MISCHIEF (http://www.quince.com/MISCHIEF) 📱 MINT MOBILE Premium wireless for just $15/month. Switch and get free shipping: http://www.mintmobil.com/DEVILWITHIN 🛰️ EXPRESSVPN Protect your data anywhere. Get up to 4 months free: www.ExpressVPN.com/DEVILWITHIN (http://www.expressvpn.com/DEVILWITHIN) 🌿 MOOD CBD and THC gummies shipped nationwide. 20% off: http://www.mood.com/DEVILWITHIN 🐶 OLLIE DOG FOOD Real, fresh, human-grade meals for your dog. 60% off your first box: http://www.ollie.com/IDES 🔥 MONARCH The only finance app you’ll ever need. For 50% off your first year: http://www.monarch.com/IDES

Episode details come from the podcast's RSS feed.

Embed this episode

Ready to play

E|167 UPDATE! The Torso Killer Talks!

0:00 54:37

No transcript yet.

Requests help us decide what to transcribe next.

Socialite Crime Club Burning Mountain Productions A new take on true crime, former investigators and successful entrepreneurs, energetically discuss their involvement in criminal cases across the country and what it takes to solve complex investigations. Join your hosts, Sy and Keri Ray, as they delight your insatiable desires for scandalous schemes, disgraceful deeds, secret soiree’s and criminal conspiracies. Explicit Crime Insiders LiSTNR Crime Insiders is LiSTNR's home of true crime. DETECTIVES hears from the professionals behind some of the world's most gripping criminal investigations. Hosted by former police officer Brent Sanders, the series features law enforcement operatives who were either first on the scene or painstakingly pieced together evidence long after the dust had settled. Raw, revealing and deeply personal, these conversations take you inside the interview rooms, crime scenes, and sleepless nights that define the pursuit of justice. FORENSICS takes you deep inside the minds and methods of the world’s top forensic experts. Hosted by award-winning journalist and true crime author Dr Liz Porter, these interviews cut through the TV clichés to reveal what forensic science really looks like - up close, complex, and constantly evolving. From the techniques that crack high-profile cases to the breakthroughs that exonerate the innocent, these are the real stories behind the science of solving crime.JUDGEM Explicit Criminal Conduct Creative Babble Criminal Conduct is an investigative true-crime podcast series hosted by John Taylor and Javier Leiva. Season 1: The hosts look into the death of Michelle O'Connell, picking up the investigation where the murdered sleuth, Eli Washtock, left off. Season 2: The investigation of a rogue constable in Kentucky who is accused of planting drugs, stealing money, and shaking people down. Season 3: An American Serial Killer in Paradise: The story of serial killer William Holbert, aka "Wild Bill," and his victims. Season 4: Getting Away with Murder: The Death Investigation of Pravin Varughese Season 5: The Life and Death of Buffalo Jim Barrier Explicit Who Killed Theresa John Allore This podcast was started in January of 2017, about the unsolved murder of my sister, Theresa Allore, who died on November 3, 1978. The project has grown to include unsolved murders of women in Quebec in the 1970s. Now the podcast is simply about justice issues and criminal investigative failures. www.theresaallore.com @justusguy Explicit

Frequently asked questions

How long is this episode of Criminal Mischief?

This episode is 54 minutes long.

When was this Criminal Mischief episode published?

This episode was published on January 13, 2026.

Can I download this Criminal Mischief episode?

Yes. Use the download control on the episode player to save the publisher-provided media file.