http://syn2.thecanadianpress.com:8080/mrss/feed/fcf7391a2f354311807f0501c16bde6a MSN - AP World Copyright © 2010-2018 The Canadian Press. All rights reserved. http://www.rssboard.org/rss-specification Wed, 22 Mar 2023 21:29:29 +0000 http://syn2.thecanadianpress.com:8080/mrss/feed/fcf7391a2f354311807f0501c16bde6a/5c0ffd910d5a40769f22f9a3f8967d2b 5c0ffd910d5a40769f22f9a3f8967d2b Mon, 05 Dec 2022 22:51:33 +0000 SHOTLIST:RESTRICTION SUMMARY: PART NO RE-SALE, RE-USE OR ARCHIVE; MUST CREDIT WABC-TV; NO ACCESS NEW YORK; NO USE BY US BROADCAST NETWORKSPOOLMineola, New York - 5 December 2022++LAWYER SOUND IS OFF CAMERA++1. UPSOUND (English) Prosecution lawyer:"On that day, were you inside a vehicle parked at Green Acres Mall in Valley Stream. And when inside that vehicle, with the intent to cause the death of Diana Cusick, did you cause her death?2. SOUNDBITE (English) Richard Cottingham, Convicted Murderer:"Yes."ANNOTATION: A serial slayer already serving a life sentence for murder has also admitted to killing five women on Long Island decades ago. ANNOTATION: Richard Cottingham was sentenced on Monday to 25 years to life in connection with Diane Cusick's death in February 1968. As part of his plea, he received immunity from prosecution for four other murders: Mary Beth Heinz, Laverne Moye, Sheila Heiman and Maria Emerita Rosado Nieves.+WHITE FLASH+WABC - NO RE-SALE, RE-USE OR ARCHIVE; MUST CREDIT WABC-TV; NO ACCESS NEW YORK; NO USE BY US BROADCAST NETWORKSMineola, New York - 5 Decembrer 20223. SOUNDBITE (English) Anne Donnelly, Nassau County District Attorney:"We diligently questioned Mr. Cottingham about his activities here on Long Island, and during those interviews we did not reveal specific facts about the case. We held back information. We did not want a scenario where a serial serial killer would claim credit for a murder he did not commit. In the cases of Mary Beth, Laverne, Sheila and Maria, the defendant knew specific information about the crime scenes and the crime that only the murderer would know."++WHITE FLASH++4. SOUNDBITE (English) Jeanne Heinz, Sister of Mary Beth Heinz:"My feelings are very apparent for the officers I have come to know during this investigation. They have done an outstanding job and they have done so dealing with some horrific cases. They have handled me and the memory of my sister with professionalism, compassion and unwavering commitment to achieve today's outcome. And they do it all with ridiculous schedules and little to no thanks. Well, today, me, my friends and family wish to say thank you. Thank you. Thank you."++ENDS ON SOUNDBITE++STORYLINE:A serial slayer known as the "Torso Killer" already convicted of 11 homicides admitted on Monday that he also killed five women on Long Island in the late '60s and early '70s. Richard Cottingham was sentenced Monday to 25 years to life for the slaying of 23-year-old Diane Cusick, who was killed in February 1968 after buying shoes at the Green Acres Mall in Nassau County.  As part of a plea deal, Cottingham received immunity from prosecution for the four other killings. The 76-year-old prisoner attended the hearing via a video feed from a New Jersey prison. "Today is one of the most emotional days we've ever had in the Nassau County district attorney's office," District Attorney Anne Donnelly said at a news conference where she was joined by several family members of Cottingham's victims. "In the case of Diane Cusick, her family has waited nearly 55 years for someone to be held accountable for her death."Donnelly said Cottingham, believed to be one of the United States' most prolific serial killers, "has caused irreparable harm to so many people and so many families, there's almost nothing I can say to give comfort to anyone."Cottingham has claimed he was responsible for up to 100 homicides. He has been imprisoned since 1980. He is known as the "Torso Killer" because he allegedly cut off the heads and limbs of some of his victims, authorities have said.Authorities believe Cusick left her job at a children's dance school and then stopped at the mall to buy a pair of shoes when Cottingham followed her out to her car. They believe he pretended to be a security guard or police officer, accused her of stealing and then overpowered the the 98-pound (44-kilogram) woman. Cusick's body was found on Feb. 16, 1968. The medical examiner concluded that Cusick had been beaten in the face and head and was suffocated. She had defensive wounds on her hands and police were able to collect DNA evidence at the scene. At the time, however, DNA testing did not exist. Cottingham's DNA was entered into a national database in 2016 when he pleaded guilty to a killing in New Jersey. In 2021, police in Nassau County began running DNA tests again on the cases involving the slain women and came up with a match to Cottingham. Cottingham was working as a computer programmer for a health insurance company in New York at the time of Cusick's death. The other four women Cottingham confessed to killing on Monday were slain in 1972 and 1973. Donnelly said that when detectives questioned Cottingham in prison, he provided information about those four cases that only the killer would know. ===========================================================Clients are reminded: (i) to check the terms of their licence agreements for use of content outside news programming and that further advice and assistance can be obtained from the AP Archive on: Tel +44 (0) 20 7482 7482 Email: info@aparchive.com(ii) they should check with the applicable collecting society in their Territory regarding the clearance of any sound recording or performance included within the AP Television News service (iii) they have editorial responsibility for the use of all and any content included within the AP Television News service and for libel, privacy, compliance and third party rights applicable to their Territory. 'Torso Killer' admits killing 5 women in NY