Morbid Instinct: Crime Scene - The Times Square Killer Review

In this episode of Morbid Instinct, Jeremy, Josh, Colette, and Elaine review the Netflix docuseries Crime Scene: The Times Square Killer. The series investigates the gruesome murders committed by Richard Cottingham, also known as the "Torso Killer," against the backdrop of the seedy, porn-filled landscape of Times Square in the 1970s and 80s.

The discussion is mixed, with the hosts critiquing the documentary for spending too much time (specifically the entire second episode) focusing on the history of the sex industry in New York rather than the killer himself. They debate Cottingham's motives, noting his evolution from brutalizing young girls to targeting sex workers, and the disturbing "trophy room" he kept in his house. The crew also touches on the shocking revelation that Cottingham has confessed to over 100 murders (though only 11 are confirmed), his narcissistic need for notoriety, and the chilling fact that he was a family man working a normal job at Blue Cross Blue Shield while committing these atrocities.

Key Highlights
[02:08] Too Much Filler: The hosts express frustration that the documentary spent an excessive amount of time detailing the history of prostitution and porn in Times Square, feeling it detracted from the focus on the actual killer.
[05:23] The Torso Killer: A gruesome discussion on Cottingham's MO, specifically his tendency to dismember victims (cutting off heads and hands) to prevent identification, which earned him his nickname.
[09:02] 100 Murders?: The crew debates the validity of Cottingham's claim that he killed between 80 and 100 women, with some hosts skeptical that he could have gotten away with so many without leaving more evidence.
[21:16] The Trophy Room: A disturbing detail about the room in Cottingham's house where he kept items belonging to his victims, which he locked away from his family, proving his ability to compartmentalize his life.
[22:16] The Brave Coworker: The hosts praise the coworker who testified against Cottingham, providing a diagram Cottingham drew of the hotel where the murders took place, despite Cottingham's intimidating behavior at work.
[26:48] Living Better than Homeless: A moment of frustration as the crew notes that Cottingham, despite his horrific crimes, is living a relatively comfortable life in prison (eating well, as evidenced by his weight gain) compared to homeless people on the street.