In the winter of 1979, the life of a young woman named Deedah Godzari came to a horrific end in a New York City hotel room. A 22-year-old immigrant from Iran, she was found on December 2nd alongside another, unidentified woman. The scene that greeted firefighters was one of unimaginable brutality; both victims had been sexually assaulted, their heads and hands severed in a clear attempt to hinder identification. The room had been set ablaze, further adding to the grim discovery.
For two months, Godzari remained nameless until photos of her clothing were broadcast on the news, leading to her identification.
The investigation into the gruesome slayings eventually led to a suspect named Richard Cottingham, a man who would become known as the 'Times Square Killer' and the 'Torso Killer'. His modus operandi often involved targeting sex workers. Cottingham was arrested and ultimately faced justice for his horrific crimes. He was convicted in 1984 for the murder of Deedah Godzari and the unidentified woman, as well as for other murders he had committed in both New York and New Jersey. Already serving sentences for multiple murders, Cottingham would later confess to a staggering number of killings, claiming his victim count was between 80 and 100.
The tragic story of Deedah Godzari did not end with the conviction of her killer. She had a daughter, Jennifer Weiss, who was adopted shortly after birth. As an adult, Weiss embarked on a quest to learn about the biological mother she never knew. In a remarkable and complex turn of events, her search led her to form an unlikely relationship with Richard Cottingham. Through their interactions, she gained some insight into her mother's final days and, in the process, helped authorities solve other cold cases attributed to the serial killer. Despite Cottingham's confessions, Deedah Godzari's skull has never been recovered, leaving a painful and unresolved aspect to her tragic death.
