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The Boston Strangler is the murderer of 13 women in Greater Boston during the early 1960s. The crimes were attributed to Albert DeSalvo (1931–1973) based on his confession, on details revealed in court during a separate case,[1] and DNA evidence linking him to the final victim.[2]

Key Information

In the years following DeSalvo's conviction – but prior to the emergence of this DNA evidence – various parties investigating the crimes suggested that the murders (sometimes referred to as the "Silk Stocking Murders") were committed by more than one person.[3]

Names

[edit]

Initially, the crimes were assumed to be the work of one unknown person dubbed "The Mad Strangler of Boston".[4] On July 8, 1962, the Sunday Herald wrote that "[a] mad strangler is loose in Boston" in an article titled "Mad Strangler Kills Four Women in Boston".[5] The killer was also known as the "Phantom Fiend"[6] or "Phantom Strangler",[7] due to his ability to get women to allow him into their apartments. In 1963, two investigative reporters for the Record American, Jean Cole[8] and Loretta McLaughlin,[9] wrote a four-part series about the killer, dubbing him "The Boston Strangler".[10][11][12] By the time that DeSalvo's confession was aired in open court, the name "Boston Strangler" had become part of crime lore.

Events

[edit]

Between June 14, 1962, and January 4, 1964, 13 single women between the ages of 19 and 85 were murdered in the Boston area. Most were sexually assaulted and strangled in their apartments. Originally, the police believed that one man was the sole perpetrator. With no sign of forced entry into their homes, the women were assumed to have let their assailant in, either because they may have known him or because they believed him to be a service provider. The attacks continued despite extensive media publicity after the first few murders. Many residents purchased tear gas and new locks and deadbolts for their doors.[13][4] Some women even moved out of the area in response to the killings.[14][4]

The murders occurred in several cities, including Boston, complicating jurisdictional oversight for prosecution of the crimes. Massachusetts Attorney General Edward W. Brooke helped to coordinate the various police forces.[4][15] He permitted parapsychologist Peter Hurkos to use his alleged extrasensory perception to analyze the cases, for which Hurkos claimed that a single person was responsible. This decision was controversial.[4] Hurkos provided a "minutely detailed description of the wrong person", and the press ridiculed Brooke.[15] The police were not convinced that all the murders were the actions of one person, although much of the public believed so. The apparent connections between a majority of the victims and hospitals were widely discussed.[4]

The final victim of the murders was 19-year-old Mary Sullivan, who was raped and strangled in her Boston apartment on January 4, 1964. Three ligatures were wrapped around her neck, and a broom handle was lodged in her vagina. A card reading "Happy New Year" was left by the killer, leaning against her left foot.[16][17][18]

Victims

[edit]
Name Age Date of murder Location of body
Anna Elza Slesers 55 June 14, 1962 77 Gainsborough Street, Boston
Mary Mullen 85 June 28, 1962 1435 Commonwealth Avenue, Boston
Nina Nioma Nichols 68 June 30, 1962 1940 Commonwealth Avenue, Boston
Helen Elizabeth Blake 65 June 30, 1962 73 Newhall Street, Lynn
Edes "Ida" Irga 75 August 19, 1962 7 Grove Street, Boston
Jane Sullivan 67 August 21, 1962 435 Columbia Road, Boston
Sophie L. Clark 20 December 5, 1962 315 Huntington Avenue, Boston
Patricia Jane Bissette 23 December 31, 1962 515 Park Drive, Boston
Mary Ann Brown 69 March 6, 1963 319 Park Street, Lawrence
Beverly Florence Samans 23 May 8, 1963 4 University Road, Cambridge
Marie Evelina "Evelyn" Corbin 57 September 8, 1963 224 Lafayette Street, Salem
Joann Marie Graff 23 November 23, 1963 54 Essex Street, Lawrence
Mary Anne Sullivan 19 January 4, 1964 44-A Charles Street, Boston

DeSalvo's confession

[edit]
Gainsborough Street, site of the first murder attributed to the Boston Strangler

On October 27, 1964, a stranger entered a young woman's home posing as a detective. He tied the victim to her bed, sexually assaulted her, and suddenly left, saying "I'm sorry" as he went. The woman's description of her attacker led police to identify the assailant as DeSalvo. When his photo was published, many women identified him as the man who had assaulted them. Earlier on October 27, DeSalvo had posed as a motorist with car trouble and attempted to enter a home in Bridgewater, Massachusetts. The homeowner, future Brockton police chief Richard Sproules, became suspicious and eventually fired a shotgun at DeSalvo.

DeSalvo was not initially suspected of being involved with the strangling murders. After he was charged with rape, he gave a detailed confession of his activities as the Boston Strangler. He initially confessed to fellow inmate George Nassar.[19] Nassar reported the confession to his attorney F. Lee Bailey, who also took on the defense of DeSalvo. The police were impressed at the accuracy of DeSalvo's descriptions of the crime scenes. There were some inconsistencies, but DeSalvo was able to cite details that had been withheld from the public. Bailey states in his 1971 book, The Defense Never Rests,[20] that DeSalvo got one detail right that one of the victims was wrong about: DeSalvo described a blue chair in the woman's living room. She stated it was brown. Photographic evidence proved DeSalvo was correct.

No physical evidence substantiated his confession. Because of that, he was tried on charges for earlier, unrelated, crimes of robbery and sexual offenses, in which he was known as "The Green Man" and "The Measuring Man", respectively. Bailey brought up DeSalvo's confession to the murders as part of his client's history at the trial in order to assist in gaining a "not guilty by reason of insanity" verdict to the sexual offenses, but it was ruled as inadmissible by the judge.

DeSalvo after his rearrest after escaping Bridgewater State Hospital in 1967

DeSalvo was sentenced to life in prison in 1967. In February of that year, he escaped with two fellow inmates from Bridgewater State Hospital, triggering a full-scale manhunt.[21] A note was found on his bunk addressed to the superintendent. In it, DeSalvo stated that he had escaped to focus attention on the conditions in the hospital and his own situation. Immediately after his escape, DeSalvo disguised himself as a U.S. Navy Petty Officer Third Class, but he gave himself up the following day. After the escape, he was transferred to the maximum security Walpole State Prison. Six years after the transfer, he was found stabbed to death in the prison infirmary. His killer or killers were never identified.

Multiple-killer theories

[edit]

Doubts persist as to whether DeSalvo was the sole perpetrator behind the Boston Strangler murders. At the time of his confession, people who knew him personally did not believe him capable of such vicious crimes. Several factors created doubt that a serial killer was involved, given that they characteristically have a certain type of victim and method of murder: women killed by "The Strangler" were from a variety of age and ethnic groups, and they were murdered using multiple methods.

In 1968, Dr. Ames Robey, medical director of Bridgewater State Hospital, insisted that DeSalvo was not the Boston Strangler. He said the prisoner was "a very clever, very smooth compulsive confessor who desperately needs to be recognized." Robey's opinion was shared by Middlesex District Attorney John J. Droney, Bridgewater Superintendent Charles Gaughan, and George W. Harrison, a former fellow inmate of DeSalvo's. Harrison claimed to have overheard another convict coaching DeSalvo about details of the strangling murders.[22]

DeSalvo's attorney Bailey believed that his client was the killer, and described the case in The Defense Never Rests (1971).[4] Susan Kelly, author of the book The Boston Stranglers (1996), drew from the files of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts "Strangler Bureau". She argues that the murders were the work of several killers rather than a single individual. Former FBI profiler Robert Ressler said, "You're putting together so many different patterns [regarding the Boston Strangler murders] that it's inconceivable behaviorally that all these could fit one individual."[23]

John E. Douglas, the former FBI special agent who was one of the first criminal profilers, doubted that DeSalvo was the Boston Strangler. In his book The Cases That Haunt Us, he identified DeSalvo as a "power-assurance" motivated rapist.[clarification needed] He said that such a rapist is unlikely to kill in the manner of crimes attributed to the Boston Strangler; a power-assurance motivated rapist would, however, be prone to taking credit for the crimes.

In 2000, attorney and former print journalist Elaine Sharp took up the cause of the DeSalvo family and that of the family of Mary Sullivan. Sullivan was publicized as being the final victim in 1964, although other strangling murders occurred after that date. Sharp assisted the families in their media campaign to clear DeSalvo's name. She helped organize and arrange the exhumations of Mary Sullivan and Albert H. DeSalvo, filed various lawsuits in attempts to obtain information and trace evidence (e.g., DNA) from the government, and worked with various producers to create documentaries to explain the facts to the public.[24]

Sharp noted various inconsistencies between DeSalvo's confessions and the crime scene information (which she obtained). For example, she observed that, contrary to DeSalvo's confession to Sullivan's murder, the woman was found to have no semen in her vagina and she was not strangled manually, but by ligature. Forensic pathologist Michael Baden noted that DeSalvo got the time of death wrong. This was a common inconsistency also pointed out by Susan Kelly in several of the murders. She continued to work on the case for the DeSalvo family.[24]

DNA evidence

[edit]

On July 11, 2013, the Boston Police Department announced that they had found DNA evidence that linked DeSalvo to the murder of Mary Sullivan.[25] DNA found at the scene was a "near certain match" to Y-DNA taken from a nephew of DeSalvo. Y-DNA is passed through the direct male lines with little change and can be used to link males with a common paternal-line ancestor. A court ordered the exhumation of DeSalvo's corpse to test his DNA directly.[26] On July 19, 2013, Suffolk County District Attorney Daniel F. Conley, Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley and Boston Police Commissioner Edward F. Davis announced the DNA test results proving that DeSalvo was the source of seminal fluid recovered at the scene of Sullivan's 1964 murder.[27]

[edit]
Poster for the 1968 film The Boston Strangler.
  • Philadelphia 76ers player Andrew Toney was dubbed "the Boston Strangler" because of his outstanding performances against the Boston Celtics; a notable example is Game 7 of the 1982 Eastern Conference Finals.
  • The 1964 film The Strangler was inspired by the unsolved killings.[28]
  • William Goldman's 1964 novel No Way to Treat a Lady and its 1968 film adaptation were both inspired by the multiple-killer theories of the Boston Strangler.[29]
  • The rock and roll band The Standells referred to the Boston Strangler in their 1965 Boston-themed song "Dirty Water" with the lines "have you heard about the Strangler?" and "I'm the man, I'm the man."
  • The 1968 film The Boston Strangler starred Tony Curtis as Albert DeSalvo. Henry Fonda co-starred.
  • The Rolling Stones song Midnight Rambler from their 1969 album Let It Bleed was loosely based on the Boston Strangler.
  • The 1995 film Copycat makes reference to the Boston Strangler.
  • The 2007 novel The Strangler by William Landay depicts the family of an attorney on the Strangler task force.[30]
  • The 2007 novel Strangled by Brian McGrory depicts a Boston newspaper reporter receiving evidence and notes from potentially the same murderer, over 40 years later, and police efforts to suppress the idea that they did not solve the original case.[31]
  • A 2008 film The Boston Strangler – The Untold Story stars David Faustino as De Salvo.[32]
  • The 2010 television film The Front, starring Andie MacDowell and Daniel Sunjata, depicts a detective who reopens an unsolved 1960s murder of a woman who may have been the first victim of the Boston Strangler. The plot suggests that DeSalvo was not the only perpetrator of these Boston murders.[33]
  • The Boston Strangler made an appearance in the episode "Strangler" of CBS's American Gothic, where he was summoned by the antagonist sheriff Lucas Buck to get rid of Merlyn Temple. When Lucas leaves town to attend a convention, Albert De Salvo -aka The Boston Strangler- decides to do more than just try to kill Merlyn.[34]
  • The Boston Strangler was featured as a central figure in the second episode of TNT's Rizzoli & Isles, starring Angie Harmon and Sasha Alexander. The episode was called "Boston Strangler Redux", featuring a new serial killer who killed women with the same names as the original Strangler's victims. He is eventually revealed to have been one of the original detectives investigating the case who tried to frame the man whom he believed to be the real Boston Strangler.[35]
  • He and the Zodiac Killer are featured in Image comics' The Roberts.[36]
  • A waxwork of Albert DeSalvo was featured in an episode of the British comedy series Psychoville. The waxwork comes to life in a fantasy sequence (along with those of John George Haigh, John Christie, and Jack the Ripper), trying to persuade character David Sowerbutts to kill a man by strangling. The others accused him of having several personalities, referencing the 1968 movie.[37]
  • In the 13th episode of the second season of Crossing Jordan titled "Strangled", the characters have a Cold Case party where they role play the investigation into two murders that fit the MO of the Boston Strangler.[38]
  • A Boston hardcore band is named the Boston Strangler.[39]
  • The Rolling Stones released "Midnight Rambler" on the album Let It Bleed in 1969. The song is a loose biography of Albert DeSalvo; the lyric "Well, you heard about the Boston..." followed by a menacing bass guitar chord, is a reference to the killer.
  • A 2016 podcast titled Stranglers delves into the Boston Strangler investigation and features clips of the DeSalvo confession tapes and interviews with relatives of the key players in the investigation, including chief investigator Phil DiNatale's sons.[40][41]
  • Boston Strangler was a 2023 American film based on the real case, and starred Keira Knightley,[42] Carrie Coon, Alessandro Nivola, Chris Cooper,[43] and David Dastmalchian.[44] The film was shot in the Boston area,[45] and was released in the United States on Hulu in March of 2023.

See also

[edit]

Further reading

[edit]

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Boston Strangler

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
The Boston Strangler was the for a —or potentially multiple killers—responsible for the murders of 13 women in the area between June 14, 1962, and January 4, 1964, most of whom were strangled in their own apartments, often after being sexually assaulted. The victims, ranging in age from 19 to 85, included homemakers, professionals, and retirees, and the crimes sowed widespread panic across the city, prompting residents to avoid being alone at home and leading police to form a special in to investigate the escalating of attacks. The killings were characterized by a lack of forced entry in many cases, with the perpetrator posing as a maintenance worker or deliveryman to gain access, and the bodies often posed in humiliating positions. Albert DeSalvo, a 33-year-old factory worker and Army veteran born in 1931, emerged as the prime suspect after his arrest in November 1964 on unrelated charges of assault and robbery as the "Measuring Man," a serial who posed as a model agent to assault women in their homes. While undergoing psychiatric evaluation at in 1965, DeSalvo confessed to attorney and fellow inmate that he had committed all 13 Strangler murders, providing detailed accounts that matched police records, though he claimed no memory of the acts due to blackouts. To avoid the death penalty and secure a life sentence for his client, Bailey arranged for DeSalvo to plead guilty only to the Measuring Man offenses in January 1967, resulting in a term at Walpole State Prison; DeSalvo was never formally charged or tried for the Strangler killings, as prosecutors deemed his confession sufficient for civil commitment but questioned its full veracity. DeSalvo's 1973 stabbing death in at age 42, allegedly by seeking for the crimes, fueled ongoing speculation about his guilt, with some experts arguing the murders showed inconsistencies suggesting more than one perpetrator. However, in July 2013, advanced DNA testing by the Attorney General's office matched DeSalvo's genetic profile to semen evidence from the final victim, 19-year-old Mary Sullivan, providing the first forensic link and prompting exhumation of his remains for further analysis on other cases. Despite this confirmation for Sullivan's January 1964 murder, the remaining 12 killings remain officially unsolved, with debates persisting over whether DeSalvo acted alone or if accomplices were involved, as highlighted in books, films, and journalistic investigations like those by reporters and of the Boston Record American. In October 2025, the Oxygen documentary The Boston Strangler: Unheard Confession released previously unreleased audio tapes of DeSalvo's confession, further fueling speculation about his sole responsibility for the crimes.

The Crimes

Victim List

The murders attributed to the Boston Strangler spanned from June 1962 to 1964, primarily targeting single women living alone in the area, with notable clusters in the summer of 1962 (six victims between June and ) and the winter of 1963-1964 (three victims between December 1962 and 1964). While traditionally linked as 13 murders by the Boston Strangler, some cases exhibit variations in method that have led to debates over single vs. multiple perpetrators. The majority were strangled, often with their own clothing or stockings tied in decorative bows, and most were found in their apartments after the killer gained entry posing as a worker or similar. The following catalogs the 13 officially linked victims in chronological order, including biographical details, discovery circumstances, and .
Victim NameAgeOccupationResidenceDate of DiscoveryCircumstances of Discovery and Cause of Death
Anna Slesers55Seamstress77 Gainsborough Street, Back BayJune 14, 1962Discovered by her son on the kitchen floor, legs spread and housecoat ripped open; strangled with the belt of her housecoat tied in a bow around her neck, sexually assaulted.
Mary Mullen85Retired1435 Commonwealth Avenue, BrightonJune 28, 1962Discovered sitting upright on a couch; died of heart attack, possibly from fright (no strangulation evident).
Nina Nichols68Retired nurse1940 Commonwealth Avenue, BrightonJune 30, 1962Discovered by her sister on the bedroom floor; strangled with a nylon stocking tied around her neck in a bow, sexually assaulted.
Helen Blake65Registered nurse73 Newhall Street, LynnJune 30, 1962Discovered by a neighbor face-down on the bed; strangled and sexually assaulted, nude with a nylon stocking and bra tied around her neck in a bow.
Ida Irga75Retired7 Grove Street, BostonAugust 19, 1962Discovered by her nephew on her back in the bedroom; strangled with a pillowcase tied around her neck, sexually assaulted.
Jane Sullivan67Practical nurse435 Columbia Road, DorchesterAugust 21, 1962Discovered by her sister in the bathtub after several days, body partially decomposed; strangled with nylon stockings, no bow noted.
Sophie Clark20Student315 Huntington Avenue, Back BayDecember 5, 1962Discovered by her roommates in the bedroom (converted living room); strangled and sexually assaulted, nude on the bed with a nylon stocking and petticoat tied around her neck.
Patricia Bissette23Secretary515 Park Drive, FenwayDecember 31, 1962Discovered by her employer in the bedroom; strangled, semi-nude with nylon stockings and blouse tied around her neck (pregnant at the time).
Mary Brown69Unemployed319 Park Avenue, LawrenceMarch 6, 1963Discovered on the floor in the bathroom; strangled, beaten, raped, and stabbed with a fork, partially clothed.
Beverly Samans23Student4 University Road, CambridgeMay 6, 1963Discovered by friends in the bedroom; stabbed multiple times and strangled, door locked from inside, hands tied, no sexual assault evident.
Evelyn Corbin58Executive secretary224 Lafayette Street, SalemSeptember 8, 1963Discovered by her aunt in the bedroom; strangled with two nylon stockings tied in a bow, raped.
Joann Graff23Industrial designer54 Essex Street, LawrenceNovember 23, 1963Discovered by two women in the bedroom; strangled, nude with nylon stockings and leotard tied around her neck.
Mary Sullivan19Secretary44A Charles Street, Beacon HillJanuary 4, 1964Discovered by her roommate in the bedroom; strangled and sexually assaulted, nude and posed on the bed with semen present, nylon stocking and two scarves tied around her neck in a bow.

Modus Operandi and Patterns

The crimes linked to the Boston Strangler exhibited consistent methods of manual strangulation in most cases, typically using ligatures such as stockings, housecoat cords, or pillowcases, often doubled or knotted tightly around the to indicate a frenzied attack. occurred in the majority of cases, with victims frequently found partially undressed and posed in humiliating positions, such as with legs spread apart and clothing ripped or arranged symbolically. These ligatures were often decorative items from the victim's own wardrobe, underscoring a pattern of opportunistic yet ritualistic violence without evidence of prolonged struggle or audible distress from the victims, though some cases involved additional violence like or beating. Entry into victims' residences followed a non-confrontational , with no signs of forced entry, lock manipulation, or broken windows in most incidents; instead, the perpetrator relied on , such as posing as a repairman, delivery person, or utility worker to gain voluntary admission during daytime hours. This approach exploited trust, particularly in apartment buildings where women lived alone or with female roommates, allowing the attacker to approach under the guise of routine services. Victim selection centered on women residing independently in urban apartments, predominantly elderly but spanning ages from 19 to over 80, with many targeted while home alone during the day. Initial cases focused on older women sharing common socioeconomic or professional traits, such as connections to healthcare, but later incidents appeared more random within the victim pool of solitary female dwellers. Geographically, the attacks were concentrated in Boston's core neighborhoods, including Back Bay, Beacon Hill, Roxbury, and , as well as nearby suburbs like , Lynn, and Salem, spanning from June 1962 to January 1964 without a discernible of escalating frequency or territorial expansion. This clustering in densely populated residential areas heightened public anxiety, as the crimes occurred amid everyday routines in familiar urban settings.

Investigation and Suspects

Police Efforts

In response to the mounting murders beginning in June 1962, investigators, including Lieutenant John Donovan of the homicide unit, initiated intensive efforts to link the cases, recognizing patterns such as strangulation and the targeting of single women living alone by late 1962 after at least five victims had been identified. This early linkage prompted public warnings from in 1963, advising women to lock their doors and windows and to avoid admitting strangers into their homes, amid growing public panic. To address the sprawling nature of the crimes across multiple jurisdictions including Boston, Cambridge, and Lynn, Massachusetts Attorney General Edward W. Brooke formed the multi-jurisdictional "Strangler Bureau" in January 1964, a task force of approximately 50 officers coordinated by Assistant Attorney General John Bottomly to centralize investigations and overcome local police silos. Key tactics included door-to-door canvassing in affected neighborhoods to gather witness statements, the creation of composite sketches—such as one by artist Sam Nazzaro in August 1962 based on descriptions of a suspicious man—and a public tip line that generated thousands of leads for police and federal authorities to pursue. The investigation faced significant challenges, including overwhelmed resources as officers sifted through over 5,000 suspects, interviewed 300 known sex offenders, and examined 500,000 fingerprint records without conclusive tying any individual to multiple scenes. Jurisdictional disputes between local departments and further complicated coordination until the task force's formation, while intense media coverage led to leaks that potentially alerted the perpetrator and fueled copycat behaviors, hindering progress. These efforts also briefly pursued early suspects, such as reports of a "measuring man" posing as a modeling scout to gain entry to women's apartments.

Key Suspects Before DeSalvo

During the early stages of the Boston Strangler investigation, police pursued leads on individuals known for non-violent intrusions into women's homes, most notably the "Measuring Man," who posed as a or modeling scout to gain entry and measure rooms or apartments. Reports of this figure surged in and continued into 1964, prompting numerous complaints from who felt threatened but were not harmed; DeSalvo engaged in "Measuring Man" activities in the late 1950s, leading to and . He was arrested on October 27, 1964, for breaking into an apartment and assaulting a , but authorities did not initially connect him to the strangulation murders due to the absence of violence in those earlier cases. Another key figure scrutinized was , a convicted murderer serving time for a 1961 killing, who became a in the Strangler case owing to his criminal background, familiarity with the area, and access to weapons that matched some details. Police interrogated Nassar extensively in 1964, suspecting he might have committed the crimes while on parole or through accomplices, but he was ultimately cleared after providing alibis verified by witnesses and passing a examination that showed no deception regarding the murders. By mid-1964, as the murders appeared to cease, most suspects—including the Measuring Man and others like Nassar—had been eliminated through a combination of failed tests, solid alibis corroborated by employment records or family testimony, and the complete lack of forensic matches, such as semen or hair samples, from the crime scenes. This left the cases unsolved, with over 100 leads pursued but none yielding conclusive proof, frustrating the Strangler Bureau. The release of composite sketches based on victim family descriptions, such as one drawn by artist Sam Nazzaro in August 1962 depicting a dark-haired man in his 30s, led to a flurry of tips and temporary arrests of look-alikes, briefly alleviating public fears by suggesting progress. However, these detentions often proved fruitless, as cleared individuals had no connections to the crimes, perpetuating anxiety among Boston's women who adopted precautions like deadbolts and watchdog groups, yet the unresolved killings continued to dominate headlines and erode trust in .

Albert DeSalvo's Involvement

Background and Arrest

Albert DeSalvo was born on September 3, 1931, in , as the third of six children in a deeply troubled family. His father, Frank DeSalvo, was an alcoholic who physically and emotionally abused his wife and children, including brutal beatings that once led to his imprisonment for assaulting his spouse. Growing up in poverty amid this violence, DeSalvo exhibited early signs of delinquency; he learned to shoplift by age six and was arrested at age twelve for battery and , eventually attending a for his persistent petty crimes during his teenage years. DeSalvo's young adulthood continued this pattern of criminality. After enlisting in the U.S. Army around 1948, where he served as a and earned recognition as a champion in before his honorable discharge in 1956, he struggled to adapt to civilian life. He married Irmgard Beck in 1953, with whom he had two children—a daughter with intellectual disabilities and a son—but his history of offenses persisted, including arrests for , auto theft, breaking and entering, and in the late 1950s. In 1960, DeSalvo embarked on a notorious spree as the "Measuring Man," posing as a modeling scout to gain entry into women's homes, where he would measure them for nonexistent jobs before sexually assaulting them; this led to his arrest and an 18-month sentence. Upon release in 1961, he resumed similar behaviors, evolving into the "Green Man" persona by 1964, dressed in green work clothes to impersonate a while burglarizing homes and assaulting over 300 women across and , though exact victim numbers vary in reports. On November 3, 1964, DeSalvo was arrested in , for and after breaking into a young woman's apartment, binding her with cord, and sexually molesting her. The victim provided a detailed description that matched composite sketches circulated from more than 40 prior assaults linked to the , leading police to identify and apprehend him swiftly at a nearby construction site. Rather than facing immediate trial, DeSalvo was deemed mentally unfit and committed to for psychiatric evaluation, where he underwent observation amid growing suspicions about his involvement in unsolved cases.

Confession and Trial

Following his arrest in November 1964 for unrelated sexual assaults, was transferred to for psychiatric evaluation, where he encountered fellow inmate , a convicted murderer serving as an informant for attorney . DeSalvo confided in Nassar about the Boston Strangler killings, providing specific details that convinced Nassar of his involvement, prompting Nassar to arrange a meeting with Bailey to facilitate a formal . Bailey, already representing Nassar, agreed to take DeSalvo's case, viewing the confession as a means to secure a book deal and financial support for DeSalvo's family while negotiating leniency on other charges. In sessions with Ames Robey at Bridgewater, DeSalvo claimed responsibility for the 13 Strangler murders, describing how he gained entry to victims' apartments by posing as a and strangled them using their own stockings or clothing, often for sexual gratification through molestation during or after the acts. Robey conducted sessions to probe DeSalvo's recollections, during which he detailed motives driven by uncontrollable sexual urges and a desire for dominance over vulnerable women living alone. DeSalvo recounted entering apartments uninvited, engaging in sexual acts, and then strangling victims when they resisted, emphasizing the thrill of the encounters as his primary drive. However, inconsistencies emerged during these interrogations and subsequent police questioning, with DeSalvo providing incorrect details about certain crime scenes, such as victim positions or apartment layouts, while accurately describing others, including the distinctive bowknot ligatures used in some strangulations that matched forensic evidence not widely publicized. Robey noted DeSalvo's exceptional memory for media reports, suggesting he may have incorporated public details to bolster his account, though some elements, like the knot-tying technique, aligned precisely with restricted police information. Despite the confession, DeSalvo was never brought to for the Strangler due to a plea agreement orchestrated by Bailey, as prosecutors deemed the admissions insufficiently corroborated and DeSalvo's mental competency questionable from prior evaluations. Instead, in January 1967, he pleaded guilty to 10 counts of armed robbery and sexual offenses related to his "" assaults, receiving a life sentence from Judge Cornelius J. Moynihan in District Court. DeSalvo served his sentence at Walpole State Prison, where he was found stabbed to death in his cell on November 27, 1973, at age 42, in what authorities suspected was a drug-related attack by fellow inmates, though no arrests followed.

Alternative Theories and Evidence

Multiple Killer Hypotheses

The multiple killer hypotheses for the Boston Strangler murders stem from observed inconsistencies in the scenes and offender behaviors that criminologists argue are unlikely to originate from a single individual. These theories gained traction after Albert DeSalvo's 1965 confession, as investigators and experts noted discrepancies that suggested the involvement of two or more perpetrators operating independently or in loose coordination during the 1962–1964 period. Key evidence supporting multiple killers includes variations in the modus operandi, such as differences in attack times—some occurring during daylight hours when victims were more likely to be home, others at night—and entry methods, with certain cases showing signs of forced entry while many others had none, implying the killer was often admitted willingly. Additionally, the ligatures used for strangulation varied in type and tying method across victims, with some featuring elaborate, decorative knots that differed in complexity and style, pointing to potentially distinct handiwork. These patterns, according to forensic and behavioral analysts, break from the typical consistency seen in single-offender serial crimes. Theories propose the involvement of 2–3 killers, possibly including figures like , DeSalvo's cellmate who was paroled during several murder periods and suspected by some investigators of committing at least a portion of the crimes due to overlapping timelines and his own violent history. Other speculations involve opportunistic "rooftop prowlers" reported during the era's heightened public fear, groups of transient or local offenders exploiting the panic. Susan Kelly's 1996 book The Boston Stranglers extensively argues for multiple perpetrators, asserting that DeSalvo's confession contained inaccuracies derived from media reports and lacked corroboration for most cases, framing the killings as a series of unrelated assaults by different individuals. Expert opinions bolster these doubts; FBI profiler , a pioneer in criminal behavioral analysis, stated that the killings did not conform to a unified psychological profile, with shifts in victim selection, levels, and staging indicating multiple offenders rather than one evolving signature. Victim family members have echoed this skepticism, with relatives of several women, including Mary Sullivan's nephew, publicly rejecting DeSalvo's sole responsibility based on the absence of linking him to their cases and perceived mismatches in his described methods. In the historical context of 1960s Boston, widespread public hysteria—fueled by sensational media coverage and unsolved murders—pressured authorities to seek a swift resolution, leading to a rushed attribution of all crimes to DeSalvo amid limited forensic capabilities like DNA testing. This environment, criminologists note, may have overlooked evidence of multiple actors to provide closure during a time of social unease over urban crime and women's safety.

Forensic and DNA Analysis

Physical evidence recovered from the crime scenes of the Boston Strangler murders included samples from several victims, as well as fibers associated with ligatures used in the attacks. No fingerprints matching were found at the scenes during the initial investigation, contributing to doubts about his sole involvement despite his confession. Post-mortem examinations of the victims revealed consistent causes of death by strangulation, but the ligature materials varied across cases, including nylon stockings, bathrobe cords, petticoats, and other household items tied in neat knots. These autopsies, conducted by medical examiners such as and Dr. Michael Luongo, also documented in many instances and preserved through , though advanced analysis was limited. In the 1960s, forensic technology lacked DNA profiling, relying instead on basic serological tests like blood grouping and fiber comparison, which provided limited linkages between scenes or suspects. DeSalvo's blood type was consistent with some samples recovered, but inconsistencies in other physical evidence raised questions. The absence of DNA capabilities meant that semen and other biological materials could only be examined for basic traits, often insufficient for definitive identification. Over the decades, challenges and evidence degradation—due to exposure to heat, moisture, and time—complicated potential re-examination of the original samples, as biological materials like break down and become less viable for testing. These forensic limitations and evidential variations helped fuel hypotheses of multiple perpetrators in the killings.

Recent Developments

2013 Exhumation and DNA Results

In July 2013, the remains of Albert DeSalvo were exhumed from St. Michael's Cemetery in Peabody, Massachusetts, following a court order granted by Suffolk County Superior Court Judge Joseph Walker. The action was initiated after investigators obtained a familial DNA match between a sample secretly collected from DeSalvo's nephew, Tim DeSalvo, and forensic evidence recovered from the 1964 murder scene of Mary Sullivan, the final victim attributed to the Boston Strangler. Although DeSalvo's family opposed the exhumation, describing it as a "publicity stunt," the process proceeded with support from the victims' families, who had long advocated for advanced testing to resolve lingering uncertainties in the case. Samples extracted from DeSalvo's bone and three teeth were transported to a forensic in Dallas, , operated by Orchid Cellmark, for nuclear DNA analysis using short tandem repeat () profiling. This testing confirmed an exact match with DNA from stains found on Sullivan's body and a blanket at her apartment, providing definitive evidence that DeSalvo raped and strangled the 19-year-old in 1964. The results, announced on July 19, 2013, by Suffolk County Daniel Conley and Edward F. Davis, marked the first concrete scientific link between DeSalvo and any of the Strangler killings, offering partial closure to Sullivan's family after nearly 50 years. A 2001 mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) analysis of a fragment found clutched in Sullivan's hand, compared to profiles from DeSalvo's relatives, yielded no match to DeSalvo. These findings, while affirming DeSalvo's role in the Sullivan , intensified debates over whether a single killer was responsible for all 13 attributed Strangler s, with victims' relatives like Casey Sherman—Sullivan's nephew and an investigative author—continuing to press for further scrutiny to identify additional contributors. The Police Department's unit, aided by a grant, oversaw the effort, though no direct FBI laboratory involvement was reported.

2025 Confession Tapes and Documentary

In 2025, long-lost 16-hour audio tapes of Albert DeSalvo's confession to the Boston Strangler murders were uncovered after being suppressed for decades. These previously unheard recordings were tracked down by author and investigator Casey Sherman, nephew of the final victim Mary Sullivan, from a former Boston police officer who had preserved them. The tapes capture DeSalvo providing detailed accounts of the crimes during sessions in the 1960s, offering raw insights into his claims that had never been publicly released before. Analysis of the tapes reveals significant doubts about DeSalvo's sole responsibility for the killings, including contradictions with the official narrative and evidence that he intended to recant his just one day before his death in in 1973. Experts note inconsistencies in timelines and details across DeSalvo's statements, fueling about possible external influences or coaching during his interrogations, though no definitive proof emerges from the audio itself. These revelations build on prior skepticism from the 2013 DNA exhumation, which linked DeSalvo only to Mary Sullivan's murder but not the others. The Oxygen True Crime special "The Boston Strangler: Unheard Confession" premiered on October 26, 2025, at 6 p.m. ET/PT, presenting the tapes alongside expert forensic and psychological analysis, as well as interviews with victims' family members like Sherman. The two-hour documentary examines how the audio challenges long-held assumptions about the case, highlighting unresolved questions about multiple perpetrators. As of November 2025, the release has sparked renewed interest in re-testing remaining physical evidence with advanced DNA methods, amid ongoing debates over the Strangler's identity, but no new arrests or breakthroughs have been reported.

Cultural and Societal Impact

Media Coverage at the Time

The media coverage of the Boston Strangler murders in the early 1960s was marked by intense sensationalism, particularly in Boston's major newspapers, which fueled widespread public hysteria. Outlets like The Boston Globe and The Boston Herald-Traveler (later merged into the Record-American) published alarming headlines such as "Phantom Strangler Kills Sixth Woman" on August 31, 1962, and "Widow 5th Victim of Strangler" on August 22, 1962, portraying the killings as the work of a single, elusive "phantom" predator. Reporters Loretta McLaughlin and Jean Cole of the Record-American produced 29 articles between January and February 1963, connecting the murders and dubbing the perpetrator the "Boston Strangler," a term that encapsulated the city's terror and quickly became synonymous with the case. This daily barrage of updates, often featuring graphic details of the crime scenes and victim profiles, amplified fears by suggesting an unstoppable maniac targeting vulnerable women living alone. Broadcast media, including television and radio stations in the Boston area, played a significant role in disseminating warnings and expert speculations during the 1962-1964 period. Local news programs and radio broadcasts urged women to exercise caution, such as double-locking doors and verifying visitors, while criminologists and psychologists appeared on air to analyze the killer's possible profile, often emphasizing sexual motivations tied to the victims' solitary lifestyles. These outlets also promoted police tip lines, which received thousands of calls from the , though much of the influx consisted of unsubstantiated rumors and false leads that overwhelmed investigators and diverted resources from the core inquiry. The relentless coverage had profound societal repercussions, instilling among Boston's female population and reshaping daily routines. Women, advised by both media and police to prioritize safety, experienced heightened gender-based anxieties, with reports highlighting the vulnerability of single, older, or working women in urban apartments; many began carrying hatpins for , installing additional locks, purchasing guard dogs, or arranging telephone check-ins with friends and family. Sales of devices surged as a direct response to the fear-mongering narratives, reflecting broader tensions around women's independence in society and prompting some to relocate or cohabitate for protection. Critics at the time lambasted the media for interfering with investigation, arguing that premature of suspect sketches and crime details—such as the use of as ligatures—compromised leads and potentially inspired copycat offenses. Authorities halted McLaughlin and Cole's series in February 1963, accusing the reporters of overstepping by providing a "blueprint" for the killer, while police officials expressed frustration over the frenzy's role in generating unreliable tips that bogged down the multi-jurisdictional . This backlash underscored the era's debates on journalistic amid high-profile crimes, where often prioritized public engagement over investigative restraint. The Boston Strangler case has inspired numerous portrayals in , often reflecting the era's perceptions of and . The The Boston Strangler, directed by and starring as , is a seminal biographical thriller that dramatizes the investigation and DeSalvo's confession as the work of a single perpetrator, emphasizing themes of madness and urban terror in 1960s America. Based on Gerold Frank's book, the movie uses split-screen techniques to convey the disjointed police efforts, portraying DeSalvo as a charismatic yet disturbed villain whose crimes captivated national attention. More recent cinematic treatments shift toward ambiguity regarding DeSalvo's sole responsibility. The 2023 Hulu miniseries Boston Strangler, directed by Matt Ruskin and starring as journalist , focuses on the reporters who uncovered the killings and highlights investigative flaws and emerging doubts about a single killer, influenced by post-confession forensic questions. This portrayal underscores the role of media in shaping public fear while questioning the narrative of DeSalvo as the definitive Strangler. In literature, early accounts reinforced the single-killer storyline, while later works challenged it. Gerold Frank's 1966 true crime book The Boston Strangler, a New York Times bestseller drawn from extensive interviews with DeSalvo, investigators, and victims' families, presents a detailed chronicle of the confessions and manhunt, establishing DeSalvo as the central figure in the murders. In contrast, Susan Kelly's 1995 book The Boston Stranglers (updated in 2013) critiques this view, arguing through analysis of crime scene inconsistencies and witness accounts that multiple perpetrators were likely involved, influencing subsequent skepticism in true crime writing. The case has also permeated television and audio media, contributing to the true crime genre's evolution from sensationalism to evidentiary scrutiny. Episodes like the 2001 Law & Order: Special Victims Unit installment "Redemption" (Season 3, Episode 6) draw directly from the Strangler narrative, depicting a paroled suspect in similar killings and exploring themes of unreliable confessions and parole risks. Podcasts such as ABC News' Truth and Lies: The Boston Strangler (2019) and Stranglers (2016) revisit the evidence in serialized formats, often emphasizing alternative theories and the impact on victims' families, which has helped popularize podcasting as a medium for re-examining unresolved crimes. In 2025, the Oxygen documentary The Boston Strangler: Unheard Confession, which premiered on , 2025, presented previously unreleased 16-hour audio tapes of DeSalvo's confession, offering a raw walkthrough of the crimes and reigniting debates about his guilt through from the suspect himself. Overall, depictions have evolved from portrayals framing DeSalvo as a archetypal monster-villain amid media to contemporary works embracing uncertainty following DNA analyses, mirroring broader shifts in the genre toward nuance and victim-centered storytelling. This progression highlights the case's enduring role in examining societal fears of urban violence and flaws in .

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