The Boston Strangler

Albert DeSalvo: The Boston Strangler

Albert Henry DeSalvo was born on September 3, 1931, in Chelsea, Massachusetts. His troubled life would later become synonymous with one of the most infamous crime sprees in American history – the Boston Strangler murders. DeSalvo grew up in a challenging environment marked by poverty and family issues. As a young man, he exhibited behavioral problems, and his criminal record included charges of robbery, assault, and disturbing sexual offenses. Despite his troubled past, DeSalvo married and became a father of two children. The terror of the Boston Strangler began in the early 1960s when a series of brutal murders, primarily targeting women, shook the city. The victims were often strangled with articles of clothing, and the crime scenes were marked by signs of sexual assault. The authorities were baffled as the killings continued, spreading fear and panic. In 1964, Albert DeSalvo was arrested for unrelated crimes but began confessing to the Boston Strangler murders while in custody. He claimed responsibility for 13 killings, providing intricate details about the crimes. However, doubts persist about the veracity of his confessions, and some investigators remain skeptical of DeSalvo's involvement in all the cases. DeSalvo was never officially charged with the Boston Strangler murders. Instead, he was convicted of unrelated crimes and sentenced to life in prison. He was murdered in his cell at Walpole State Prison in 1973, leaving the true identity and number of Boston Strangler perpetrators unresolved. The Boston Strangler case remains one of the most mysterious and debated crime sprees in American history, with questions surrounding the accuracy of DeSalvo's confessions and the possibility of multiple perpetrators involved in the gruesome murders.

Known Victims

1. Anna Slesers 55 14th June 1962
2. Mary Mullen 85 28th June 1962
3. Nina Nichols 68 30th June 1962
4. Helen Blake 65 30th June 1962
5. Da Irga 75 19th August 1962
6. Jane Sullivan 67 20th August 1962
7. Sophie Clark 20 5th December 1962
8. Patricia Bissette 23 31st December 1962
9. Mary Brown 69 9th March 1963
10. Beverley Samans 23 6th May 1963
11. Evelyn Corbin 58 8th September 1963
12. Joann Graff 23 23rd November 1963
13.Mary Sullivan 19 4th January 1964

1. Discovered by her own son; Found to be strangled with her belt.
2. Killer left a New Year's greeting card wedged between the toes of her left foot.
3. No info
4. Forensic psychiatrists called in by Police to help profile killer.
5. No Info
6. No Info
7. Suspicions of a 'Mother-Killer' on the rampage are quashed by the latest killing
8. No Info
9. No Info
10. No Info
11. No Info
12. No Info
13. De Salvo posed as a detective, and allowed his victim to live after apologising.

Boston Strangler Comments

Despite all the efforts of all involved trying to solve the case, it was the strangler himself who caused his own capture. On 27th October, 1964, he entered a young woman's home posing as a detective. He tied his victim to the victim's bed, proceeded to sexually assault her, and suddenly left, saying "I'm sorry" as he went. The woman's description to the police led to his identification as Albert De Salvo, with the publication of his photo resulting in women coming forward in droves identifying him as the man who had assaulted them. At this point, De Salvo was not suspected of being involved with the spate of stranglings that had taken place over a period of nearly two years, and wasn't until he was being held on a rape charge that he confessed in great detail his activities as the Boston Strangler. However, there was no evidence to substantiate his confession, and as such, stood trial for earlier, unrelated crimes of robbery and sexual offences. He was sent to prison for life in 1967, but was to be murdered six years later while in his cell.

A Photograph of The Boston Strangler