The chilling saga of the Boston Strangler remains one of the most infamous and debated criminal cases in American history, centering on the perpetrator linked to the murders of 13 women across Massachusetts between 1962 and 1964. This article delves into the complex and disturbing life of Albert DeSalvo, the man who confessed to the killings, examining the evidence, the legal proceedings, and the enduring controversies surrounding his identity as the notorious serial killer. DeSalvo’s life trajectory, from petty crime to mass murder, offers a grim study in criminal psychology and the challenges inherent in high-profile investigations.

The Reign of Terror in Massachusetts

Between June 1962 and January 1964, a wave of terror gripped the Greater Boston area. Thirteen women, ranging in age from 19 to 85, were murdered, each death initially appearing distinct but eventually linked by investigators due to similarities in the method of assault and the circumstances surrounding the victims. The media quickly dubbed the unknown assailant the "Boston Strangler," a moniker that captured the public's growing fear. The victims were found in various locations—some in their own apartments, others in secluded areas—and the methods of strangulation varied, including manual strangulation, ligature strangulation, and strangulation following sexual assault. The sheer scope and baffling nature of the crimes overwhelmed local law enforcement agencies. The lack of forensic technology commensurate with today's standards meant that investigators relied heavily on witness descriptions, physical evidence collection (which was rudimentary by modern standards), and painstaking detective work. The pressure on the police department was immense, leading to widespread public anxiety and intense media scrutiny.

Albert DeSalvo: A Profile Emerges

Albert Henry DeSalvo was not immediately the prime suspect in the Strangler case. Born in 1931, his early life was marked by instability and minor delinquency. However, as the Strangler investigation stalled, DeSalvo's own criminal activities began to draw attention, albeit initially for different offenses. DeSalvo had a documented history of violence and sexual offenses, including breaking and entering, assault, and rape, which placed him on the radar of law enforcement even before the Strangler case reached its climax. DeSalvo was known by several aliases during his criminal career, including the "Measuring Man" for his habit of using tape measures during home invasions to ensure he could fit through tight spaces. His modus operandi in non-strangulation crimes often involved binding his victims, a detail that would later become central to his confession.

The Confession and Legal Fallout

The breakthrough in the Boston Strangler case, arguably, came through a complex confluence of events, rather than a single piece of irrefutable evidence linking DeSalvo directly to all 13 murders. In late 1964, following the murder of Mary Sullivan—the final confirmed victim—the investigation intensified. DeSalvo was ultimately apprehended in early 1965, not for the strangulations, but for a series of armed robberies and sexual assaults. While incarcerated, DeSalvo began making startling admissions to a court-appointed psychiatrist, Dr. Ames Robey, claiming responsibility for the Boston Strangler murders. The confession was highly detailed and sensational. DeSalvo described specific details about the victims and the crime scenes that had not been released to the public. For instance, he claimed to have posed victims in specific ways or mentioned specific items found at the scene. As Dr. Robey later testified, DeSalvo appeared to have a split personality, referring to one persona as the "Boston Strangler." However, the confession was immediately fraught with complications. DeSalvo confessed to 11 murders, missing two of the officially recognized 13 victims. Furthermore, some details he provided contradicted known facts of the case or involved crimes attributed to other assailants. A critical element in securing the legal connection was the testimony of a cellmate, who claimed DeSalvo demonstrated knowledge of the crimes. However, the physical evidence linking DeSalvo to all 13 victims remained tenuous. The key turning point for conviction was the linking of DeSalvo to the final victim, Mary Sullivan, through the testimony of a witness who identified him as the man who had posed as a water meter reader—a common guise used by the Strangler. DeSalvo was ultimately convicted in 1967 for the murder of Mary Sullivan. He received multiple life sentences for various other crimes, but he was never tried for the other 12 Strangler murders due to the legal ambiguity surrounding his confession.

The Enduring Controversy: Was DeSalvo the Only Strangler?

Despite his confession, the true story of the Boston Strangler remains hotly debated among criminologists, historians, and the families of the victims. The central issue revolves around the inconsistency between DeSalvo’s claims and the physical evidence.

Inconsistencies in the Confession:

1. **Victim Discrepancies:** DeSalvo confessed to 11 murders, not the 13 officially attributed to the Strangler. 2. **Methodology:** While some victims were strangled similarly, the methods used across the 13 cases varied significantly, leading some experts to believe multiple individuals were involved. 3. **Lack of Physical Evidence:** DNA technology, which did not exist in the 1960s, has been a major point of contention. Modern analysis of preserved evidence from the crime scenes has failed to definitively place DeSalvo at every location. In the early 2010s, renewed efforts were made to re-examine the evidence using modern forensic science. In 2013, the Suffolk County District Attorney’s office announced that DNA recovered from the final victim, Mary Sullivan, did not match DeSalvo’s DNA profile. This finding strongly suggested that while DeSalvo may have been responsible for some of the assaults or possibly the Sullivan murder under a separate context, he was not the sole perpetrator of the entire string of 13 murders attributed to the "Boston Strangler." As former Boston Police Commissioner Ed Davis stated during the review, "The focus now is on the evidence. We have to follow the science." This scientific setback cast serious doubt on the neat resolution provided by DeSalvo’s 1960s confession.

DeSalvo's Later Years and Death

Albert DeSalvo spent the remainder of his life incarcerated. He was later deemed legally insane and confined to Bridgewater State Hospital. While institutionalized, he reportedly confessed to additional crimes, further muddying the waters of his legacy. In 1973, DeSalvo was transferred to the maximum-security facility at Walpole State Prison. Tragically, his life ended violently within the prison walls. In November 1973, DeSalvo was found stabbed to death in the prison infirmary. The official ruling was homicide, though the identity of the killer—or killers—was never definitively established. Some theories suggest he was murdered because he knew too much about other inmates, or perhaps because he had implicated others in the Strangler investigation. The death of DeSalvo effectively closed the door on any further confessions or clarifications regarding the Boston Strangler case during his lifetime, leaving investigators and the public with an incomplete and contradictory narrative.

The Legacy of Fear and Investigation

The Boston Strangler case fundamentally changed how law enforcement handled serial investigations. It highlighted the need for better inter-agency cooperation, more rigorous documentation of crime scenes, and the eventual development of forensic science that could withstand the test of time. The fear engendered by the Strangler attacks led to immediate changes in public behavior, especially concerning women living alone in urban areas. The case remains a touchstone in true crime literature and media, frequently revisited in documentaries and fictionalized accounts, precisely because of the ambiguity surrounding the confession. Until advanced DNA technology can definitively link or exclude DeSalvo from all 13 crime scenes, the question of the true Boston Strangler—or Strangler**s**—will persist.