The true story behind Hulu's new crime drama, 'Boston Strangler,' a serial killer who likely murdered 13 women in the 1960s without leaving a sign of struggle

James PasleyMar 25, 2023, 21:27 IST

A police officer escorts a handcuffed Albert DeSalvo in February 1967.Ollie Noonan/The Boston Globe/Getty Images

In the early 1960s, Boston was terrorized by a string of murders. The victims were all women and were often strangled to death.
In 1964, while in prison on unrelated rape charges, a man named Albert DeSalvo confessed to all of the murders.

For two years in the 1960s, Boston was terrorized by a series of brutal murders.

All of the 13 victims were women, they were usually strangled, there was never a sign of a struggle and it often took place during the day. Bostonians were terrified. Women bought guard dogs, moved houses, and set up telephone check-ins to ensure they were safe.

Eventually, a special police squad was launched to hunt for suspects. It was the region's most intensive investigation ever, but it wasn't just law enforcement that ended the search.

While in prison on unrelated rape charges, a man named Albert DeSalvo confessed to all of the murders. DNA evidence later tied him to at least one murder, but many people still don't believe he was responsible for all of the killings.

During a hot Boston summer in 1962, a few local newspapers noted the murder of a 55-year-old woman named Anna Slesers on June 14. The articles were short. It was a tragedy, but tragedies like this were not rare in big cities like Boston.

Juris Slesers, the son of Anna Slesers, accompanied by a detective after he found his mother's body in 1962.Phil Preston/The Boston Globe/Getty Images

During a hot Boston summer in 1962, a few local newspapers noted the murder of a 55-year-old woman named Anna Slesers on June 14. The articles were short. It was a tragedy, but tragedies like this were not rare in big cities like Boston.

Two weeks later, a second victim — an 85-year-old woman named Mary Mullen — was discovered dead in her home on June 28. Her cause of death was deemed a heart attack.

An older woman holding a paper bag looks over her shoulder as she enters her apartment.Denver Post/Getty Images

Two weeks later, a second victim — an 85-year-old woman named Mary Mullen — was discovered dead in her home on June 28. Her cause of death was deemed a heart attack.

On June 30, a third and fourth victim were found. Nina Nichols, 68, received more news coverage given her relation to the president of the Boston Bar Association.

Boston police detectives meet to discuss the strangling murders in 1962.Dick Fallon/The Boston Globe/Getty Images

A pattern had begun to emerge. Boston Police Commissioner Edmund McNamara told women to lock their doors and not let any strangers inside.

Boston Police Commissioner Edmund McNamara holds a press conference in 1969.Phil Preston/The Boston Globe/Getty Images

But the murders continued, and women in Boston were terrified. They bought locks and guard dogs. They moved in with others and carried hatpins to protect themselves.

A Boston resident with her newly purchased Shepherd Duke to serve as a watchdog, circa the 1960s.Dick Fallon/The Boston Globe/Getty Images

By September 1962, the Boston police department had 150 detectives working the case. The police recognized a pattern that the victims were all women. The strangler appeared to be invited in, and the murders mostly happened in daylight.

Lt. John Donovan talks to reporters at the scene of a murder in January 1964.John M. Hurley/The Boston Globe/Getty Images

By September 1962, the Boston police department had 150 detectives working the case. The police recognized a pattern that the victims were all women. The strangler appeared to be invited in, and the murders mostly happened in daylight.

The murderer was thought to be targeting elderly white women, but in December 1962, a 20-year-old African American student named Sophia Clark was found dead.

Massachusetts Attorney General Elliott Richardson and other police officers speak at a press conference about Albert DeSalvo several years later in 1967.Bettmann/Getty Images

Authorities feared whoever was responsible was getting bold — they had seemingly changed their targets, and for the first time, the suspect had left semen behind.

A police tactical squad to hunt down the Boston Strangler in 1962.Sam Hammat/The Boston Globe/Getty Images

In January 1963, the Boston Record American published an article written by two female reporters named Loretta McLaughlin and Jean Cole, titled "Two Girl Reporters Analyze Strangler." The article went into minute detail about the killings.

Newspaper articles about a potential suspect responsible for the killings from New York.Daniel Portnoy/AP

In January 1963, the Boston Record American published an article written by two female reporters named Loretta McLaughlin and Jean Cole, titled "Two Girl Reporters Analyze Strangler." The article went into minute detail about the killings.

Casey Sherman, who wrote "A Rose for Mary: The Hunt for the Real Boston Strangler," told the Smithsonian Magazine: "If you despised a woman in the 1960s, you had a blueprint on how to commit a Boston Strangler-style murder, because all of the grisly details were printed."

Police check the roof at the back of a building where one of the victims was murdered in 1964.Bettmann/Getty Images

Casey Sherman, who wrote "A Rose for Mary: The Hunt for the Real Boston Strangler," told the Smithsonian Magazine: "If you despised a woman in the 1960s, you had a blueprint on how to commit a Boston Strangler-style murder, because all of the grisly details were printed."

The murders continued. This was the apartment where a 26-year-old woman named Beverly Samans was found murdered in May 1963.

The apartment in Cambridge, Massachusetts, where Beverly Samans’ body was found.Frank Curtin/AP

By January 1964, there had been 13 killings that could be connected to the Boston Strangler.

Five of the victims, including Margaret Cadigan, Sophie Clark, Anna E. Slessers, Jane Sullivan, and Cheryl Laird.Bettmann/Getty Images

The last murder victim was Mary Sullivan found on January 4, 1964.

The other eight victims, including Rachel Lazarus, Helen E. Blake, Ida Irga, J. Delaney, Patricia Bissette, Daniela M. Saunders, Mary A. Sullivan, and Israel Goldberg.Bettmann/Getty Images

A few weeks after her death, Attorney General Edward Brooke took things into his own hands. He launched a special unit of 50 officers called the "Strangler Bureau."

Massachusetts Attorney General Edward W. Brooke speaks to the press in 1961.Samuel B. Hammat/The Boston Globe/Getty Images

The unit investigated about 5,000 people, interviewed 300 sex offenders, and looked through 500,000 fingerprint files.

Boston detectives wrongly arrested a 27-year-old man found sleeping in the bushes near where one of the victims was killed.Joseph Runci/The Boston Globe/Getty Images

It was the region's most intensive investigation ever — and yet they came up with nothing. All the while, investigators weren't sure that they were dealing with one murderer. They thought it was likely there was at least one copycat killer involved.

Boston detectives work through the night trying to solve the case in August 1962.Edward Jenner/The Boston Globe/Getty Images

It was the region's most intensive investigation ever — and yet they came up with nothing. All the while, investigators weren't sure that they were dealing with one murderer. They thought it was likely there was at least one copycat killer involved.

In a seemingly unrelated development in November 1964, police arrested a 33-year-old man named Albert DeSalvo. He had conned his way into a woman's home by pretending to be a handyman before raping her.

A police officer escorts a handcuffed Albert DeSalvo in February 1967.Ollie Noonan/The Boston Globe/Getty Images

In a seemingly unrelated development in November 1964, police arrested a 33-year-old man named Albert DeSalvo. He had conned his way into a woman's home by pretending to be a handyman before raping her.

DeSalvo had been abused as a child and was in and out of prison since he was a teenager. He later spent nine years serving in the US army. He was a middleweight boxing champion in Europe.

Albert DeSalvo sitting in a car leaving a court hearing in 1967.Paul J. Connell/The Boston Globe/Getty Images

DeSalvo had been abused as a child and was in and out of prison since he was a teenager. He later spent nine years serving in the US army. He was a middleweight boxing champion in Europe.

DeSalvo was charged with assault, burglary, and sexual assault. Before his trial, he was mentally evaluated in a prison center when he met another inmate named George Nassar.

George Nassar is seen wearing handcuffs arriving at court accompanied by law enforcement in 1964.Bettmann/Getty Images

DeSalvo was charged with assault, burglary, and sexual assault. Before his trial, he was mentally evaluated in a prison center when he met another inmate named George Nassar.

After hearing DeSalvo's confession, Bailey told authorities that they had found the Boston Strangler.

Attorney F. Lee Bailey, poses in a photo taken in 1967.LeRoy Ryan/The Boston Globe/Getty Images

Some were skeptical about his confession. People thought he wanted to become famous for the murders and use it to make money by selling a book or a movie.

Albert DeSalvo was surrounded by the press in 1967.Paul Connell/The Boston Globe/Getty Images

Despite all of this, there was no physical evidence that tied him to any of the murders.

Albert DeSalvo was surrounded by police getting into a car in 1967.Frank H. Hill/The Boston Globe/Getty Images

On June 30, 1966, DeSalvo appeared in court to determine whether he could stand trial for the unrelated rape charges, but the public believed that the man before them was the Boston Strangler.

Albert DeSalvo wearing handcuffs is being taken to a cell by law enforcement in 1967.LeRoy Ryan/The Boston Globe/Getty Images

On June 30, 1966, DeSalvo appeared in court to determine whether he could stand trial for the unrelated rape charges, but the public believed that the man before them was the Boston Strangler.

DeSalvo was later sentenced to life in prison for his rape crimes, but not for the murders. But because of his confession and his familiarity with the details of the murders, the case was still considered closed.

Albert DeSalvo being escorted by police in 1967.Joe Dennehy/The Boston Globe/Getty Images

DeSalvo was later sentenced to life in prison for his rape crimes, but not for the murders. But because of his confession and his familiarity with the details of the murders, the case was still considered closed.

DeSalvo never faced a trial related to the Boston Strangler murders, and other than briefly escaping from jail in 1967, he never got out of prison. In 1973, he was killed by another inmate shortly after he took back his confession.

Albert DeSalvo looks out a window while in jail.Getty Images

DeSalvo never faced a trial related to the Boston Strangler murders, and other than briefly escaping from jail in 1967, he never got out of prison. In 1973, he was killed by another inmate shortly after he took back his confession.

But in 2013, DNA testing linked DeSalvo to Mary Sullivan, the last woman who was murdered. "We may have just solved one of the nation's most notorious serial killings," Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley said.

Mary Sullivan’s body being removed from her home in 1964.Bettmann/Getty Images

But in 2013, DNA testing linked DeSalvo to Mary Sullivan, the last woman who was murdered. "We may have just solved one of the nation's most notorious serial killings," Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley said.

Even so, some people still didn't believe DeSalvo was responsible for all of the murders. For instance, Susan Kelly who wrote the 1995 book, "The Boston Stranglers," believes there were at least six murderers.

Albert DeSalvo is led from a press conference at the Lynn police station after his capture in a West Lynn uniform store in 1967.Bettmann/Getty Images

Even so, some people still didn't believe DeSalvo was responsible for all of the murders. For instance, Susan Kelly who wrote the 1995 book, "The Boston Stranglers," believes there were at least six murderers.

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The true story behind Hulu's new crime drama, 'Boston Strangler,' a serial killer who likely murdered 13 women in the 1960s without leaving a sign of struggle

During a hot Boston summer in 1962, a few local newspapers noted the murder of a 55-year-old woman named Anna Slesers on June 14. The articles were short. It was a tragedy, but tragedies like this were not rare in big cities like Boston.

Two weeks later, a second victim — an 85-year-old woman named Mary Mullen — was discovered dead in her home on June 28. Her cause of death was deemed a heart attack.

On June 30, a third and fourth victim were found. Nina Nichols, 68, received more news coverage given her relation to the president of the Boston Bar Association.

A pattern had begun to emerge. Boston Police Commissioner Edmund McNamara told women to lock their doors and not let any strangers inside.

But the murders continued, and women in Boston were terrified. They bought locks and guard dogs. They moved in with others and carried hatpins to protect themselves.

By September 1962, the Boston police department had 150 detectives working the case. The police recognized a pattern that the victims were all women. The strangler appeared to be invited in, and the murders mostly happened in daylight.

The murderer was thought to be targeting elderly white women, but in December 1962, a 20-year-old African American student named Sophia Clark was found dead.

Authorities feared whoever was responsible was getting bold — they had seemingly changed their targets, and for the first time, the suspect had left semen behind.

In January 1963, the Boston Record American published an article written by two female reporters named Loretta McLaughlin and Jean Cole, titled "Two Girl Reporters Analyze Strangler." The article went into minute detail about the killings.

Casey Sherman, who wrote "A Rose for Mary: The Hunt for the Real Boston Strangler," told the Smithsonian Magazine: "If you despised a woman in the 1960s, you had a blueprint on how to commit a Boston Strangler-style murder, because all of the grisly details were printed."

The murders continued. This was the apartment where a 26-year-old woman named Beverly Samans was found murdered in May 1963.

By January 1964, there had been 13 killings that could be connected to the Boston Strangler.

The last murder victim was Mary Sullivan found on January 4, 1964.

A few weeks after her death, Attorney General Edward Brooke took things into his own hands. He launched a special unit of 50 officers called the "Strangler Bureau."

The unit investigated about 5,000 people, interviewed 300 sex offenders, and looked through 500,000 fingerprint files.

It was the region's most intensive investigation ever — and yet they came up with nothing. All the while, investigators weren't sure that they were dealing with one murderer. They thought it was likely there was at least one copycat killer involved.

In a seemingly unrelated development in November 1964, police arrested a 33-year-old man named Albert DeSalvo. He had conned his way into a woman's home by pretending to be a handyman before raping her.

DeSalvo had been abused as a child and was in and out of prison since he was a teenager. He later spent nine years serving in the US army. He was a middleweight boxing champion in Europe.

DeSalvo was charged with assault, burglary, and sexual assault. Before his trial, he was mentally evaluated in a prison center when he met another inmate named George Nassar.

After hearing DeSalvo's confession, Bailey told authorities that they had found the Boston Strangler.

Some were skeptical about his confession. People thought he wanted to become famous for the murders and use it to make money by selling a book or a movie.

Despite all of this, there was no physical evidence that tied him to any of the murders.

On June 30, 1966, DeSalvo appeared in court to determine whether he could stand trial for the unrelated rape charges, but the public believed that the man before them was the Boston Strangler.

DeSalvo was later sentenced to life in prison for his rape crimes, but not for the murders. But because of his confession and his familiarity with the details of the murders, the case was still considered closed.

DeSalvo never faced a trial related to the Boston Strangler murders, and other than briefly escaping from jail in 1967, he never got out of prison. In 1973, he was killed by another inmate shortly after he took back his confession.

But in 2013, DNA testing linked DeSalvo to Mary Sullivan, the last woman who was murdered. "We may have just solved one of the nation's most notorious serial killings," Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley said.

Even so, some people still didn't believe DeSalvo was responsible for all of the murders. For instance, Susan Kelly who wrote the 1995 book, "The Boston Stranglers," believes there were at least six murderers.