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Boston Strangler

Updated: 12/20/2025, 12:29:24 PM Wikipedia source

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, and DNA evidence linking him to the final victim. 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.

Infobox

Target
Women
Weapons
Nylon stockings or housecoat cords
Born
Albert DeSalvo (possibly; never convicted of any of the murders)
State
Massachusetts
Killed
13
Country
United States
Span of crimes
June 14, 1962 – January 4, 1964

Tables

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

References

  1. The Boston Globe
  2. Britannica
    https://www.britannica.com/biography/Boston-Strangler
  3. Case Files
    https://web.archive.org/web/20000118205318/http://www.fortunecity.com/roswell/streiber/273/desalvo_cf.htm
  4. The Atlantic
    https://www.theatlantic.com/special-report/the-future-of-the-city/archive/2010/05/the-mad-strangler-of-boston/57108/
  5. Sunday Herald
    https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=2229&dat=19620708&id=BAMzAAAAIBAJ&pg=1965,2258222
  6. TruTV.com
    https://web.archive.org/web/20130510085648/http://www.trutv.com/library/crime/serial_killers/notorious/boston/21.html
  7. Time
    https://web.archive.org/web/20081222085607/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,896645,00.html
  8. Patch
    https://patch.com/massachusetts/charlestown/jean-cole-harris-89-former-newspaper-reporter-0
  9. Chicago Tribune
    https://web.archive.org/web/20230224202030/https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1992-09-30-9203290160-story.html
  10. Smithsonian Magazine
    https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/the-tenacious-women-reporters-who-helped-expose-the-boston-strangler-180981786/
  11. A Rose for Mary: The Hunt for the Real Boston Strangler
    https://books.google.com/books?id=wZblBN8-UnsC&pg=PA28
  12. The Boston Stranglers
    https://books.google.com/books?id=3VPUAAAAQBAJ&pg=PT405
  13. Byers, Margery. “Fear walks home with the women.” Life, February 15, 1963.
    https://books.google.com/books?id=n0EEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA16
  14. The Encyclopedia Of Serial Killers
    https://archive.org/details/encyclopediaofse00lane/page/150
  15. Time
    https://web.archive.org/web/20080220193504/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0%2C9171%2C839437%2C00.html
  16. History
    https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/january-4/boston-strangler-strikes-again
  17. CBS News
    https://www.cbsnews.com/news/desalvo-not-marys-murderer/
  18. CBS News
    https://www.cbsnews.com/boston/news/new-information-to-be-released-in-boston-strangler-case/
  19. www.cbsnews.com
    https://www.cbsnews.com/boston/news/boston-strangler-cellmate-interview-george-nassar-albert-desalvo-wbz-tv-i-team-cheryl-fiandaca/
  20. The defense never rests
  21. Wicked Local
    https://www.wickedlocal.com/story/melrose-free-press/2017/01/23/boston-strangler-50-years-later/22618384007/
  22. The Boston Globe
    https://www.proquest.com/docview/366177054
  23. "The Boston Strangler"
    https://www.cbsnews.com/news/the-boston-strangler/
  24. "bostonstrangler.org"
    https://web.archive.org/web/20050202064347/http://bostonstrangler.org/
  25. "New DNA Testing Ties Boston Strangler To 1964 Mary Sullivan Murder « CBS Boston"
    https://boston.cbslocal.com/2013/07/11/new-information-to-be-released-in-boston-strangler-case/
  26. The New York Times
    https://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/12/us/dna-evidence-identified-in-boston-strangler-case.html
  27. New York Daily News
    https://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/dna-confirms-albert-desalvo-link-boston-strangler-killing-mary-sullivan-authorities-article-1.1403536
  28. The Strangler
    https://books.google.com/books?id=kGLtcc_pJxQC&q=%22the+strangler+%22boston+strangler%22+%22victor+buono%22&pg=PT377
  29. Wicked Local
    https://www.wickedlocal.com/story/observer-advocate/2013/07/11/from-vault-recalling-boston-strangler/39268572007/
  30. "Fiction Book Review: The Strangler"
    http://www.publishersweekly.com/978-0-385-33615-4
  31. Strangled
    https://www.worldcat.org/title/ocm72799788
  32. IMDb
    https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1198054/
  33. CrimeFeed
    https://web.archive.org/web/20180610115521/http://crimefeed.com/2016/11/serial-killer-cinema-6-movies-inspired-boston-strangler/
  34. IMDb
    https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0511801/
  35. IMDB
    https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1686407/
  36. The Roberts: one retirement home, two serial killers
  37. TheGuardian.com
    https://www.theguardian.com/culture/tvandradioblog/2009/jul/16/psychoville-episode-five
  38. Episode World
    https://web.archive.org/web/20170304051558/http://www.episodeworld.com/episode/14250/Crossing_Jordan/2x13/Strangled
  39. Salad Days Magazine
    https://web.archive.org/web/20150208175119/http://www.saladdaysmag.com/boston-strangler-interview-original-version/
  40. The New York Times
    https://www.nytimes.com/1987/01/31/obituaries/phillip-j-dinatale-67-dies-led-boston-strangler-inquiry.html
  41. "Boston Strangler murders get 'Serial' treatment in new true-crime series"
    https://www.wkbw.com/news/national/boston-strangler-murders-get-serial-treatment-in-new-true-crime-series
  42. Boston Strangler
    https://deadline.com/2021/10/keira-knightley-boston-strangler-movie-20th-century-studios-matt-ruskin-scott-free-luckychap-producing-1234847537/
  43. Boston Strangler
    https://deadline.com/2021/11/carrie-coon-alessadro-nivola-chris-cooper-20th-century-lucky-chaps-boston-strangler-1234876003/
  44. Boston Strangler
    https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/david-dastmalchian-boston-strangler-cast-1235054113/
  45. The Boston Globe
    https://www.bostonglobe.com/2021/12/06/lifestyle/dispatches-boston-strangler-set-production-begins-filming-belmont/
  46. Article about Sebastian Junger's Book A Death in Belmont. Time magazine, April 3, 2006.
    https://web.archive.org/web/20070301031517/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1179347,00.html
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