Albert Henry Desalvo

Serial Killer

Albert Henry DeSalvo: The Confessed Boston Strangler

Albert DeSalvo and the Boston Strangler Case

Albert Henry DeSalvo became one of the most notorious figures in American criminal history after confessing that he was the "Boston Strangler," the name given to the person or persons believed responsible for a series of killings in eastern Massachusetts between 1962 and 1964. Thirteen women became traditionally associated with the case. Most were attacked inside their own homes, and many were sexually assaulted and strangled with stockings, scarves, cords, or other articles of clothing. The crimes created widespread fear throughout Boston and surrounding communities because the killer often appeared to enter apartments without forcing his way inside. Despite DeSalvo's confession, an important distinction remains: he was never tried or convicted for the Boston Strangler murders. For decades there was no physical evidence proving that he had committed any of them. That changed substantially in 2013, when DNA testing connected DeSalvo to the final traditionally recognized victim, Mary Sullivan. The DNA evidence established a direct forensic connection between DeSalvo and Sullivan's crime scene, but it did not establish that he murdered all of the other women whose deaths had been attributed to the Boston Strangler.

Early Life and Criminal Behavior

Albert Henry DeSalvo was born on September 3, 1931, in Chelsea, Massachusetts. His childhood was troubled, and he repeatedly came into contact with the juvenile justice system. As an adult, his criminal behavior increasingly focused on entering homes and approaching women under false pretenses. Years before he became associated with the Boston Strangler murders, police already knew of him because of a series of sexually motivated offenses. One of DeSalvo's early patterns earned him the nickname "The Measuring Man." He approached young women while pretending to be connected with a modeling or talent organization. After persuading women that they might have modeling potential, he would claim that he needed to take their physical measurements. The supposed professional examination then became an excuse for inappropriate sexual touching. DeSalvo was eventually arrested in connection with this behavior and served time in custody. ...

Confirmed Victims: (13)

Anna Slesers Age: (55), Date of Death: 1962-06-14

The Boston Strangler | Suspects