The true story of the Boston Strangler

The Boston Strangler is one of the most notorious serial killers in American history, responsible for the deaths of at least 13 women in the early 1960s. Despite an extensive investigation and several trials, the identity of the Boston Strangler remains a subject of debate to this day.

The first victim of the Boston Strangler was Anna Slesers, a 55-year-old woman who was found dead in her apartment in June 1962. Over the next two years, a series of similar murders would take place, all involving women who lived alone and had been strangled with articles of clothing.

The investigation into the Boston Strangler was led by Detective Phil DiNatale, who worked tirelessly to find a suspect. In November 1964, a man named Albert DeSalvo was arrested for breaking and entering, and he confessed to being the Boston Strangler while in custody. However, some investigators and members of the public were skeptical of DeSalvo’s confession, and there was little physical evidence linking him to the murders.

DeSalvo was eventually convicted of unrelated crimes and sentenced to life in prison. However, he was never officially charged with the Boston Strangler murders, and there are still doubts about whether he was truly responsible for them.

In the years since the Boston Strangler killings, there have been a number of theories about the true identity of the killer. Some believe that DeSalvo was indeed responsible, while others point to other suspects, including a man named George Nassar, who had previously been convicted of sexual assault and murder.

Despite the fact that the true identity of the Boston Strangler remains a mystery, the case continues to captivate the public and inspire works of fiction and film. The killings also had a lasting impact on society, leading to increased awareness of the dangers of living alone and contributing to a broader cultural fear of serial killers.

In conclusion, the true story of the Boston Strangler is a tragic and disturbing one, with many questions still unanswered to this day. While there may never be a definitive answer about who was responsible for these horrific crimes, the legacy of the Boston Strangler continues to be felt in our collective consciousness.

Keira Knightley plays McLaughlin in writer-director Matt Ruskin’s tense, absorbing Boston Strangler. Watch on Hulu and Disney Plus.