Albert DeSalvo: The Boston Strangler

Overview

Albert DeSalvo was a Massachusetts criminal who became widely known as the self‑proclaimed “Boston Strangler,” a name linked to a series of brutal murders of women in the early 1960s. Raised in poverty and marked by abuse, DeSalvo developed a long record of theft, assault, and impersonation. He was first arrested for a string of “Green Man” sexual assaults, during which he confessed to the Strangler killings while in custody. Though his confession was detailed, he was never actually tried for the murders; instead, he received a life sentence for unrelated crimes. DeSalvo’s claims have remained controversial, with doubts about his guilt persisting long after his death in prison.