: DeSalvo later recanted his confession before being stabbed to death in prison in 1973.
: Most victims were sexually assaulted and strangled with articles of their own clothing, such as silk stockings or nylons, often tied in distinctive bows.
Over an 18-month period, ranging in age from 19 to 85 were murdered in their homes. The Boston Strangler
: Many officials and families of the victims doubted his confession due to its inconsistencies and a lack of physical evidence at the time.
, a factory worker and military veteran, became the primary suspect after confessing to 11 of the Strangler murders while in prison for unrelated rapes. : DeSalvo later recanted his confession before being
: The murders caused widespread terror in eastern Massachusetts, leading to a surge in sales of locks, deadbolts, and tear gas. Albert DeSalvo: The Confession
: In July 2013, modern forensic testing linked DeSalvo's DNA to the 1964 murder of Mary Sullivan , the last known victim. While this definitively tied him to one crime, it did not prove he was responsible for all of them, leaving the "multiple killers" theory alive for some. : Many officials and families of the victims
: The killer typically entered homes without force, suggesting the victims either knew him or believed he was a service provider.