Albert DeSalvo

American criminal

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Last updated

July 16, 2026

Quick Summary

Albert DeSalvo is widely believed to be the "Boston Strangler," an American serial killer responsible for the murders of at least 11 women in the Boston area between 1962 and 1964. The crimes, which involved sexual assault and strangulation, caused widespread panic.1

DeSalvo confessed to the murders in 1965, though he was never formally charged with them. He was convicted of unrelated rape charges and sentenced to life imprisonment. Despite his confession, DeSalvo's guilt has remained controversial due to inconsistencies in his statements and the lack of definitive physical evidence linking him to all the crime scenes at the time. However, later DNA analysis of forensic evidence and DeSalvo's remains has led authorities to conclude that he "most likely" committed the murders. DeSalvo was murdered in prison in 1973, and his killer was never found.12

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Boston Strangler
Albert DeSalvo and doubts
In 1965 Albert DeSalvo, an inmate at a state mental hospital who had been charged with a series of rapes, confessed to the murders. Although never actually charged with the killings (investigators at the time were unable to physically link him to the murder scenes), DeSalvo was…
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In 1965 Albert DeSalvo, an inmate at a state mental hospital who had been charged with a series of rapes, confessed to the murders. Although never actually charged with the killings (investigators at the time were unable to physically link him to the murder scenes), DeSalvo was…
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F. Lee Bailey
Bailey also defended Albert DeSalvo, who in 1965 had confessed to being the Boston Strangler, the serial killer responsible for the deaths of at least 11 women in the Boston area between 1962 and 1964. DeSalvo was eventually convicted in 1967 on charges of sexual assault and sentenced…
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Bailey also defended Albert DeSalvo, who in 1965 had confessed to being the Boston Strangler, the serial killer responsible for the deaths of at least 11 women in the Boston area between 1962 and 1964. DeSalvo was eventually convicted in 1967 on charges of sexual assault and sentenced…
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Richard Fleischer
Middle years
…1960s; Curtis was effective as Albert DeSalvo, who confessed to committing the crimes. Che! (1969), however, was a failure; the heavily romanticized account of the revolutionary leader’s life featured Omar Sharif as Che Guevara and Jack Palance as Fidel Castro.
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…1960s; Curtis was effective as Albert DeSalvo, who confessed to committing the crimes. Che! (1969), however, was a failure; the heavily romanticized account of the revolutionary leader’s life featured Omar Sharif as Che Guevara and Jack Palance as Fidel Castro.
Read More