Boston Strangler

Boston Strangler headline, 1963 (Miami News, via Newspapers.com™)

The “Boston Strangler” is believed to have murdered 13 women in the Boston area of Massachusetts between June 1962 and January 1964. The victims ranged in age from 19 to 85. 

Albert DeSalvo confessed to being the Boston Strangler in 1965 but later recanted. He was murdered in prison in 1973 while serving a life sentence for crimes unrelated to the Boston Strangler murders. In 2013, DNA evidence tied him to the murder of the Strangler’s last suspected victim, Mary Sullivan. 

Although many consider it likely that DeSalvo was the Boston Strangler, others disagree.

Learn more about the Boston Strangler through historical newspapers from our archives. Explore newspaper articles, headlines, images, and other primary sources below.

Articles and Clippings about the Boston Strangler

"Woman Slain in Back Bay Home" 15 Jun 1962, Fri The Boston Globe (Boston, Massachusetts) Newspapers.comDeath notice for Mary Mullen 29 Jun 1962, Fri The Boston Globe (Boston, Massachusetts) Newspapers.com"Hub Woman, 68, Slain" 01 Jul 1962, Sun The Boston Globe (Boston, Massachusetts) Newspapers.com"Strangler Kills Lynn Nurse" 03 Jul 1962, Tue The Daily Item (Lynn, Massachusetts) Newspapers.com"2 Women Slain Same Day" "Third Strangling Spurs Wide Hunt" 03 Jul 1962, Tue The Boston Globe (Boston, Massachusetts) Newspapers.com"Widow 5th Victim of Strangler" 22 Aug 1962, Wed The Boston Globe (Boston, Massachusetts) Newspapers.com"Phantom Strangler Kills Sixth Woman" 31 Aug 1962, Fri The Boston Globe (Boston, Massachusetts) Newspapers.com"Back Bay Girl, 20, Found Strangled" 06 Dec 1962, Thu The Boston Globe (Boston, Massachusetts) Newspapers.com"1st and 7th Stranglings Only Few Blocks Apart" 06 Dec 1962, Thu The Boston Globe (Boston, Massachusetts) Newspapers.com"Male Friend Hunted in Eighth Strangling" 01 Jan 1963, Tue The Boston Globe (Boston, Massachusetts) Newspapers.com"Lawrence Victim Beaten, Stabbed" 07 Mar 1963, Thu The Boston Globe (Boston, Massachusetts) Newspapers.com"Police Quiz Two Men in Coed Knife Slaying" 09 May 1963, Thu The Boston Globe (Boston, Massachusetts) Newspapers.com"Wide Search Underway for Slayer of Salem Woman" 09 Sep 1963, Mon The Daily Item (Lynn, Massachusetts) Newspapers.com"9 Stranglings Still Unsolved - And Circle of Fear Widens" 15 Sep 1963, Sun The Boston Globe (Boston, Massachusetts) Newspapers.com"Lawrence Strangler Sought in Tenth East Mass. Case" 25 Nov 1963, Mon The Berkshire Eagle (Pittsfield, Massachusetts) Newspapers.com"Psychiatrist Says Boston Strangler To Go On Killing" 12 Dec 1963, Thu The Berkshire Eagle (Pittsfield, Massachusetts) Newspapers.com"Girl Strangled in Boston" 05 Jan 1964, Sun The Boston Globe (Boston, Massachusetts) Newspapers.com"Detective Doubts 'One Strangler'" 08 Jan 1964, Wed The Berkshire Eagle (Pittsfield, Massachusetts) Newspapers.com"Hunt for Strangler Goes Into High Gear" "Bottomly to Head Team, Hire Top Criminologist" 17 Jan 1964, Fri The Boston Globe (Boston, Massachusetts) Newspapers.com"'Strangler' Reward Raised to $10,000" 26 Mar 1964, Thu The Berkshire Eagle (Pittsfield, Massachusetts) Newspapers.com"Man, 32, Rearrested In Assault Probe" 06 Nov 1964, Fri The Boston Globe (Boston, Massachusetts) Newspapers.com"No Strangler Solution, Says Brooke" 05 May 1965, Wed The Boston Globe (Boston, Massachusetts) Newspapers.com"Bailey To Identify 'Strangler'" 06 Jan 1967, Fri The Daily Item (Lynn, Massachusetts) Newspapers.com"'DeSalvo Said He's Strangler" 13 Jan 1967, Fri The Boston Globe (Boston, Massachusetts) Newspapers.com"DeSalvo Guilty, Insanity Ruled Out - Bailey to Appeal Life Sentence" 19 Jan 1967, Thu The Boston Globe (Boston, Massachusetts) Newspapers.com"No Evidence DeSalvo Is Boston Strangler, Says D.A." 19 Jan 1967, Thu The Boston Globe (Boston, Massachusetts) Newspapers.com"DeSalvo Gives Up Dressed as Sailor" 26 Feb 1967, Sun The Boston Globe (Boston, Massachusetts) Newspapers.com"New 'Strangler' Probe Confirmed by Richardson" 02 Jun 1967, Fri The Boston Globe (Boston, Massachusetts) Newspapers.com"DeSalvo Might Escape 'Strangler' Prosecution" 13 Sep 1967, Wed The Daily Item (Lynn, Massachusetts) Newspapers.com"DeSalvo Denies Strangling" 11 Oct 1968, Fri The Recorder (Greenfield, Massachusetts) Newspapers.com"Boston Strangler Killed At Walpole" 26 Nov 1973, Mon Transcript-Telegram (Holyoke, Massachusetts) Newspapers.com"DNA links Boston Strangler suspect to last victim" 20 Jul 2013, Sat The Daily Item (Lynn, Massachusetts) Newspapers.com