Boston Strangler DNA Evidence Confirms Albert DeSalvo’s Guilt Decades Later

A major development has finally provided closure in the Boston Strangler case. Forensic science has confirmed Albert DeSalvo’s connection to one of the murders. This breakthrough came nearly fifty years after the last killing.

Authorities announced the DNA evidence in 2013. The findings linked DeSalvo to the murder of Mary Sullivan, his final alleged victim. According to Reuters, this was the first forensic proof supporting his long-debated confession.

New Evidence Resurrects a Historic Murder Mystery

The investigation used advanced familial DNA testing. Scientists matched genetic material from the 1964 crime scene to DeSalvo. Officials stated the odds were one in 220 billion that the DNA belonged to someone else.

This evidence specifically ties DeSalvo to Sullivan’s murder. It does not directly prove he committed the other eleven killings. Yet, it lends significant credibility to his original, detailed confession.

The case had remained officially closed but publicly questioned for decades. DeSalvo was never formally charged with any of the stranglings. He was stabbed to death in prison in 1973.

Lingering Doubts and the Path to Resolution

For years, many experts and authors doubted DeSalvo was the sole killer. They pointed to a lack of physical evidence and inconsistencies in the victims’ profiles. Some believed the crimes were the work of multiple individuals.

The DNA discovery has shifted this perspective. It provides a concrete link that was missing during the original investigation. This has brought a measure of finality to the families of the victims.

The Boston Strangler case terrified the city in the early 1960s. The new evidence finally solves a key part of this American true crime saga. The mystery that captivated the nation now has a definitive answer.

The Boston Strangler DNA evidence provides a scientific conclusion to a decades-old mystery. This confirmation ends long-standing speculation about Albert DeSalvo’s role in the killings. The case demonstrates how modern technology can resolve historic crimes.

Info at your fingertips

How many victims did the Boston Strangler have?

Authorities officially attributed thirteen murders to the Boston Strangler. Eleven women were killed between 1962 and 1964. Albert DeSalvo confessed to all of these crimes.

Was Albert DeSalvo ever convicted for the murders?

No, he was never tried or convicted for the stranglings. DeSalvo was sentenced to life in prison for a series of unrelated rapes. He was murdered in his prison cell in 1973.

What was the key DNA evidence in the case?

Investigators recovered genetic material from the crime scene of Mary Sullivan’s murder. In 2013, they announced a DNA match to Albert DeSalvo. The statistical certainty was exceptionally high.

Why did people doubt DeSalvo was the killer?

Skeptics noted a complete lack of physical evidence for years. The victims’ ages and backgrounds varied significantly. Some crime scene details did not perfectly match his confession.

How did the Boston Strangler investigations begin?

Reporters Loretta McLaughlin and Jean Cole first connected the murders. They coined the name “Boston Strangler” in their newspaper articles. Their work pressured police to form a special task force.