“Boston Strangler”: the true story of the movie’s killer (his case was reopened in 2013)

Especially, serial killer movies and series based on true events are the ones that have caught the attention of the public.

Perhaps the most recent case was that of Netflix’s “Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story,” which had more than one person hooked because they knew every last true detail about the criminal.

Now, a new bet has arrived: “Boston Strangler,” available on Hulu in the United States or Star+ in Latin America. This is the true story that inspired the film.

What is the movie “Boston Strangler” about?

On March 17, a film starring Keira Knightley and Carrie Coon, who give life to Loretta McLaughlin and Jean Cole respectively, arrived on the Hulu (US) or Star+ (Latin America) platforms. They are two reporters who, in the early 1960s, became the first to suspect that a series of murders might be connected.

The story revolves, in large part, on the obstacles presented to them to be taken seriously, both by their bosses and the police.

The story is based on true events.

• Keira Knightley also starred in ‘Laggies’: Enter ViX to watch the movie for free.

The True Story of the ‘Boston Strangler’ That Inspired a Movie Starring Keira Knightley

Between 1962 and 1964, at least 11 women were murdered in the Boston, Massachusetts area.

All the victims had common circumstances, such as being between 55 and 85 years old, having been raped or having their homes broken into before their deaths.

The situation caused great panic among the locals, however, as mentioned in the movie “Boston Strangler”, the first to realize a possible connection between the murders were two reporters from the “Record American” (predecessor of the “Boston Herald”).

The first mention of him came to light in January 1963, nearly a decade before the term serial killer was coined, according to Time magazine in a March 17, 2021 note.

Regardless, in October 1964, a 34-year-old man named Albert DeSalvo was arrested for sexually abusing several women.

His “modus operandi” was to disguise himself as a recruitment model and go door to door offering women the chance to start their careers. Once he gained their trust, he entered their homes and took advantage of the moment he was taking their measurements to touch them without their consent or rape them. Because of this, he earned the title of “The Man Who Measures” or “The Green Man” (the color of his supposed uniform).

For these crimes, he was sent to Bridgewater State Hospital, where he allegedly confessed to his cellmate, George Nasser, that he was also “The Boston Strangler.”

Nasser, in turn, disclosed this information to the authorities, who investigated its possible connection to the serial killings. However, lacking the tools to prove his guilt in the deaths of these women, he was sentenced to life in prison only for his sex crimes.

Albert DeSalvo died in 1973 after being stabbed to death by another inmate at the prison where he was serving his sentence.

The identity of “The Boston Strangler” caused controversy for years

According to Britannica, ever since Albert DeSalvo was prosecuted as the possible “Boston Strangler,” there have been questions about whether he was actually responsible for the deaths.

On the one hand, his early statements did not appear to be sufficiently substantiated, and although he later gave more details about his crime scenes, there are those who believe he only repeated reports from the press and the police.

George Nasser and Daniel Marsh have also been named as suspects, although they have not been prosecuted in the case.

In 2013, already having access to new technologies, the Boston Police Department reopened the case and found traces of Albert DeSalvo’s DNA on the last of the victims of “The Boston Strangler.”

However, it is unknown if he was also guilty of the other murders attributed to him.

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