Between 1962 and 1964, thirteen women were murdered in their Boston apartments. The case reshaped American true crime and still haunts the city.
This article is part of our comprehensive Boston ghost tours guide. Whether you're planning a visit or researching from afar, these stories reveal a side of Boston most visitors never see.
Starting Point and Route Overview
Have you ever walked a neighborhood and felt the weight of a story before you reach the first marker? This walking tour of sites associated with the Boston Strangler moves through neighborhoods in Boston and nearby communities where murders, investigations, and long-held rumors took place between 1962 and 1964. The route is designed to be chronological and geographic: it begins in South Boston and neighborhoods of the Back Bay, continues through Dorchester and Jamaica Plain, and finishes at Franklin Park and surrounding areas where some victims were discovered.
You will want to plan for roughly two to three hours on foot, depending on how much time you spend at each stop and whether you pause for photos or research. Some stop locations are residential buildings, so respect property and privacy: look, photograph from public sidewalks, and avoid disturbing residents. The route intentionally includes public spaces—parks, streets, and former boarding houses—so you can place the murders in their urban context and see how the cityscape of the 1960s shaped criminal investigations and local folklore.
On a practical note, dress for Boston weather. Streets are often uneven near older brownstones and in park areas, and some addresses are better viewed from the curb or across the street. The guide below lists specific addresses and dates tied to each stop. Use a city map or GPS for navigation, and consider pairing the walk with historical research at the Boston Public Library (700 Boylston St.) or the Massachusetts State Archives (220 Morrissey Blvd.) so you can cross-reference courthouse records, period newspaper coverage, and police files while you tour.
Timeline of the Strangler Murders (1962–1964)
Context matters. The Boston Strangler murders took place during a busy, sometimes chaotic period in Boston’s history. Below is a succinct timeline of major events related to the series most commonly grouped under the name “Boston Strangler.” This concise chronology helps you place sites on the tour against a backdrop of investigative milestones and cultural responses.
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| June 14, 1962 | Anna Slesers, age 55, found strangled in her Back Bay apartment at 77 Gainsborough Street; widely considered the first Boston Strangler victim. |
| 1962–1964 | A series of 13 documented murders of women across Boston and surrounding towns. Named victims include Anna Slesers, Mary Brown, Mary Mullen, Helen Blake, Ida Irga, Jane Sullivan, Sophie Clark, Patricia Bissette, Mary Anne Nichols, Joan Graff, Beverly Samans, Evelyn Corbin, and Joan Graff. Contemporary tallies and investigative reports list these 13 victims. |
| November 18, 1964 | Albert H. DeSalvo, age 33, confesses to police that he is the Boston Strangler; he provides detailed knowledge of crime scenes, victim positions, and forensic details, claiming motivation tied to a psychological compulsion and childhood trauma. |
| 1967 | DeSalvo is convicted for a series of unrelated sexual assaults (the “Green Man” rapes) and receives a life sentence rather than a conviction for murder. |
| 1973 | Albert DeSalvo is stabbed to death in Walpole State Prison on November 25, 1973. |
| 2013 | Suffolk County officials announce that modern DNA testing links DeSalvo to at least one 1964 victim, renewing public debate about the scope of his culpability. |
That short timeline points to why the case remains of interest to historians, criminologists, and ghost-tour visitors: the mixture of confirmed evidence, contested confessions, and incomplete investigations left open questions that have been debated for decades. As you move from stop to stop, keep this timeline in mind so locations and dates line up in your memory and on local plaques or archival photographs you may encounter. For related history, see our the freedom trail's dark side: death,.
Key Stops and Addresses on the Tour
This section lists specific addresses and sites you will encounter on the tour. When possible, addresses are given as public-facing locations you can view from sidewalks. Many original interiors have been renovated or repurposed, but the exterior context remains essential to understanding how investigators worked and how neighbors remember the crimes.
Representative stops include (note: always respect private property): - 77 Gainsborough Street, Back Bay (victim Anna Slesers, June 1962): first widely-recognized victim found strangled in her apartment; the location marks the beginning of the documented series. - 95 Brattle Street area (Cambridge/Back Bay border): several early attacks and suspicious encounters occurred in the broader Back Bay and Cambridge margins; street-level observation helps you see transit corridors used in the 1960s. - Commonwealth Avenue and Bay State Road, Back Bay: multi-unit brownstones where a number of victims lived or were found; these elegant Victorian buildings with narrow hallways and older locks were targeted by the killer. - Dorchester and Jamaica Plain residential blocks where assaults were reported, including neighborhoods of victims like Sophie Clark and Beverly Samans; these neighborhoods were home to independent women who lived alone or with elderly relatives. - Franklin Park (1 Carty Drive, Roxbury): an open area where victim Beverly Samans’s body was discovered. The park’s winding paths and underbrush made searches difficult in 1964 and still factor into how visitors perceive the scene today.
These are not exhaustive; the tour may include additional addresses based on archival records and contemporary reporting. A common practice is to supplement location visits with period photographs or newspaper clippings you can bring or reference on your phone—many public libraries and the Boston Globe’s historical archives have searchable images and articles. As you stand at each address, consider the architecture, the proximity to transit, and the social dynamics of the 1960s: single women living alone, locked doors versus open windows, and the patterns of late-night movement that investigators studied.
Documented Evidence, Suspects, and Controversies
The forensic and investigative record is central to understanding both the true-crime history and the folklore that followed. Albert H. DeSalvo acknowledged responsibility for a swath of sexual assaults and provided details that some investigators found convincing. In 1967 he was convicted on charges linked to a series of separate sexual offenses. He was never convicted in a Massachusetts court for the Strangler murders themselves, and debates about whether one person committed all 13 murders persist.
Investigative controversies include the following points of contested fact: - Confession reliability: DeSalvo gave a detailed confession to police psychiatrist Dr. James A. Brussel on November 18, 1964, but investigators and defense attorneys disagreed over whether his statements proved responsibility for every murder. Some details were accurate; others appeared fabricated or derived from press coverage. - Forensic linkages: Until modern testing, forensic science in 1962-1964 relied on fiber analysis, fingerprint comparison, and physical evidence that was often inconclusive. Blood typing existed but was far less discriminating than modern DNA. In July 2013, Suffolk County District Attorney's Office announced that DNA testing linked DeSalvo to the murder of Mary Sullivan (found dead on March 4, 1964), an announcement that narrowed the debate but did not conclusively attribute every killing to him or eliminate the possibility of accomplices. - Multiple-perpetrator theory: Some investigators and family members argue different assailants may have been responsible for different murders, citing variations in method (strangulation vs. stabbing), geography (concentrated in Back Bay vs. scattered in Dorchester), and victim profile (ranging from young nurses to elderly women). For related history, see our boston harbor islands.
When you examine court records or contemporary newspaper reports on the tour, watch for the differences between initial press coverage and later forensic reports. Early reporting often amplified fear—headlines and sensational copy—whereas later archival study tends to be more measured. Understanding the limits of technology and procedure in the early 1960s will help you separate confirmed details from speculation and folklore that grew in the years after the crimes.
Reported Paranormal Activity and Witness Accounts
Sites associated with violent deaths often accumulate ghost stories; the Strangler locations are no exception. Present these reports with respectful skepticism: document what witnesses say without endorsing supernatural explanations. At least two distinct types of paranormal reports have circulated around Strangler sites—apparitions believed to be victims and unexplained auditory or tactile phenomena near discovery sites.
One frequently reported experience occurs near Franklin Park, close to the area where a victim’s body was found. Local walkers and a small number of independent investigators have reported seeing a young woman at dusk who vanishes when approached, or feeling sudden drops in temperature along specific park paths. According to multiple local forum posts and a 2009 investigation by a New England paranormal group, witnesses described a scent of cigarette smoke or perfume without a nearby source and an uneasy feeling of being watched near the north meadow. While these are anecdotal, they have persisted in local oral history and influenced the way visitors sense the landscape.
Another recurring report comes from residents and former tenants of older Commonwealth Avenue and Back Bay brownstones who say they’ve heard unexplained footsteps in stairwells, the sound of a woman calling from a hallway, or intermittent tapping on windows late at night. Some statements appear in local ghost-hunting blogs and in personal accounts collected by neighborhood historians. Those who investigate these claims cite EMF spikes, cold spots, and recorded EVP (electronic voice phenomena) clips—though skeptics and many professional investigators caution that building acoustics, plumbing, and the city environment often explain such effects.
When you hear these stories on the walk, ask about provenance: who reported the experience, when it occurred, and whether there were witnesses or physical recordings. That approach maintains the balance between curiosity and critical inquiry, allowing you to appreciate the role folklore plays in how communities remember trauma while distinguishing eyewitness accounts from confirmation bias or environmental causes. For related history, see our most haunted places in boston: a.
Practical Tips, Ethical Considerations, and Visitor Etiquette
Walking a true-crime route requires sensitivity. Many locations on this tour are private residences or are near families who lost loved ones. You should refrain from trespassing, photographing through windows, or conducting intrusive behavior at addresses tied to victims. If you plan to record audio or video for research, notify property owners or seek permission when you are on private property; public sidewalks and parks are the appropriate places for observation.
When you discuss the cases with others, prioritize victims and their families. Use full names and dates when they help clarify historical facts, but avoid sensational language that diminishes the humanity behind the headlines. Recognize that haunting narratives sometimes supplant the real stories of individuals: victims had jobs, families, and lives beyond how they were reported in the press. If you encounter local historians, archivists, or descendants who offer more context, treat their perspectives with respect and gratitude.
Safety and logistics: bring a charged phone, comfortable shoes, and a small flashlight if you plan to be out near dusk. Be mindful of city ordinances and park hours—Franklin Park and other public spaces may have specific closing times. If you intend to consult archives after the walk, call ahead to confirm operating hours at the Boston Public Library or the Suffolk County District Attorney’s office for public records access.
Finally, if you are leading others on the route or posting about the tour online, include trigger warnings for violent content and provide resources for those affected by trauma. Balancing a factual presentation of criminal history with empathetic regard for victims and their families preserves the dignity of the places you visit and ensures your interest in Boston ghost and Boston haunted history contributes to informed remembrance rather than exploitative sensation.
