The mystery of the crime under a modest sign on the ground (9 photos)
In the 1960s, Boston residents lived in fear of an unknown serial killer whose victims were found strangled. The nickname "Boston Strangler" became a symbol of faceless menace, terror, and unsolved mystery. 
Today, this story can be traced to one inconspicuous place - the grave of Albert DeSalvo in the town of Peabody, Massachusetts. 
From 1962 to 1964, a serial killer attacked about a dozen women, from a girl of 19 to an elderly woman of 85. Such a large amount of violence and death caused a real panic in the city. 
Gainsborough Street, the site of the first Boston Strangler murder
For a long time, the police remained powerless. But nine months after the last murder, Albert De Salvo was arrested. He was even nicknamed the Green Man for the characteristic green trousers he wore while committing crimes. 
While he was in prison awaiting trial for his earlier crimes, De Salvo claimed to be the Boston Strangler. However, he was never convicted. He was convicted of other crimes, for which he remained in prison until his death in 1973.
Through the Shadow of Suspicion 
Many skeptics claim that De Salvo was not the Boston Strangler. The main argument is the lack of physical evidence linking him to the murders. Direct matches, such as fingerprints, have never been found. 
Some believe that the very image of the "Strangler" is a figment of journalistic imagination, created to unite disparate crimes into a single horrific story. Others believe that the real killer could have been George Nassar, De Salvo's cellmate, who really remained under the radar of the investigation.
End of the Road 
In 1973, six years after his incarceration, Albert DeSalvo was found dead in his cell. It was not until the turn of the century that new DNA testing techniques were used to finally put an end to the case. Biological material found on the body of Mary Sullivan, the last of the Strangler's victims, was compared to DNA obtained from DeSalvo's nephew. The DNA match ruled out 99.9% of the remaining population. In July 2013, authorities exhumed DeSalvo's body and discovered that his DNA matched the biological material on the body of the last victim. 
Interestingly, despite his creepy reputation, his ashes are buried in a place accessible to everyone - on the territory of the Puritan Lawn Memorial Park Cemetery in Peabody, Massachusetts. 
Still from the film "The Boston Strangler"
What's special about this cemetery is that there are no tombstones. Instead, there are only bronze plaques embedded in the ground. Without directions, it is nearly impossible to find a specific location. The horrific story has been widely reflected in modern culture. The latest adaptation was the 2023 film The Boston Strangler, in which De Salvo was played by David Dastmalchian.
