CRIME STORIES: THE BOSTON STRANGLER (TV)
Summary
One in this series of programs exploring true crimes and criminals. In this program, host Richard Belzer opens by providing some context for the case in question, explaining that early in 1964 the city of Boston was "gripped by fear" because of the activities of a killer known as the Boston Strangler. A voice-over narration begins a detailed description of each of the Strangler's thirteen female victims. John Donovan, the now retired chief of homicide investigations for the Boston police, offers comments about some of the victims and the case in general. The narrator explains that the Strangler baffled investigators. Suddenly, con man Albert DeSalvo came into the picture. Psychiatrist Ames Robey and others describe DeSalvo and his schemes. DeSalvo would go to the homes of young women under the pretense of being a photographer or a repair man, convince them to let him inside, and then seduce them or have sex with them, the experts explain. Susan Kelly, author of "The Boston Stranglers," also talks about DeSalvo's stratagems. The narration explains that DeSalvo was convicted of assault and battery after some of the women he visited pressed charges. DeSalvo was diagnosed as a psychopath, viewers learn; forensic psychologist David Shapiro gives an explanation of that illness. F. Lee Bailey, DeSalvo's defense attorney, explains how it was first brought to his attention that DeSalvo might be the Boston Strangler. Bailey and Donovan talk about the investigation that followed this allegation. When DeSalvo openly confessed to being the Strangler, not everyone believed that the confession was genuine. The narrator goes on to relate DeSalvo's life story, including the points that he came from an abusive background and eventually married and fathered three children, the youngest of whom was born with a birth defect. In January 1965, after being found guilty of another series of sex crimes, DeSalvo was sentenced to life in prison. He escaped, the program explains, and was recaptured and transferred to the highest security prison in the state, where he was murdered in 1973. Ames Robey, DeSalvo's attorney Tom Troy, and Susan Kelly explain why they don't believe that DeSalvo was the real Strangler. Donovan and prosecutor Ruth Abrams reiterate details that endorse DeSalvo's confession. Belzer closes the program by stating that the case of is still open. Commercials deleted.
Cataloging of this program was made possible by The New York Community Trust - Haas Foundation Fund.
Details
- NETWORK: Court TV
- DATE: November 30, 1998
- RUNNING TIME: 0:50:47
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: T:66009
- GENRE: Public affairs/Documentaries
- SUBJECT HEADING: Crime and criminals; Murder
- SERIES RUN: Court TV/TruTV - TV series, 1998-2010
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Vincent Kralyevich … Executive Producer
- Lynne Kirby … Executive Producer
- Robyn Hutt … Senior Producer
- William Petrick … Producer, Writer
- Zaida Soler … Associate Producer
- Chris Courtney … Associate Producer
- Stuart Diamond … Music by
- Gene Galusha … Narrator
- Richard Belzer … Host
- Ruth Abrams
- F. Lee Bailey
- Albert DeSalvo
- John Donovan
- Susan Kelly
- Ames Robey
- David Shapiro
- Tom Troy