Search for the Strangler (28 page)

Michael DeSalvo, the only son of Albert and a living victim of the Boston Strangler Case. (Courtesy of WBZ-TV)

Elaine Whitfield Sharp speaking at the first news conference (left to right: Diane Sullivan Dodd, James Starrs, Casey Sherman, Dr. David Benjamin, Elaine Sharp, Dan Sharp, Richard DeSalvo, Tim DeSalvo). (Photo by Gaeton Cotton, Cottonphoto.com)

Professor James Starrs (center) oversees the exhumation of Mary Sullivan’s remains. (Photo by Gaeton Cotton, Cottonphoto.com)

The author confers with Jim Starrs at St. Francis Xavier Cemetery in Centerville, Massachusetts. (Photo by Elaine Whitfield Sharp)

Diane Sullivan Dodd thanks Jim Starrs for volunteering on the case. (Photo by Gaeton Cotton, Cottonphoto.com)

Massachusetts Attorney General Tom Reilly. (Courtesy of the
Boston Herald)

Bartering for blood: Richard DeSalvo answers the challenge by taking a DNA test. (Courtesy of the Boston Herald)

All the characters in this book are real, but I have used pseudonyms for a few of them to protect their privacy. However,
be assured that the Massachusetts attorney general’s office does know the real name of the prime suspect in my aunt’s murder.
In recreating dialogue from the original strangler investigation, I have relied on the most credible witnesses to the events
and the documents that I believe contain the most accurate accounts. Always my intention has been to remain faithful to the
people written about in this book, and to the events as they really happened.

LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY REPORTS

Death Certificate for Patricia Bissette. City of Boston. January 3, 1963.

Patricia Bissette Autopsy Report.
Case No. LME 9105.

Report on Scene Examination, Clothing, RE: Homicide Patricia Bissette.
Case #220. By Deputy Supt. John J. Slattery Jr., Boston Police Department. January 9, 1963.

Analysis of Statements Made by Albert DeSalvo.
Case 08: Patricia Bissette.

Helen E. Blake Autopsy Report.
Case 62-179.

Analysis of Statements Made by Albert DeSalvo.
Case 03: Helen Blake.

Mary E. Brown Autopsy Report.
Case 63-57.

Examination of Material in connection with the Death of Mary E. Brown.
By Arthur McBay. March 21, 1963.

Postmortem Examination on the Body of Mary E. Brown.
Case 63-57.

Death Record of Mary Brown.
City of Lawrence. March 16, 1966.

Analysis of Statements Made by Albert DeSalvo.
Case 13: Mary Brown.

Report on Scene: Examination Homicide 315 Huntington Avenue. Sophie Clark.
By Deputy-Supt. Arthur Cadegan Jr., Boston Police Department. December 6, 1962.

Death Record of Sophie Clark.
City of Boston. December 11, 1962.

Interrogation of Albert DeSalvo in regard to Sophie Clark.
Transcripts of tapes.

Analysis of Statements Made by Albert DeSalvo.
Case 07: Sophie Clark.

Further investigation of Albert DeSalvo (Background Information re: Case 07—Sophie Clark).
From Andrew Tuney and Phillip DiNatale to John Bottomly. December 8, 1965.

Further investigation of Albert DeSalvo in regard to Case 07: Sophie Clark.
From Andrew Tuney and Phillip DiNatale to John Bottomly. February 15, 1966.

Evelyn Corbin Autopsy Report.
Case 63-243. By J. Robert Shaughnessy, M.D. September 25, 1963.

Postmortem Examination of the Body of Evelyn Corbin.
Case: 63-243.

Death Record of Evelyn Corbin.
City of Salem. March 16, 1966.

Analysis of Statements Made by Albert H. DeSalvo.
Case 09: Evelyn Corbin.

Examination of Materials in connection with the Fatal Strangulation of Joann Graff.
By Arthur McBay. December 10, 1963.

Joann Graff Autopsy Report. Case 63-327.

Death Record of Joann M. Graff.
City of Lawrence. March 16, 1966.

Analysis of Statements Made by Albert DeSalvo.
Case 10: Joann Graff.

Ida Irga Autopsy Report.
From Dr. Michael Luongo to the district attorney of Suffolk County. August 21, 1962.

Examination of Materials in connection with the Fatal Stangulation of Ida Irga.
By Arthur McBay, Chemical Laboratory, Massachusetts State Police. August 27, 1962.

Further Investigation of Albert DeSalvo—Information in regard to Case 06: Ida Irga.
From Andrew Tuney to John Bottomly. January 26, 1966.

Interrogation of Albert DeSalvo in regard to Ida Irga.
Transcripts of tapes.

Analysis of Statements Made by Albert DeSalvo.
Case 02: Nina Nichols.

Examination of Materials in connection with the Deaths of Nina Nichols, Anna Slesers, and Jane Sullivan.
By Arthur McBay, Chemical Laboratory, Massachusetts State Police. November 7, 1962.

Analysis of Statements Made by Albert DeSalvo.
Case 01: Anna Slesers.

Further Investigation of Albert DeSalvo and Statements Made by Him in regard to Case 01: Anna Slesers.
From Andrew Tuney and Phillip DiNatale to John Bottomly. October 1, 1965.

Medical Examiner’s Report of View and Autopsy in the Case of Jane Sullivan.
August 31, 1962.

Preliminary Report on Examination of Homicide Scene—Case #146—Jane Sullivan. August 31, 1962.

Supplementary Report on Examinations regarding the Homicide of Jane Sullivan.
By C. Dana Kuhn, assistant biological chemist, Boston Police Department. September 3, 1962.

Death Record of Jane Sullivan.
City of Boston. September 12, 1962.

Analysis of Statements Made by Albert DeSalvo.
Case 06: Jane Sullivan.

Mary Anne Sullivan Autopsy Report.
From Dr. Michael A. Luongo to the district attorney for Suffolk County. January 4, 1964.

Death Record of Mary Sullivan.
City of Boston. January 10, 1964.

Analysis of Statements Made by Albert DeSalvo.
Case 11: Mary Sullivan.

Further Investigation of Albert DeSalvo in regard to Case 11: Mary A. Sullivan.
From Andrew Tuney and Phillip DiNatale to John Bottomly. February 7, 1966.

Interrogation of A. DeSalvo at MCI Bridgewater on March 6, 1965.
Bailey tape.

Albert DeSalvo—General Suspect.
From Officer Stephen C. Delaney to John Bottomly. March 11, 1965.

Crime Conditions—Boston. Re: Strangler.
From special agent in charge, Boston, to director, FBI. September 20, 1965 (Freedom of Information Act. File Number: 163-12664).

Re: Albert Henry DeSalvo. From John Bottomly to James L. Handley, special agent in charge, FBI. October 29, 1965 (Freedom
of Information Act. File Number: 163-12664).

Further investigation of Albert DeSalvo. From Andrew Tuney and Phillip DiNatale to John Bottomly. December 7, 1965.

Strangler Investigation Confidential Memorandum.
From Herbert Travers to Edward Brooke. April 14, 1966.

United States Government Memorandum re: Albert H. DeSalvo.
From W. V. Cleveland to Mr. Gale. UFAC-RAPE. February 25, 1967 (Freedom of Information Act. File Number: 163-12664).

BOOKS

Bailey, F. Lee, and Harvey Aronson.
The Defense Never Rests.
New York: Stein and Day, 1971.

Carroll, Bob, Michael Gershman, David Neft, and John Thorn.
Total Football.
New York: HarperCollins, 1997.

Frank, Gerold.
The Boston Strangler.
New York: Penguin Books, 1967.

Kelly, Susan.
The Boston Stranglers.
New York: Kensington Publishing, 1995.

Longley, Jennifer.
Images of America: Hyannis and Hyannis Port.
Charleston, S.C.: Arcadia Publishing, 2002.

Sheedy, Jack, and Jim Coogan.
Cape Cod Companion: The History and Mystery of Old Cape Cod.
East Dennis, Mass.: Harvest Home Books, 1999.

MAGAZINE ARTICLES

Byers, Margery. “Fear Walks Alone.”
Life,
February 15, 1963.

Cavendish, Marshall.
Murder Casebook Volume 5: The Boston Strangler
(a Marshall Cavendish monthly publication), June 1985.