Suit Filed Over Boston Strangler Evidence

B O S T O N, Sept. 14 -- Relatives of suspected “Boston Strangler” Albert DeSalvo and the family of oneof the women he confessed to killing sued local and stateauthorities today seeking information they say proves the realBoston Strangler is still at large.

The families said they were forced into action by officials whorefused to turn over evidence, including semen and hair samples forDNA testing.

They claim a tape of DeSalvo’s confession in the 1964 slaying ofMary Sullivan — the only evidence linking him to the crime —contains a key error that proves DeSalvo couldn’t have been thereal killer.

“His confession contradicts the official autopsy report,” saidCasey Sherman, Sullivan’s nephew and a WBZ-TV producer who has beenpursuing the case for years. “In my eyes, it could be the smokinggun in this case.”

Rape Claims ChallengedSullivan was one of 11 women believed killed by the so-calledBoston Strangler between June 1962 and January 1964. DeSalvoconfessed to those killings and the deaths of two other women butwas never charged.

He was killed in prison in 1973 while serving time for anunrelated crime.

In portions of a taped confession played Wednesday night onWBZ-TV, DeSalvo claimed he raped Sullivan prior to her slaying. Butaccording to the autopsy report, no semen was found on Sullivan’sbody.

Another portion of DeSalvo’s confession, in which he said he hadused a gag, also contradicted autopsy results, the stationreported.

Defendants in the lawsuit include Attorney General Tom Reilly,the chief medical examiner, state police and Boston police.

In May, Reilly’s office said it would give families access assoon as it determined the full content of evidence gathered duringthe investigation. A month later, the office said because no onewas ever charged, the petitioners weren’t entitled to theinformation.

“We certainly respect the concerns of the family,” Reilly saidtoday. “Whatever Mr. DeSalvo may have said more than 30 yearsago, the fact remains — he was not charged, nor was anyone else. Asfar as we’re concerned this is an unsolved homicide.”