Boston Strangler Case Autopsy Stirs Debate

B O S T O N, Oct. 16, 2000 -- When Albert DeSalvo confessed to killing the last

alleged victim of the Boston Strangler, he said he struck her over

the head to knock her out, and then strangled her.

But when forensic experts conducted an autopsy on MarySullivan’s body Saturday, they found no signs of trauma to herhead, and her hyoid bone — a fragile neck bone typically snappedduring strangulation — unbroken.

The families of Sullivan and DeSalvo hope these findings willhelp exonerate DeSalvo — 36 years after the murder was committed,and 27 years after his death.

The two families had Sullivan’s body exhumed Saturday in searchof DNA evidence they hope will disprove his confession. She wasreburied on Sunday in Barnstable, on Cape Cod.

Attorney Elaine Whitfield Sharp, who represents both families,said the exhumation was necessary because state authorities refusedto release evidence taken from the murder scene.

“They’re telling us it’s still an open investigation, andimprudent to give out evidence,” Whitfield Sharp said. “But theyhaven’t done anything about this in 36 years.”

Eleven women — including Sullivan — were strangled in Bostonbetween June 1962 and January 1964.

DeSalvo confessed, but was never charged for the murders. He waskilled in prison in 1973, while serving a sentence on an unrelatedrape conviction.

Profit Motive?After a private investigation by Sullivan’s nephew, the twofamilies now say they believe DeSalvo confessed to the BostonStrangler murders because he believed he could get rich by sellingthe book and movie rights.

Stephen Bilafer, a spokesman for Massachusetts Attorney GeneralTom Reilly, said Sunday the state has not released the evidencebecause the murder is still considered an unsolved homicide.

“We’re sensitive to the concerns of these families, and we’veindicated an openness to meet with them and discuss thingsfurther,” he said. “But we have to treat this the same way wetreat other unsolved homicides.”

Sullivan’s nephew and DeSalvo’s brother and nephew have suedReilly’s office, the Massachusetts State Police, the Boston Policeand the medical examiner’s office to gain access to records andevidence.

But after repeated refusals, still certain evidence exists thatcould identify the real killer, the families decided to exhumeSullivan’s body.

DNA Tests Will FollowProf. James Starrs, a George Washington University forensicscientist who participated in the autopsy, said doctors now plan tobegin DNA testing on hair, tissue and semen samples taken from thebody, he said.

“If we find anything that is foreign to the DeSalvo family,then we will know there is a third person involved,” he said.

Whitfield Sharp said police still have evidence includingsemen-stained bed sheets, cigarette butts and the clothes Sullivanwas wearing the night she was killed.

The families have released copies of taped confessions in whichDeSalvo claims to have left a knife and a sweater at the murderscene. Neither has been found, the families claim.

“The government forced us to exhume her body because they wouldnot share the trace evidence they have,” she said. “But we’re notgoing to let the government stop us in our tracks. We’re doing whatwe can.”