Casey Sherman, the nephew of the youngest known victim of the Boston Strangler, expresses doubt about the man who confessed to these notorious murders, Albert DeSalvo. “Honestly, I can’t believe DeSalvo did it,” Sherman shared, referencing a psychological profile by Dr. Ames Roby, DeSalvo’s psychologist, who suggested that he didn’t believe DeSalvo was capable of murder.
While acknowledging that DeSalvo was a sex offender and a con artist, Sherman insists he didn’t commit the murders. “He certainly physically took advantage of women through sexual assault,” he said, “but he never murdered these women.”
The Boston murders, which took place between 1962 and 1964, are the subject of a new true-crime documentary titled “The Boston Strangler: Inaudible Confessions.” It features previously unreleased audio from DeSalvo, who was killed in prison in 1973.
Hosted by Sherman, who previously authored a book on the 1964 murder of his aunt Mary Sullivan, the documentary aims to delve into these historic crimes. FOX News Digital has sought comments from Boston Police regarding the film and Sherman’s assertions.
“Growing up, I heard whispers about my aunt’s murder,” Sherman recalled. “I once asked my mother about it. She was just 17 when her 19-year-old sister was killed. They had been so close, planning a future together as sisters. It was heartbreaking for her.” Sherman noted how this conversation sparked an emotional response from his mother. He shared, “I hugged her and said, ‘Mom, at least they got the guy.’ But she just looked at me and said, ‘Casey, I don’t know if they ever did that.’
That moment lingered with Sherman. “It was more a sisterly intuition than any evidence,” he reflected, highlighting the deep bond between his mother and her lost sister.
For decades, Sherman has delved into the investigation of Sullivan’s murder. Although DNA testing in 2013 indicated DeSalvo’s involvement, he has grown skeptical over how this evidence was presented. “After interviewing everyone involved, we’re getting a different story,” he noted. Over the years, he has spoken to about 50 witnesses and experts from the Boston Strangler Task Force, some of whom believe the real culprit remains unidentified.
Thirteen women, aged 19 to 85, were found slain during this time, all strangled with their own clothing. The brutal nature of the crimes led to DeSalvo being labeled “America’s Jack the Ripper.” He once confessed to these murders while a patient at a hospital for the criminally insane, but police lacked sufficient evidence to prosecute him.
Sherman noted that DeSalvo’s confession tapes, amounting to 60 hours, reveal apparent inaccuracies. “He confessed to events that simply never occurred,” Sherman argued. The inexperienced interrogator, John Bottomley, showed DeSalvo crime scene photos during questioning, a method Sherman criticized as highly questionable.
In his research, Sherman found letters in which DeSalvo indicated he would retract his confession. “He was put in a position where he never truly had a chance,” Sherman stated, mentioning DeSalvo’s tragic fate in prison.
There are skeptics, including Sherman, who suspect several killers might have been involved, citing inconsistencies in DeSalvo’s statements and how he didn’t fit witness descriptions. However, many experts still attribute the majority of the murders to him.
Notably, DeSalvo shared living space with George Nassar, a murderer. Some, including Sherman, speculate that Nassar could have influenced DeSalvo’s confessions to deflect suspicion from himself, but there is no solid proof of this theory.
Sherman believes there was motive behind their actions, especially given the city’s urgency to solve the case and the reward offered for information. Yet, DeSalvo’s former attorney, F. Lee Bailey, firmly believed they had the correct person all along.
Even with the controversies surrounding the case, Sherman is open to a reevaluation of the events. “The victim’s family deserves clarity about their loved ones’ tragic ends,” he asserted. “Massachusetts has no statute of limitations for murder.” He thinks there may still be answers out there, and he encourages public discourse to keep the investigation alive. “Even in 2025, revisiting these murders might shed new light,” he concluded, maintaining that the pursuit of truth continues.
