The Boston Strangler

Three elderly women are found murdered in Boston, their deaths marked by strangulation and the insertion of foreign objects. The violence forms a serial pattern across multiple jurisdictions. Investigators begin linking the cases and racing to identify the killer before more victims appear.

With the murder spree expanding, Massachusetts Attorney General Edward W. Brooke orders a coordinated response. John S. Bottomly is appointed to head a special task force called the 'Strangler Bureau' to unify detectives across jurisdictions. The move aims to speed leads, share information, and pressure suspects more effectively.

Bottomly brings in a psychic, Peter Hurkos, who claims to pinpoint Eugene T. O'Rourke as fitting the killer's profile. The alleged breakthrough injects new energy into a case already stretched across borders. Detectives begin intense scrutiny of O'Rourke as they try to verify the claim.

O'Rourke is taken in for psychiatric observation for ten days, but early evaluations fail to tie him to the murders. Doctors debate whether a split personality could still be involved, complicating the path to a confession. The case remains unresolved as the investigation continues.

While O'Rourke is under observation, a new murder is committed, effectively clearing him of involvement. Investigators must reconsider the suspect pool and the signature methods of the killer. The pressure to solve the case grows as clues remain elusive.

During the televised funeral of John F. Kennedy, Albert DeSalvo leaves his wife Irmgard and children under the pretext of work. This timing places him near the next attack window and underscores the killer's ongoing opportunity to act. The personal life of a suspect becomes part of the investigative shadow.

DeSalvo gains entry to Dianne Cluny's apartment by posing as a plumber. He ties her to her bed with ripped fabric and begins the attack, only to be startled by his own reflection in a mirror. Dianne fights back, biting his hand, and DeSalvo flees the scene.

On a subsequent entry attempt, DeSalvo is interrupted by a husband at home and is apprehended by a passing patrol. He is found incompetent to stand trial for attempted breaking and entering and is committed to a hospital for psychiatric observation. The authorities begin to build a case against him based on behavior and injuries sustained.

Bottomly and Detective DiNatale visit Dianne's survivor and encounter DeSalvo in an elevator, noticing the wound on his hand. The victim's memory of biting him provides a crucial clue linking him to the Boston Strangler murders. The investigation tightens its net around him.

Interviews reveal the doctors' belief in a split personality: a 'normal' self fabricates memories to hide the murderous 'strangler' persona. Conventional interrogation yields little because the two identities are unaware of each other. The medical team acknowledges that bringing the truth to light could risk destabilizing the patient.

Under defense counsel restrictions that nothing can be admitted in court, Bottomly conducts a final round of interviews with DeSalvo. After several sessions, he manages to elicit the hidden personality behind the murders. The psychological breakthrough leaves DeSalvo shaken and destabilized.

The intense sessions reveal DeSalvo's hidden personality, strengthening the claim that he is responsible for the Boston Strangler murders. The shock of the revelation contributes to a catatonic state in DeSalvo. Investigators weigh how this mental break affects potential legal action.

Doctors debate whether forcing the confrontation between personalities could push DeSalvo into catatonia, highlighting the clash between clinical insight and courtroom strategy. Bottomly contemplates the implications for achieving a conviction. The case demonstrates the friction between science and law.

With the hidden personality exposed but not yet legally established as a confession, the case lingers in limbo. DeSalvo remains catatonic, and the search for definitive evidence continues. The public question of guilt remains unresolved in the wake of the revelation.