Nina Nichols

In the summer of 1962, a palpable sense of unease began to creep into the city of Boston. It was a fear that would soon escalate into widespread panic, and for 68-year-old White female Nina Nichols, it would culminate in a brutal and untimely death. On June 30, 1962, Nichols was found murdered in her Brighton apartment located at 1940 Commonwealth Avenue. The scene that greeted investigators was one of disarray, suggesting a burglary had taken place. Drawers were pulled open, and her belongings were strewn about the rooms. However, a closer inspection revealed that this was no ordinary robbery. Valuables, including sterling silver and cash, were left untouched, indicating a more sinister motive.

Nichols had been sexually assaulted and strangled with her own nylon stockings, which were tied in a grotesque bow around her neck. This chilling detail would become a signature of the serial killer who terrorized the city, a man who would come to be known as the Boston Strangler. On the very same day, another woman, Helen Blake, was murdered in a similar fashion in the nearby suburb of Lynn, solidifying the terrifying reality that a serial killer was on the loose.

The investigation into the string of murders that plagued the Boston area eventually led to a man named Albert DeSalvo. Already in custody for a series of unrelated sexual offenses, DeSalvo confessed to being the Boston Strangler, providing details of the crimes that had not been made public. His confession encompassed the murder of Nina Nichols, and he was subsequently sentenced to life in prison for his other crimes, though he was never formally tried for the stranglings. He was later stabbed to death in prison in 1973.

Despite DeSalvo's confession, doubts have lingered for decades as to whether he acted alone or was responsible for all thirteen of the murders attributed to the Boston Strangler. The varying methods of murder and the diverse profiles of the victims have led some investigators to believe that more than one perpetrator may have been involved. However, in the case of the final victim, Mary Sullivan, DNA evidence in 2013 definitively linked DeSalvo to her murder. For the death of Nina Nichols, and the other victims, DeSalvo's confession remains the primary basis for his culpability. No other suspects were ever arrested or charged in connection with her murder.