Hulu's recent crime film, Boston Strangler, features three suspects that may be the serial killer behind the Boston Strangler's violent crimes, and all of whom have real-life counterparts involved in the actual case. One such suspect in the film is Daniel Marsh, the ex-boyfriend of a Boston Strangler victim. Though Boston Strangler depicts true events from the 1960s, some aspects of the film, including Daniel Marsh, were changed from the true story.
Boston Strangler tells the story of two female journalists, Loretta McLaughlin and Jean Cole, who are determined to solve the case of the Boston Strangler. After 13 murders have been committed in Boston between 1962 and 1964, and the police are unwilling to dig deeper into the crimes, Loretta and Jean take on the case themselves, finding four major suspects: Boston Strangler's Paul Dempsey, Albert DeSalvo, George Nassar, and Daniel Marsh. These men offered up complicated stories that both condemned them but taught the journalists more about what really happened to the Boston Strangler's victims. However, the film's depiction of events isn't exactly what occurred in real life.
Daniel Marsh Is A Pseudonym In The Boston Strangler Movie
The character Daniel Marsh in Boston Strangler is a pseudonym for a real-life suspect in the Boston Strangler case. In the film, Loretta suspects Marsh of committing crimes in Boston and Ann Arbor. Marsh immediately appears creepy and untrustworthy, confirming Loretta's belief that he may be the Boston Strangler. Later, it's revealed that Marsh knew the other two suspects in Boston, DeSalvo, and Nassar, and the three may have also worked together. However, Marsh is never apprehended, and it's unclear whether he actually committed any murders.
While the real-life suspect's name is unclear, reports have referred to him as Daniel Pennacchio and David Parker. According to Decider, Daniel Marsh's character was based on a suspect whose move from Boston to Ann Arbor coincided with a copycat murder. Additionally, the man was thought to have mental health conditions and a history of domestic abuse. In another report from The Cinemaholic, the Daniel Marsh character was tied to the Boston Strangler murders because of his connection to victim Beverly Samans and another similar crime in Ann Arbor. He allegedly confessed to her murder, however, it seems that a lack of evidence let him walk free.
What Happened To The Suspect Who Inspired Boston Strangler's Daniel Marsh?
It is not entirely clear what happened to the real-life Boston Strangler and or the suspect that inspired Daniel Marsh. One report suggests that, despite his confession, the man avoided being charged with murder and eventually perished in a diving accident. In the film, Daniel Marsh also gets away with his alleged crimes and there's no follow-up as to what he does after the events of the Boston Strangler. In both scenarios, Daniel Marsh escaped punishment, despite his confession and links to the crimes.
The true story of the Boston Strangler case is a complicated one and Hulu's Boston Strangler does provide some answers. Of the three suspects, Daniel Marsh's story is certainly the most mysterious because of the many questions left unanswered both in the film and in real life. While the suspect who inspired Daniel Marsh may still be unclear, along with the true suspect behind the Boston Strangler crimes, the film puts a spotlight on him, keeping his story and potential crimes from being forgotten by the public.
Sources: Decider, The Cinemaholic