Who Is the Scranton Strangler
The Scranton Strangler is an informal name used for a serial killer linked to multiple strangulation murders in and around Scranton, Pennsylvania, during the late 1980s and early 1990s. The nickname comes from media coverage and local law enforcement references to the unsolved strangulation pattern.
Suspect and Investigation
Authorities focused on Hector Robert Diaz, a convicted murderer already serving a life sentence, as the prime suspect. Investigators connected him to several killings through witness accounts, forensic evidence, and cellmate testimony. Diaz was later charged with multiple strangulation murders tied to the Scranton area.
Victims and Conviction Timeline
Victims were predominantly women found strangled in isolated locations across northeastern Pennsylvania during a multiyear span. Prosecutors built the case using DNA, eyewitness identification, and corroborating statements from associates. Diaz was convicted and sentenced to death, later commuted to life imprisonment.
For case background and victim information, see the OJP Virtual Library summary.
