One historian believes he has finally solved the gruesome case of Jack the Ripper. This is more than 136 year after London was terrorized by the Whitechapel Murders.
Why it Matters
Jack the Ripper’s gruesome murders have captivated the attention of the public for more than a century. The mystery around the identity of the killer and the brutality behind the crimes unsolved has fueled the fascination. Identification of Jack would put an end to the long-standing mystery in criminal history.
You Should Know
Russell Edwards stated in an article that Aaron Kosminski (a 23-year old Polish barber living in London during the period of the murders) was Jack the Ripper. Kosminski was a suspected in the past.
Sir Melville Macnaghten (Assistant Chief Constable, London Metropolitan Police) had noted that “Kosminski”, without a first-name, was a suspect listed in a 1894 memo regarding the Jack the Ripper investigation. The historical document, which was compiled by the London Metropolitan Police in 1894, highlights that Kosminski has been suspected of being involved with the Whitechapel Murders for a long time.
Aaron Kosminski Was Identified As Jack the Ripper.
Kosminski’s identification as Jack the Ripper is based on purportedly DNA evidence taken from a scarf found at the site of Catherine Eddowes murder. Catherine Eddowes was one of Jack the Ripper’s confirmed victims. Edwards claimed that the descendants of Kosminski as well as Eddowes had provided DNA samples in order to aid the investigation. A DNA match was then able to link Kosminski with the crime scene.
But it is important to recognize that the DNA tests linking Kosminski and the Jack the Ripper crimes have been scrutinized. The lack of peer reviews and the non-availability original data to independently verify have raised concerns. This criticism highlights the ongoing debate as well as the need to further confirm before concluding definitively that Kosminski is Jack the Ripper.
What Was Jack the Ripper all about?
Jack the Ripper was the unidentified serial murderer who operated in the Whitechapel area of London, 1888. This serial killer was notorious for his violent crimes. The victims’ throats were cut and their abdominals mutilated. Jack the Ripper’s murders were unsolved, which contributed greatly to the legend.
Why is Jack the Ripper famous?
Jack the Ripper became a household name due to the extensive media coverage of the case and the graphic details. Jack the Ripper’s story has endured because of the mystery surrounding the identity of the murderer, as well as the Victorian London social environment. Inability by law enforcement agencies to capture the murderer only heightened public interest and fears.
How many victims did Jack the Ripper have?
Jack the Ripper was widely thought to have killed at least five Whitechapel women in 1888. Mary Ann Nichols is one of the five canonical victims. The others are Annie Chapman and Elizabeth Stride. These women’s murders remain unsolved. However, some researchers believe that Jack the Ripper may have been responsible for other victims.
How did Jack the Ripper die?
Aaron Kosminski died at a mental hospital in 1919. The exact cause of death is unknown because the “Jack the Ripper’s” identity remains anonymous. Aaron Kosminski’s death sheds some light on the man believed to be the notorious Jack the Ripper.
The People Say
Edwards in an Interview: We want to end the story. “We now have the killer’s name and the location of the crime scene.”
What happens next?
Russell Edwards reportedly wrote to the Attorney general to request permission to officially reopen the Jack the Ripper investigation. It is the goal to get the court system to recognize Kosminski’s murder as a fact, and solidify the history with legal evidence.