Jack the Ripper was a notorious serial killer whose true identity remained unknown until recently. The individual who terrorized London in 1888 evaded capture and recognition. Between August and November of that year, Jack murdered five women, leaving their corpses mutilated. These brutal killings sent shockwaves throughout England, as families lived in fear, unaware that the killer was still at large. Jack became infamous for slitting the throats of his victims.
Even though over a century has passed, people still are fascinated by Jack the Ripper. In reality, the English killer is long dead. One hundred and thirty-seven years have passed since his last murder.
Despite all these factors, people continue to search for Jack the Ripper. Trash bags were not invented until the 1950s, so Jack could not have simply discarded the clothing of his victims. During the investigations, several local gangs were considered potential suspects. However, a turning point occurred on Sept. 8, 1888, when law enforcement shifted their focus to the conclusion that a single killer was responsible for the murders. This change in perspective intensified the mystery surrounding one of history’s most infamous criminals.
Many names were suspected to be Jack the Ripper. Thomas Cutbush and James Maybrick were both on a suspect list. Initially, there was speculation that they could have been involved in the murders. However, they were soon dismissed as suspects and were just in the wrong place at the wrong time. For many years, people have wondered how a killer could evade capture even after his death. Despite the various names that have emerged, no one has ever been officially identified as Jack the Ripper.
That changed with a recent forensic discovery, which revealed that a DNA test conducted on the shawl of Jack’s victim identified a man named Aaron Kosminski, a Jewish Polish immigrant. He was a suspect in 1888, but was not taken seriously. He was known for his hatred towards women and had strong homicidal tendencies which led him to be sent to an asylum in March of 1889. He died there in 1919.
Russell Edwards, a forensic scientist, has asserted that Kosminski was Jack the Ripper; however, not all scholars agree. Edwards believes Kosminski was the Ripper based on DNA found on the shawl of one of the victims. The DNA was compared to a living relative of Kosminski and found to be a perfect match.
For decades, experts have conducted research to uncover the true identity of Jack the Ripper. Now, Edward believes the living family of Jack’s victims can rest easy that the identity of the killer may have been discovered.