Those who study the real person behind the notorious Jack the Ripper are known as “Ripperologists”.
Although he was not the first serial killer, Jack the Ripper’s case was the first to cause a worldwide media frenzy.
Over 100 years later, his nickname is still widely known and the mystery of his attacks continues to be examined.
But the question remains: Who was Jack the Ripper?
Unfortunately, there is no definite answer. However, we can analyze his profile and the most probable suspects.
Feel free to guess, but don’t expect a conclusive solution from anyone.
The Killer’s Profile
In 1888, Jack the Ripper was an unidentified person who committed a series of gruesome serial murders.
His signature was the mutilation or dismemberment of female victims, who were all alcoholic prostitutes.
Authorities concluded that he was probably a male seeking easy prey.
Based on the evidence, it was also believed that he may have been abandoned or abused by his mother as a child, which could explain why he only targeted women.
Further analysis revealed that the murders typically occurred on weekends, between 12 AM and 6 AM, suggesting that he had a job but no family ties.
Connecting the Cases
During the time of the Ripper killings, there was already a high rate of violence against women in the impoverished Whitechapel district of London.
Between April 1888 and February 1891, 11 murders occurred in the area. Five of these were linked to Jack the Ripper and are considered the canonical five.
The other six were likely acts of gang violence. However, it is impossible to rule out Jack the Ripper as the culprit for these as well, since no one was ever caught for these crimes.
The canonical five victims all had their throats slit, and four of them had other horrific wounds and mutilations. The fifth victim had only one cut, leading to speculation that the Ripper may have been interrupted before he could inflict further harm.
Although these five women were connected, it is still unknown whether Jack the Ripper had other victims.
The Manhunt
During the search for the maniac, over 2,000 people were interviewed, 300 were investigated, and 80 were detained.
According to the wounds on the victims, it was concluded that the killer had knowledge of human anatomy and could possibly be a butcher or work in the medical field. Therefore, 76 butchers and slaughterers were investigated, including all employees from the last 6 months. Despite this, the case remained unsolved and was officially closed in 1892 due to lack of evidence and success.
Today, there are over 100 hypotheses about Jack the Ripper’s true identity, with those who study the case being called “Ripperologists”. The theories range from Winston Churchill’s dad to Lewis Carroll and even Queen Victoria’s grandson. Some have even suggested that Jack the Ripper was actually Jill the Ripper, with Mary Pearcey being caught and executed in a similar style to the Ripper. However, there isn’t enough forensic evidence to support any of these theories, but the top 5 most likely suspects have been narrowed down.
The first suspect is Montague John Druitt, who lived only a few miles away from the murder location in Whitechapel and was seen in the area around the same time as the murders. While there wasn’t any concrete evidence to convict him, many believed him to be “sexually insane” and his body was found just seven weeks after the probable last victim of Jack the Ripper.
The second suspect is Carl Feigenbaum, a 54-year old German sailor who worked near Whitechapel and was usually spotted at nearby brothels. He was known to be a psychopath and even confessed to mutilating women. He later emigrated to America, where he was convicted of murdering a woman and sent to the electric chair.
The third suspect is Francis Craig, who some believe to be the husband of one of the victims. He was a reporter during the murders, covering the police courts and investigations on crimes in the East End.
Overall, the true identity of Jack the Ripper remains a mystery, with numerous theories and suspects but no concrete evidence to support any of them.
According to some theories, Craig may have had a personality disorder, possibly schizotypal. He lived close to the location of the first Jack the Ripper murder, which could have made it easier for him to commit the crimes. Craig married Elizabeth Davies, who may have been using the alias Mary Jane Kelly, the Ripper’s last victim. Ripperologists believe that Craig planned Kelly’s murder after discovering she was a prostitute and killed the other women to cover his tracks.
Another suspect is Walter Sickert, an artist known for painting prostitutes and allegedly including clues about the Ripper killings in his works. Experts claim the similarities between his paintings and the crime scenes are too close to be coincidental.
Aaron Kosminski, a Polish barber living in Whitechapel during the murders, is also a widely regarded suspect. He had a history of misogynistic and homicidal tendencies and was sent to an asylum in 1889. Although there was no hard evidence against Kosminski, a witness identified him as the attacker of one of the victims, and his mitochondrial DNA was found on a shawl believed to have belonged to the Ripper.
It is difficult to determine the most likely suspect, as each has compelling evidence against them. However, it is widely believed that the Ripper stopped killing after the last victim, possibly due to his death, imprisonment, emigration, or institutionalization. The truth behind the identity of Jack the Ripper may never be fully known.
FAQ
1. Who was Jack the Ripper?
Jack the Ripper was a notorious serial killer who terrorized the streets of London in 1888. He is known for brutally murdering at least five women in the Whitechapel district, and possibly more. Despite the efforts of the police and the public, he was never caught or identified, making him one of the most infamous unsolved mysteries in history.
2. What were Jack the Ripper’s methods?
Jack the Ripper’s methods were particularly gruesome. He would target prostitutes and then brutally murder them, often mutilating their bodies in the process. He would typically slit their throats and then perform a variety of other violent acts, such as removing organs or cutting off body parts. His methods were so brutal that they shocked the public and made it clear that he was not an ordinary criminal.
3. Why was Jack the Ripper never caught?
There are many theories about why Jack the Ripper was never caught. Some believe that he was simply too clever and managed to avoid leaving any evidence behind. Others believe that he may have had connections within the police force or even been a member of the aristocracy, which would have made it difficult to bring him to justice. Whatever the reason, his identity remains a mystery to this day.
4. What was the impact of Jack the Ripper on society?
Jack the Ripper had a significant impact on society, both in his own time and in the years that followed. His crimes were widely reported in the press and generated a great deal of fear and panic among the public. Many people were afraid to walk the streets at night, and there were calls for increased police presence and better lighting in the city. His legacy has continued to fascinate people around the world, with countless books, films, and TV shows exploring the mystery of his identity.
5. Who are some of the suspects in the Jack the Ripper case?
Over the years, there have been many suspects in the Jack the Ripper case. Some of the most famous include Montague John Druitt, a barrister who committed suicide shortly after the last murder, and Aaron Kosminski, a Polish immigrant who was identified as a suspect by one of the police officers involved in the case. Other suspects have included doctors, butchers, and even members of the royal family.
6. Will we ever know the true identity of Jack the Ripper?
It is impossible to say whether we will ever know the true identity of Jack the Ripper. Despite the efforts of countless investigators and researchers, the case remains unsolved, and many of the original documents and pieces of evidence have been lost or destroyed over the years. However, some people believe that advances in technology and forensic science may one day help to solve the mystery, so it is possible that we may yet discover the identity of history’s most infamous serial killer.
Zayn Anderson is a prolific writer with a passion for uncovering the world’s intriguing facts. Armed with an insatiable curiosity, he delves into various subjects, from history and science to nature and technology.