For over 130 years, the identity of the notorious serial killer known as Jack the Ripper remained a mystery. Perhaps the most infamous serial killer ever, Jack the ripper has baffled many with hundreds of suspects named and has even had a dedicated following of people trying to solve the mystery called ‘Ripperologists’.
Operating in the Whitechapel district in the east end of London in 1888, this elusive figure became one of the most infamous criminals in history. Despite numerous investigations, theories, and countless suspects, the identity of Jack the Ripper was never conclusively determined until now. In a ground breaking revelation, DNA evidence has led to the discovery of the killer’s identity with Russel Edwards finding a 100% match with a suspect and the Jack the Ripper case may be solved.
The story of Jack the Ripper
Jack the Ripper’s killing began in the autumn of 1888, with a series of brutal murders targeting women in Whitechapel, an area with a proclivity for violence and crime alongside poverty. The five canonical victims: Mary Ann Nichols, Annie Chapman, Elizabeth Stride, Catherine Eddowes, and Mary Jane Kelly were all horrifically mutilated, and done with medical precision with internal organs being removed as trophies.
On August 31 1888, the killings began as at 3:40am the body of Mary Ann Nichols was found in Bucks’ Row, she was found on her back with her throat slashed and disembowelled. Then next on September 8 1888, the body of Annie Chapman was found at 29 Hanbury Street, with her throat also cut but this time the violence was escalated with the murderer taking her womb giving the first indication that the murderer had anatomical knowledge from the way it was removed.
On September 27 1888, the central news agency received a letter from the apparent killer bragging about not getting caught and mocking the police while bragging about killing. This note was signed by the killer giving one of the most famous monikers in history signing yours truly, Jack the Ripper. This was finally released to the public on October 1 and stuck with the public getting the rippers name out there.
On September 30 1888, the body of Elizabeth Stride was found on Berner Street with only her throat cut which lead the police to believe her murder differed because the murderer got interrupted by the man who found Stride. Only 45 minutes after the discovery of Elizabeth Stride another body was found in Mitre Square west of the Stride murder. Catherine Eddowes was severely mutilated especially her face with her uterus removed as well as her left kidney.
He then left back east toward the murder site of Elizabeth Stride, leaving one of the only clues investigators discovered which was a piece of Catherine Eddowes apron underneath a chalk quote about antisemitism in the area. On November 9th the final body of Mary Kelly was found at 13 Miller court and was the most brutal as her body was disembowelled and skinned down.
The lack of forensic techniques at the time meant that investigators could only rely on eyewitness accounts, witness testimony, and rudimentary forensics, making the hunt for the killer exceptionally difficult. The case was written about in the newspaper and outrage was sparked in the newly literate areas of the country with outrage sparked even back in 1888 which caused so much public upset at the failed attempts to catch the killer that both the police commissioner and home secretary resigned.
Breakthrough in DNA Technology
The key breakthrough came when forensic scientist Russel Edwards used mitochondrial DNA extracted from a piece of cloth found at the crime scene, a shawl believed to have belonged to Catherine Eddowes, one of the Ripper’s victims. The shawl had been examined for decades but was never thought to be a reliable source of evidence due to contamination and degradation.
The bloodstained shawl which was said to have been found on Catherine Eddowes’ body in 1888, was purchased at auction in 2007 by Russell, and was later found to have the DNA of both the victim and Kosminski.
Edwards has hired a legal team to fight for an inquest on the grounds that there is further evidence for a coroner to consider about the circumstances of the death and crucially who was responsible. A campaign which has been backed by the descendants of both Ms Eddowes and Kosminski, who say it is time to unmask the true killer and get justice for the women involved.
Edwards stated: “It’s very difficult to put into words the elation I felt when I saw the 100 per cent DNA match. This brings closure and it’s a form of justice for the descendants”, he told The Sun. “He can’t be prosecuted because he’s dead, but this is the closest thing they can do. This man committed atrocities towards their ancestors, and we know it’s him and we want the courts to say, ‘Yes, you’re right’.”
Who Was Aaron Kosminski?
Kosminski was one of the original suspects named by investigators during the 1888 investigation. He was a 23-year-old barber who lived in Whitechapel and was known for his erratic behaviour and history of mental illness spending time in an asylum in 1889 and resided in them till his death in 1919. However, at the time, Kosminski was never arrested or charged due to a lack of concrete evidence.
Kosminski was Jewish and as stated previously the Ripper placed a part of Eddowes apron underneath a quote written by the murderer about antisemitism in Whitechapel and he was also known for his hatred of women, especially prostitutes.
While there were several other individuals who were considered prime suspects over the years, including Montague John Druitt, Walter Sickert and Michael Ostrog. Kosminski’s potential guilt had been raised in police reports at the time, but the lack of physical evidence had left him as just another name in the growing list of potential perpetrators.
Implications of the Discovery
The identification of Jack the Ripper doesn’t simply satisfy public curiosity the case highlights how modern technology can reopen historical investigations, allowing us to revisit old cases with a fresh perspective and new tools. DNA analysis has transformed the landscape of criminal justice, offering new hope for solving cold cases and bringing closure to victims and their families.
However, the conclusion of the Jack the Ripper case doesn’t erase the lasting trauma and mystery surrounding the murders. Kosminski’s identification as the killer does not change the grisly details of the murders or the terror that gripped London during those fateful months in 1888. It’s a stark reminder of the horrific reality that the victims faced, and the long-lasting impact of the crimes on the community and history.
