Back in the late 1800s, Jack the Ripper stalked London’s streets, killing at least five women in brutal attacks. His victims, now known as the ‘Canonical Five,’ were Mary Jane Kelly, Elizabeth Stride, Mary Ann Nichols, Annie Chapman, and Catherine Eddowes.
Despite countless investigations and theories, the true identity of Jack the Ripper has remained one of the world’s greatest mysteries for more than 145 years.
The Ripper’s killing spree ended long ago, but the question of who he was has continued to captivate investigators and historians for generations.
Jack the Ripper suspects
Over the years, many people, known as ‘Ripperologists,’ have come forward with their own theories about who Jack the Ripper might have been.
In fact, as many as 16 men have been considered as suspects, with backgrounds ranging from commoners to royalty.
The theories often hinge on personal connections to the victims or mysterious diaries and documents uncovered by researchers, according to The Jack the Ripper Tour.
In a quest to finally solve the mystery, author Russell Edwards purchased an important piece of evidence—a shawl once owned by one of the Ripper’s victims, Catherine Eddowes—at an auction.
Jack the Ripper ‘DNA evidence’
In 2007, Edwards took the shawl and had it tested for DNA. The results were significant, showing both blood and semen stains.
The blood was found to match a descendant of Eddowes, while the semen was linked to a distant relative of a man named Aaron Kosminski, one of the long-standing Ripper suspects, according to the Mirror.
Edwards presented his findings in his book titled Naming Jack the Ripper: The Definitive Reveal, following up on his earlier book Naming Jack the Ripper.
He also argued that authorities believed Kosminski harbored a ‘great hatred of women, particularly prostitutes, and had strong homicidal tendencies’.
While Edwards’ claims have gained attention, many experts have challenged the idea, casting doubt on the reliability of the evidence.
In 2014, Ripper expert Andrew Smith pointed out that the shawl had changed hands numerous times, making any DNA evidence potentially unreliable. He stated that to truly solve the case, ‘we need forensic evidence, and there isn’t any’.
If this mistake is proven, it could mean that the DNA could belong to anyone, not necessarily a suspect connected to the case.
So, it seems that while Edwards’ claims are compelling, the mystery of Jack the Ripper may still be far from fully solved.
