Serial Killers By H. HH Holmes And Jack The Ripper

Twisted Minds
H.H. Holmes once said “I was born with the devil in me. I could not help the fact I was a murderer, no more than a poet can help the inspiration to sing” (Larson, 2004). This quote exemplifies the twisted mind many serial killers possess. Throughout history there have been many killers such as Jeffery Dahmer and John Wayne Gacy, however not many can name two of the first serial killers that obtained infamy. HH Holmes and Jack the Ripper are infamous serial killers who shared many traits; however they varied in many things including background, modus operandi, and capture. Through comparing and contrasting the horrendous acts of these two killers one can determine why these acts still linger in memory today.
The first thing that should be discussed is the background of both murders. Jack the Rippers identity was never discovered, they never knew his name, birth date, or death date, but according to the FBI profile, they think he came from a family where he was raised by

The ripper only killed female prostitutes. During the 1800’s prostitution was different from what we consider them now. He found all of his female victims in dark alley ways and on the streets of London. He always left his victims in plain sight. Adding to the mystery he sent letters to the police telling them what he did to the last victim and gave them hints of the next. Jack the Ripper sent a letter saying “From hell Mr. Lusk, Sor I send you half the kidne I took from one women prasarved it for you tother piece I fried and ate it was very nice. I may send you the bloody knif that took it out if you only wate a whil longer”(“Jack the Ripper Letters • From Hell Letter • Dear Boss Letter,” n.d.). This added to the infamy of the serial killer as not only did he mutilate the victims but cannibalized the as well. When his murders stopped, London citizens wanted answers that never came, even over a century