Jack the Ripper, the serial killer who got away. While there were multiple suspects as to who was responsible, no one knows the true identity of the man who committed the Whitechapel murders in the East end of London in 1888. The “Autumn of Terror” 1888 was the span of 12 weeks, take or give a few, where at least 5 women were murdered. The “Canonical five”, as they were often referred as, were the known victims of Jack the Ripper, though no one truly knows how many victims there were exactly.
The legend of Jack the Ripper is more than a just a mere legend. Multiple bodies found, and letters left behind from the man known as Jack the Ripper, evolved into the most famous murder spree the 19th century experienced.
Ripper claims his first victim.
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One, would be Jack the Rippers first recorded victim. The body of prostitute Mary Ann Nichols, was found by Charles Cross, mutilated in Whitechapel’s Buck’s Row, August 31, 1888. While there were recorded attacks and deaths before this, Mary was his first victim. She was found with her skirt about her waist and a gash to her throat. September 8 and September 30, Jack claimed his next three victims. Annie Chapman, she was a definite second victim. Her body was found in the backyard of Number 29 Hanbury Street, September 8th. She was found horrendously mutilated and the murder removed her womb and assumingly, kept it. The next two victims were prostitutes, Liz Stride and Kate Eddowes. They were both found murdered and carved up the same night. Elizabeth Stride was found in Dutchfield’s Yard, just off of a street known as Berners street, she was found with her throat …show more content…
Like most murder investigations today, looking at the victim’s family or close-knit friends is important in case of anyone with any motives. However, police believed Ripper was an “opportunist killer” so this did not help with the investigation. They also believed that he worked alone which meant that the case was set up to fail. False leads and dead ends in the investigation popped up often. The help of the press, did the opposite of what police hoped. The reporting threw out more false leads, ultimately throwing detectives in a deeper hole. On October 13th, 1888 Daily News let out a reporting proving that the investigation was getting nowhere. “…No attempt is made by the police themselves to disguise the fact that arrest upon arrest, each equally fruitless, has produced in the official minds a feeling almost of despair…. the officer, under whose direction they are pursuing their investigations, had in their possession quite a bulky packet of papers all relating to