For over a century, the identity of Jack the Ripper—the infamous killer who terrorized London’s Whitechapel district in 1888—has remained one of history’s greatest mysteries. Despite countless theories and investigations, the true face behind the gruesome murders was never confirmed. However, a British researcher has claimed that he finally unsolved the mystery behind the true identity of the murderer.
After years of research, Russell Edwards believes he has finally uncovered the identity of Jack the Ripper. A bloodstained shawl found at the crime scene of victim Catherine Eddowes was tested for DNA evidence. The results reportedly match Aaron Kosminski, a Polish-born barber who has long been a suspect.
Edwards, working with genealogists, found a living relative of Kosminski, who provided a DNA sample. When compared to the genetic material on the shawl, it showed a match—bringing new hope that the mystery of Jack the Ripper may finally be solved.
Russell said: “It’s very difficult to put into words the elation I felt when I saw the 100 per cent DNA match.” The mystery of Jack the Ripper may finally be nearing a legal conclusion, as descendants of both Catherine Eddowes and Aaron Kosminski are now calling for an official inquest to confirm the killer’s identity.
The key piece of evidence, a bloodstained shawl, was believed to have been found near Eddowes’ body and later purchased at an auction in 2007. Recent forensic tests revealed DNA from both Eddowes and Kosminski, further linking him to the crime.
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Kosminski, a Polish immigrant, had long been a suspect in the Whitechapel murders. Suffering from mental illness, he was eventually committed to an asylum, where he remained until his death in 1919. “We have the proof,” said Karen Miller, a descendant of Eddowes. “Now we need this inquest to legally name the killer.”
Although many historians and experts question the reliability of DNA evidence from such an old crime scene, supporters see this discovery as a major breakthrough. Russell Edwards has now put together a legal team to push for an inquest, insisting that modern forensic science has finally revealed the true identity of Jack the Ripper.
How did Jack The Ripper earn such fame?
Jack the Ripper became infamous for a series of gruesome murders in London’s Whitechapel district between 1888 and 1892. While some believe he was responsible for over a dozen killings, police officially linked him to five victims in 1888, known as the “canonical five.”
These victims were Mary Ann Nichols (found on August 31), Annie Chapman (September 8), Elizabeth Stride and Catherine Eddowes (both found on September 30), and Mary Jane Kelly (November 9). At the time, it was widely assumed that all the victims were prostitutes, and except for Kelly, they were killed while soliciting on the streets. However, later works by historians, ignored this assumption and even went so far as refuting it.
The Ripper’s brutal methods, mysterious identity, and the police’s failure to catch him turned the case into one of history’s greatest crime mysteries, capturing public attention for over a century.
Jack the Ripper’s crimes were marked by extreme brutality, with victims’ throats slit and bodies mutilated, suggesting the killer had some anatomical knowledge. In one chilling incident, a human kidney, possibly taken from a victim, was sent to the police. Authorities also received taunting letters from someone claiming to be the Ripper, adding to the mystery.
Despite intense efforts to catch him, the killer was never identified. Public outrage over the police’s failure to make an arrest led to heavy criticism of officials, ultimately resulting in the resignation of the home secretary and the London police commissioner.
