‘Jack the Ripper’ Meets DNA Analysis
by James Mills
More than 135 years after a series of gruesome murders terrorized London, new DNA evidence has emerged that may lend credence to long-held suspicions about one of the original suspects. The infamous “Jack the Ripper” killings, a string of brutal murders in the late 19th century, remain one of history’s most chilling unsolved mysteries. Now, a DNA analysis has bolstered one theory about the killer’s identity—but questions about its accuracy persist.
The murders, often referred to as the “Whitechapel Murders,” occurred in 1888 in London’s East End. Five victims are definitively linked to the killer based on his modus operandi: each victim’s throat was cut, followed by severe mutilations to the face, genitals, stomach, and torso. In some cases, organs were removed, and the violence escalated with each attack—a hallmark of psychosexual crimes. The final victim’s injuries were less severe, leading to speculation that the killer was interrupted.
Catherine Eddowes, the fourth victim, is at the center of the latest development. Forensic science was virtually nonexistent at the time of the murders, but a bloodstained shawl believed to have belonged to Eddowes has survived. Recent DNA analysis of the shawl reportedly identified genetic material from both Eddowes and Aaron Kosminski, a Polish émigré and barber who was a suspect at the time. Descendants of both Eddowes and Kosminski are now supporting a legal bid to reopen the inquest into her murder.
However, the reliability of the DNA evidence has been called into question. Jari Louhelainen, a scientist involved in a 2019 study of the shawl, acknowledged that the chain of custody for the artifact was broken and that some of the DNA analysis was flawed. He also noted that Kosminski, as a barber, could have transferred his DNA to Eddowes through incidental contact, given her occupation as a sex worker. Louhelainen conceded that the evidence “wouldn’t be conclusive in a modern court.”
Kosminski was indeed a suspect during the original investigation. Police records from the time refer to a man named “Kosminki” as a prime suspect, reportedly identified by a witness who claimed to have seen him attacking one of the victims. Kosminski was later committed to a psychiatric facility in 1891 after witnesses accused him of brandishing a knife. Despite this, he was described as a largely nonviolent inmate.
The five “canonical” Ripper murders all occurred in 1888, but a number of other killings stretching into 1891 have been loosely linked to the case. These later crimes, however, differ significantly in method and lack the consensus that they were committed by the same perpetrator. The abrupt end to the canonical murders in 1888 has led to speculation that the killer died, was imprisoned, or was otherwise incapacitated.
The case of Jack the Ripper continues to captivate historians, criminologists, and the public alike, but it remains shrouded in ambiguity. The available evidence, including the recent DNA findings, lacks the historical verification and legal weight needed to draw definitive conclusions. While the prospect of solving the mystery is tantalizing, the evidence falls short of providing a clear answer.
If the goal is to secure a posthumous criminal conviction, it remains unfulfilled—for now. But if the aim is to honor the victims, tell their stories, and acknowledge their suffering, that mission has already been achieved. Rest in peace.
Sources: whyevolutionistrue.com, onlinelibrary.wiley.com, dailymail.co.uk
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