More than 120 years after the horrifying events that shook London, the name “Jack the Ripper” remains a captivating topic for criminology researchers.
In the annals of global crime, Jack the Ripper is one of the most deranged and mysterious serial killers in history.
Having brutally murdered 11 victims in an “unbelievable” manner in the 1880s in London, Jack the Ripper continues to be a primary focus of investigation and study for law enforcement and scientists alike for over a century.
Recently, British criminology researchers have announced their findings regarding the actual whereabouts of this infamous killer.
By employing advanced techniques and computer algorithms, experts have pinpointed the location of the murderer during his reign of terror, which included a series of serious crimes in 1888—specifically the Flower and Dean Street area in the East End of London.
Image of Flower and Dean Street in 1902
The East End was known as a rundown area akin to a slum—completely contrasting with the affluent West End. It housed many of the city’s most arduous and polluted industries: tanneries, breweries, metal workshops, glasshouses, and slaughterhouses…
For about three years starting in 1888, “Jack the Ripper” was a terror to the people of London and a source of embarrassment for the British police, as 11 victims, most of whom were women, were brutally and grotesquely murdered.
Dr. Kim Rossmo and Steve Le Comber from the University of London utilized algorithms to trace the whereabouts of the killer. They found that all the victims lived very close to the Flower and Dean Street area. Therefore, to commit these murders, he must have resided in the surrounding area.
One notable point made by the researchers is the case of two victims, Catherine Eddowes and Elizabeth Stride, who were murdered on the night of September 30, 1888. From the locations where their bodies were discovered, researcher Le Comber suggested that “Jack the Ripper” was likely on his way home and suddenly decided to kill.
Jack the Ripper caused many mysterious murders
With the death of Catherine Eddowes, police found a message believed to be written by “Jack the Ripper” in chalk: “The Jews are not the ones to blame.”
According to Le Comber, such signs were among the critical clues for tracing the identity of the killer at that time. Unfortunately, they were overlooked by investigators. He also speculated that “Jack the Ripper” may have suffered from a neurological disorder, which contributed to his horrific crimes. However, he was surprised by the killer’s skill in erasing all traces of his identity.
Le Comber predicts that this mysterious murderer may have died, been institutionalized in a mental hospital, or imprisoned. To this day, the true identity of this killer remains shrouded in mystery.
