Jack the Ripper: The Unsolved Mystery of History’s Most Notorious Serial Killer

*Includes pictures *Includes newspaper accounts of the crimes, and witness and police testimony *Includes a bibliography for further reading There have been a countless number of serial killers throughout history, and certainly more prolific ones, but the timing, circumstances, and unsolved nature of the case continue to make Jack the Ripper the most famous serial killer in history. The murders came at a time when media coverage could be both more acute and more widespread, and it allowed the public a closer look into how police agencies operated at the time, exposing both their strengths and shortcomings. Of course, the lack of modern forensics hamstrung the investigators in the late 19th century, and while the police file for the case was extensive and active for several years, much of the evidence disappeared from the file without explanation, possibly as souvenirs. Despite the fact the police interviewed thousands and considered hundreds of suspects, they were never able to arrest anyone for the murders. The intense media coverage also likely played a role in both the actual murderer and would-be copycats and pranksters sending hundreds of letters to police claiming to be Jack the Ripper. It’s also indisputable that the use of a precise modus operandi, the serial killer being given a nickname, and the taunting letters sent to police all influenced subsequent serial killers and the way they were covered. Whether it’s the Zodiac Killer, the Son of Sam, or the Boston Strangler, the antecedent of all 20th century and 21st century killers remains Jack the Ripper. The Jack the Ripper case continues to fascinate historians and amateur sleuths so much that people have dubbed themselves Ripperologists, and since nobody knows for sure who the killer was, every aspect of the crimes is up for discussion, down to who the actual victims of the Ripper were and whether there was actually more than one Ripper. In addition to considering so many suspects, the police were only certain that 5 of the victims (the “canonical five”) were killed by Jack the Ripper, but there were at least 11 documented murders over the course of several years, and today those are called the Whitechapel murders. Even in the 19th century, authorities were debating how many of the 11 were the work of the Ripper, and as the murders have been compared and contrasted for nearly 130 years, the debate continues. The tale of Jack the Ripper remains well alive until this day, because while the killer has no doubt been dead for decades, there is still no way to know for sure who he was. This is not to say that there are not suspects; in fact, there are literally hundreds of them, from virtually every walk of life, including a prince, several knights, a policeman, a number of surgeons or surgical students, a few women, and a great many violent criminals. The list is so extensive that it is nearly impossible to narrow down and still be comprehensive. Jack the Ripper: The Unsolved Mystery of History’s Most Notorious Serial Killer examines the case, including a history of the crimes, the police investigation, and subsequent attempts to list and identify potential suspects. Along with pictures of important people, places, and events, you will learn about the famous serial killer like never before.