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Break from the Grind August 31, 2010
TRIVIAL PURSUITS: How Many Victims Did "Jack the Ripper" Claim?
August 31, 2010 (PLANSPONSOR.com) - On this day in 1888, Mary Ann Nichols, the first victim of London serial killer "Jack the Ripper," was found murdered and mutilated in Whitechapel's Buck's Row.
Reported by Nevin E. Adams
How many victims have been attributed to “Jack”?
Answer: 5
On September 8, the killer claimed his second victim, Annie Chapman, and on September 30 two more prostitutes–Liz Stride and Kate Eddowes–were murdered and carved up on the same night.
On November 7, after a month of silence, “Jack” took his fifth and last victim; Mary Kelly, described as an “occasional” prostitute.
In 1892, with no leads found and no more murders recorded, the Jack the Ripper file was closed.
Interestingly enough, though dozens of letters allegedly written by the murderer were sent to the police (most were immediately deemed fraudulent), two letters–written by the same individual–alluded to crime facts known only to the police and the killer. These letters, signed “Jack the Ripper,” gave rise to the serial killer’s nickname.
Source: the History Channel