A major DNA discovery may have finally revealed the true identity of one of history’s most infamous criminals—Jack the Ripper. For nearly 140 years, people have debated whether he was a real person or just a fictionalized villain. However, new evidence suggests he was very real and extremely dangerous.
English historian and author Russell Edwards shared the findings in an interview with Today in Australia. According to Edwards, DNA was tested from a shawl found at the crime scene of one of Jack the Ripper’s victims. The results pointed to a 23-year-old Polish immigrant named Aaron Kosminski, who had moved to the UK as a child and later suffered from mental illness. He died in a mental institution in 1919 at the age of 53.
Edwards explained that the breakthrough came when scientists matched the blood on the shawl to a female descendant of one of the victims. “It was the most amazing moment of my life,” he said. Additionally, semen found on the shawl was tested, confirming a match that stunned Edwards. “I was dumbfounded that we had actually discovered who Jack the Ripper was,” he added.
Jack the Ripper’s brutal crimes terrorized London between 1888 and 1891. He murdered at least five women, most of whom were sex workers. His known victims were:
- Mary Nichols, 43
- Annie Chapman, 47
- Elizabeth Stride, 44
- Catherine Eddowes, 46
- Mary Jane Kelly, 25
Three of the victims had their internal organs removed, leading to widespread fear and speculation about the killer’s identity. Some historians believe he was responsible for even more murders that were never officially linked to him.
Edwards’ search for the truth began in 2007 when he purchased the shawl and started tracing the DNA. “It was a journey full of twists and turns,” he said. “The adventure was thrilling from start to finish.”
Now that they have strong DNA evidence, Edwards is pushing for an official inquest to legally name Kosminski as Jack the Ripper. “Having this crime solved would mean a lot—not just to me and my family, but to many people,” he said.
If confirmed, this DNA discovery would finally put an end to one of history’s most chilling mysteries.
