Jack the Ripper finally identified.

Jack the Ripper Mystery Potentially Solved Through DNA Evidence

For over a century, the identity of Jack the Ripper has remained one of the world's most infamous unsolved mysteries—until now. DNA evidence from a shawl recovered at one of the crime scenes has been found to be a 100% match, potentially revealing the killer's true identity.

To discuss this groundbreaking discovery, we are joined by historian Russell Edwards in London.

Interviewer: Russell, good evening. Tell us about this DNA match. Who is the person behind the infamous name?

Russell Edwards: Good evening, and thank you for having me. The name of the murderer, which has been known for some time, is Aaron Kosminski. He was a Polish Jewish immigrant who arrived in Whitechapel in 1881 with his brother. At the time of the murders, he was 23 years old.

Interviewer: There seems to be some confusion. A photograph suggests he was only 16 when he arrived. What else do we know about him?

Russell Edwards: Kosminski suffered from schizophrenia. We know from asylum records at Colney Hatch that his occupation was listed as a hairdresser or barber-surgeon. In those days, such a profession would have provided anatomical knowledge. Given the nature of the crimes, it is clear that the murderer must have had some anatomical expertise.

In 1891, a document called the Macnaghten Memorandum stated that Kosminski exhibited strong homicidal tendencies and was considered a prime suspect. He also suffered from auditory hallucinations and paranoia—classic symptoms of schizophrenia.

Interviewer: That’s chilling. How did you come across this shawl?

Russell Edwards: In March 2007—18 years ago now—my mother called me after seeing news reports about an item up for sale. It was a shawl believed to have been taken from the scene of the fourth murder, that of Catherine Eddowes. That’s how I was introduced to this piece of evidence.

Interviewer: It’s extraordinary to think that one of Aaron Kosminski’s living relatives helped crack the case. How did that unfold?

Russell Edwards: Yes, his oldest brother’s great-great-great-granddaughter played a crucial role in the investigation. However, it was actually the descendant of the fourth victim, Catherine Eddowes, who helped confirm the match. Her great-great-great-granddaughter provided DNA that we matched with a sample from Kosminski’s bloodline.

Interviewer: That’s remarkable. You’re currently at the murder scene—how does it feel to stand there knowing this new information?

Russell Edwards: It’s eerie, to say the least. Right behind me is the exact location where one of these horrific crimes took place.

Interviewer: This seems like an incredible breakthrough, but what needs to happen for this discovery to be officially recognized?

Russell Edwards: We’ve written a letter to the Attorney General requesting permission to take this case to the High Court. From there, we need further approval to hold a second inquest at the coroner’s court. While the original inquest answered key questions—who, what, when, and where—the critical question of how the victim encountered the murderer has never been fully resolved. Now that we have identified the perpetrator and placed him at the crime scene, we want this finding to be publicly acknowledged and accepted by the courts.

Interviewer: Of course, the murderer can’t be prosecuted, but has this revelation provided any sense of closure for the victims’ descendants?

Russell Edwards: Yes. Catherine Eddowes’ direct female descendant, Cara Miller, was deeply moved by the findings. She, along with ten other members of Catherine’s family, wants closure. We also hope this discovery will put an end to the many speculative theories about Jack the Ripper’s identity. The name itself was actually created by an enterprising journalist and had no connection to the murderer. We want to ensure that no more false suspects are suggested—there were only ever three real ones, and now we can confirm who it was.

Interviewer: We hope that you and the victims’ families find the closure you’re seeking. Russell, I believe this is the first time we’ve ever spoken to someone live from a historical murder scene—it’s been fascinating. Thank you so much for joining us.

Russell Edwards: My pleasure. Thank you for having me.