A forensic breakthrough over a century in the making could finally have solved Britain's most infamous cold case—the identity of Jack the Ripper.
Advanced DNA analysis conducted on a silk shawl found next to the body of the Ripper's fourth victim, Catherine Eddowes, has reportedly pinpointed the prime suspect. The evidence points conclusively to Aaron Kosminski, a 23-year-old Polish immigrant and barber who lived in Whitechapel at the time of the murders.
The Silk Shawl: A Grisly Clue
The investigation, led by author and scientist Dr Jari Louhelainen, centred on a shawl allegedly discovered at the murder scene in Mitre Square in 1888. For years, its authenticity was debated, but modern mitochondrial DNA techniques have allowed experts to link traces on the garment directly to both Eddowes and Kosminski.
'The shawl was the key. We found what we believe to be blood stains and... other bodily fluids. The DNA sequences match both the victim and the suspect,' Dr Louhelainen stated.
Who Was Aaron Kosminski?
Kosminski was already one of the top suspects named by original investigators. He was committed to a series of insane asylums in the years following the murders, where he reportedly exhibited terrifying behaviour, including a refusal to wash and a fear of being fed poison.
Despite being a key suspect for police at the time, the technology did not exist to conclusively prove his guilt. He died in an asylum in 1919, never having been charged.
A Mystery Laid to Rest?
This revelation, detailed in a new book, promises to bring a definitive end to the speculation and countless theories that have surrounded the Whitechapel murders. For many Ripperologists and historians, this DNA evidence represents the closest anyone has ever come to closing the file on this gruesome chapter of London's history.
While some may still question the provenance of the shawl, the scientific analysis presents a compelling argument that the ghost of Jack the Ripper has finally been given a name.
