If you were to walk down the sunny streets of the Whitechapel District of London during 1888, you would encounter paranoia and perhaps a bit of fear. If you were to walk down the very same streets at night, you would likely find that night your very last in this world. Why? Because during the year of 1888 in London, a notorious serial killer was loose on the streets. Nothing was known about this vicious murderer—not their gender, their race, their height, nothing. The victims were recognized solely due to the vicious nature of the killings; extreme mutilation of the bodies—including organ extraction, cut throats, abdominal and genital mutilation, as well as breast removal. This heinous criminal was known as Jack the Ripper, and his identity has remained a mystery—until now, that is. On the first of February, author and historian Russell Edwards finally found the DNA needed to prove the identity of Jack the Ripper—the very same identity he claimed to have discovered in his 2014 book, “Naming Jack the Ripper.” Who was this murderous killer?
Aaron Kominski, a Polish immigrant living in the Whitechapel district of London as a barber. Yes, the infamous, villainous, murderer of the 1880s was indeed a simple barber. Despite his mundane profession, Kominski himself was the opposite; beginning in 1885, he began showing signs of mental illness, and was committed to a number of mental institutions. He also reportedly suffered from auditory hallucinations before his death. Due to the unsure nature of DNA identification, it is unclear whether or not Aaron Kominski is truly Jack the Ripper, or if a different relative of his is the killer; however, based off Kominski’s location, as well as his history of mental issues, he seems to be the best fit candidate.
For more information about Jack the Killer’s identification, click here.