Historian claims DNA test confirms Jack the Ripper’s true identity. Getty Images
A historian says he has finally uncovered the identity of Jack the Ripper. Russell Edwards claims DNA evidence has linked the infamous killer to Aaron Kosminski, a Polish barber who lived in Whitechapel, London.
DNA Evidence Leads to Discovery
Edwards made the claim after testing DNA from a shawl found at the crime scene of Catherine Eddowes, one of the Ripper’s victims. He purchased the shawl in 2007 after learning about its history.
The breakthrough came when Kosminski’s great-great-grandniece provided a DNA sample. The results reportedly matched, linking Kosminski to the crime.
Kosminski arrived in England in 1881 with his brother. He later became a barber in London. At the time of the Ripper murders in 1888, he was only 23 years old. He suffered from schizophrenia and spent his final years in a mental asylum, where he died in 1919.
Who Was Jack the Ripper?
Jack the Ripper is one of history’s most mysterious killers. Between August and November 1888, he brutally murdered at least five women in Whitechapel. He was known for slitting his victims’ throats and removing their internal organs.
Despite intense investigations, police never identified the murderer. Over the years, many theories and suspects have emerged, but no one was ever officially named.
He was also known as the “Whitechapel Murderer” and the “Leather Apron.” Some believed his victims were prostitutes, but historians argue there is little evidence to support this claim.
Legal Action for Confirmation
Edwards is now seeking legal recognition of his findings. He has hired a legal team and sent a letter to the attorney general, requesting permission for a formal inquest.
Descendants of both Eddowes and Kosminski support this effort. They believe an official court ruling could finally confirm Jack the Ripper’s true identity.
Karen Miller, Eddowes’ great-great-great-granddaughter, said, “The name Jack the Ripper has become sensationalized. It has gone down in history as this famous character. What about the real name of the person who did this? Having the real person legally named in a court, which can consider all the evidence, would be a form of justice for the victims. We have got the proof. Now, we need this inquest to legally name the killer.”
