A researcher has claimed to have definitively identified Jack the Ripper through DNA evidence, sparking calls for an official inquiry. Russell Edwards says he has obtained a "100 per cent DNA match" linking the notorious serial killer to Aaron Kosminski, a Polish barber who emigrated to London. "It's very difficult to put it in words the elation I felt when I saw the 100 per cent DNA match," Edwards enthused. "This brings closure, and it's a form of justice for the descendants," he added.
The breakthrough originated from DNA extracted from a bloodstained shawl found on the body of victim Catherine Eddowes during the 1888 murder spree. Edwards bought the historic shawl at auction back in 2007, and analysis revealed DNA matches for both the victim and Kosminski on the cloth.
There’s no denying the chilling history associated with Jack the Ripper, whose reign of terror across the streets of East London lasted from April 1888 to February 1891. The Victorian-era killer infamously targeted women and sex workers, brutally taking the lives of at least five known victims without ever facing justice.
Edwards emphasized the cultural force of Jack the Ripper's identity, stating, "Hear ye, hear ye: the infamous serial killer of 19th Century London... might have had his secret identity revealed – and it only took 137 years!" But skepticism surrounds Edwards’ claims. Many experts are wary, noting the shawl, now over 100 years old, might have been contaminated, raising doubts about the authenticity of the DNA evidence.
Edwards explained his research process, claiming it involved extensive scientific analysis, asserting, "We always thought the semen on the shawl was just one of her customers. We thought it was her shawl, but through the scientific analysis, we realized she couldn’t have afforded to own it and realized the only person who could have left the shawl at the murder scene was him." His findings suggest Kosminski had more than just coincidental ties to Eddowes.
Aaron Kosminski was born in 1865 and died at 1919. A known suspect during the Ripper investigations, he lived as an immigrant barber and later faced institutionalization after threatening his sister with violence. Considering his life, many have speculated whether mental illness contributed to his notoriety.
Despite Edwards’ claims, some critics remain unconvinced. The famed Jack the Ripper case has long been shrouded in layers of folklore, speculation, and misattributed evidence. Many experts argue there's still no concrete proof linking the shawl back to the crimes. There is skepticism surrounding whether the shawl, previously thought to belong to Eddowes, was ever present at the crime scene.
Several statements from Edwards highlight the emotional weight behind his research. "He can’t be prosecuted because he’s dead but this is the closest thing they can do,” he reflected, underscoring the potential for closure this case might bring to the victims' descendants.
While the identity of Jack the Ripper, or the clarity of the evidence proposed by Edwards, remains a hot topic of speculation, the combination of DNA science and historical inquiry continues to captivate public interest. The legendary tale of terror urges us to ponder the dark corners of history and justice served—now, 137 years later, potentially illuminated by modern forensic science.