Attention

The opinions expressed by columnists are their own and do not represent our advertisers

Monday, September 08, 2014

Jack the Ripper unmasked

How amateur sleuth used DNA breakthrough to identify Britain's most notorious criminal 126 years after string of terrible murders

It is the greatest murder mystery of all time, a puzzle that has perplexed criminologists for more than a century and spawned books, films and myriad theories ranging from the plausible to the utterly bizarre.

But now, thanks to modern forensic science, The Mail on Sunday can exclusively reveal the true identity of Jack the Ripper, the serial killer responsible for at least five grisly murders in Whitechapel in East London during the autumn of 1888.

DNA evidence has now shown beyond reasonable doubt which one of six key suspects commonly cited in connection with the Ripper’s reign of terror was the actual killer – and we reveal his identity.


A shawl found by the body of Catherine Eddowes, one of the Ripper’s victims, has been analysed and found to contain DNA from her blood as well as DNA from the killer.

The landmark discovery was made after businessman Russell Edwards, 48, bought the shawl at auction and enlisted the help of Dr Jari Louhelainen, a world-renowned expert in analysing genetic evidence from historical crime scenes.

More

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

DNA will resolve many cold cases over the next few years.The Zodiac could be on tap? If Jack The Ripper was identified after 126 years no one is safe from being found out.These are great times.

Anonymous said...

holy sh/t.

Anonymous said...

That familial DNA is amazing.It enables a match to be made even to a family member whose DNA is in the database.Not 100% of course but it sure narrows it down.