Key Takeaways:
– A descendant of one of Jack the Ripper’s victims demands a new inquest, sparked by DNA evidence pointing to the notorious murderer being a Polish barber named Aaron Kosminski.
– The DNA evidence was derived from a shawl found at the murder scene of Catherine Eddowes, Jack the Ripper’s fourth victim.
– Further tests confirmed that the blood on the shawl matched Eddowes’ descendant, Karen Miller.
– The DNA evidence also aligned with a descendant of Kosminski.
– Despite skepticism from the scientific community, the victim’s descendants, and Kosminski’s family believe the evidence is compelling enough to warrant a new inquest.
Investigator Uncovers Startling DNA Evidence
In history’s intriguing mystery of the identity of the infamous Jack the Ripper, new evidence may point to a shocking revelation. Aaron Kosminski, a Polish barber immigrant, is now suspected of being the shadowy figure who terrorized the narrow corridors of Whitechapel, east London, in 1888. This revelation is credited to Jack the Ripper investigator, Russell Edwards, who in 2014 extracted DNA from a shawl recovered from one victim’s crime scene.
DNA Connects to Jack the Ripper’s Victim
Interestingly, the shawl is said to originate from the murder scene of Catherine Eddowes, Jack the Ripper’s fourth victim, killed on September 30, 1888. To validate this, Doctor Jari Louhelainen, senior lecturer at Liverpool John Moores University, was requested by Edwards to examine the shawl. He identified seven tiny DNA segments from blood stains on the shawl that matched Karen Miller’s DNA, a direct descendant of Eddowes, confirming Eddowes’ blood was indeed present on the shawl.
Linking DNA Evidence to Suspected Murderer
In a remarkable development, DNA from semen stains on the garment were a perfect match with a descendant of the potential murderer, Aaron Kosminski. This evidence has prompted Edwards to call for an inquest into the unsolved murder, stating such DNA evidence necessitates it.
The Plea for Justice
Corroborating Edward’s plea, Karen Miller in a recent interview voiced her concern regarding the sensationalism the murderer’s unnamed identity has garnered over the years. She stated people seem to have forgotten the victims who didn’t receive justice. She seeks the reopening of the case and asserts that the legally naming of the actual murderer would serve as a measure of justice for the victims.
Kosminski’s family has also raised their voice in favor of the inquest. Amanda Poulos, Kosminski’s great-great-great-niece, has expressed her eagerness to finally unveil the truth.
The Scientific Skepticism
However, not everyone is convinced of Edward’s assertion. His findings have not been published in any peer-reviewed scientific journal, meaning the methodology cannot be independently verified or scrutinized. In 2019, the attorney general, Michael Ellis, dismissed the request for an inquest stating the paucity of sufficient evidence.
A Look back at Kosminski’s Life
Kosminski’s life was tumultuous, to say the least. Born in 1865 in central Poland, he emigrated to East London to escape the Russian anti-Jewish pogroms. He lived in close proximity to the crime scenes and was at one point taken into custody by the police. Despite a positive identification by a witness, Kosminski was released due to lack of incriminating evidence. His life spiraled further down into destitution and mental illness, culminating in his death in an asylum in 1919.
As the mystery lingers, it reopens wounds as much as it brings closure to generations of families tormented by the stigma and unsolved nature of these gruesome murders. This potential breakthrough in one of history’s most mystifying criminal cases offers a glimmer of hope that justice may yet be served.