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Researchers Believe They've Uncovered The True Identity Of Jack The Ripper

Emma Rosemurgey

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Researchers Believe They've Uncovered The True Identity Of Jack The Ripper

Featured Image Credit: PA Images

After more than 130 years of mystery, researchers believe they might have finally discovered the true identity of one of the world's most notorious killers, Jack the Ripper.

Scientists think they might have uncovered the truth behind the infamous serial killer, thanks to new scientific research pointing to Polish immigrant Aaron Kosminski.

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A series of genetic tests were carried out on a sample of a blood-covered shawl found at one of the murder scenes, thought to have belonged to the Ripper. Researchers at Liverpool John Moore University published their findings in the Journal of Forensic Sciences.

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"We describe for the first time systematic, molecular level analysis of the only surviving physical evidence linked to the Jack the Ripper murders," the authors wrote.

"Finding both matching profiles in the same piece of evidence enhances the statistical probability of its overall identification and reinforces the claim that the shawl is authentic."

The blood covered silk cloth was linked to two of the Ripper's murder victims, Elizabeth Stride and Eddowes, on 30th September 1888, in Whitechapel.

As Stride's throat was cut but her body left relatively untouched, it's thought the killer had been disturbed and made his escape before being able to finish what he had started.

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The Ripper is one of the world's most notorious killers. Credit: 20th Century Fox
The Ripper is one of the world's most notorious killers. Credit: 20th Century Fox

He is then believed to have carried on his search for another victim, eventually coming across the 46-year-old Eddowes - tearing out her kidney, which in the infamous 'From Hell' letter to police, claimed he had eaten.

The Ripper is known to have murdered at least five women; Mary Ann Nichols, Annie Chapman, Elizabeth Stride, Catherine Eddowes, and Mary Jane Kelly, but it's widely thought he may have butchered many more.

Now, this groundbreaking research has provided genetic evidence which points towards 23-year-old Kosminski as the man behind the barbaric crimes.

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Police named him as their prime suspect at the time, but didn't have enough evidence to convict him.

Scientists believe nee research points towards Polish immigrant, Aaron Kosminski.
Scientists believe nee research points towards Polish immigrant, Aaron Kosminski.

DNA taken from the shawl has since been compared with those taken from Kosminski's known living descendants and suggests the killer has brown eyes and hair - matching eyewitness accounts.

According to the team of researchers, the new study is 'the most systematic and most advanced genetic analysis to date regarding the Jack the Ripper murders'.

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But this is not the first time the young man has been linked to the murders.

Another study by LJMU biochemist Jari Louhelainen, who coauthored the current study, first conducted testing on the suspect's DNA years earlier.

Topics: Life News, News, Real

Emma Rosemurgey
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