One of history’s most famous cold cases has been a subject to speculation over the last week, as a possible DNA match has been discovered for one of the most notorious serial killers of all time– Jack the Ripper.
Jack the Ripper gained his identity due to the brutal killings of Mary Ann Nicholas, Annie Chapman, Elizabeth Stride, Catherine Eddowes, and Mary Jane Kelly between August and November of 1888. He has maintained his anonymity since then, until a recent study conducted by historian Russell Edwards showed what Edwards claims to be a 100% DNA match.
In 2007, Edwards purchased a shawl from the scene of the murder of Catherine Eddowes. When analyzed by Edwards and other researchers, the DNA was matched to that of Aaron Krominski, a Polish barber who immigrated to England in the 1880s. This isn’t the first time Krominski’s name has been linked to the Ripper case; as well as being a suspect during the time period of the killings, DNA tests have linked the shawl to Krominski in the past. The first DNA tests on the shawl were run several years ago by research scientists, including Jari Louhelanian, but the most recent tests resulted in the most accurate information to date.
Although this discovery has created a stir among true-crime lovers, critics are still skeptical to officially name Jack the Ripper as Aaron Kosminski. A controversy has surrounded the official results of the DNA test being released to the public due to the status of living relatives of Krominski, while others believe that official DNA results are the only way to pinpoint the true Ripper.
The same question is on the minds of many as the new research has been released to the public: why is Jack the Ripper yet to be officially identified? Despite these DNA findings, a legal application for a new inquest into the death of Eddowes is yet to be approved. According to interviews conducted with both families, the relatives of Eddowes and Krominski have approved of the inquest, leaving the public eager for the next step towards closing what was previously known as one of the most well-known cold cases of all time.
