In 1888, at least five women were brutally murdered in London's East End. The killer was never identified, making it one of the world's most infamous unsolved cases.
Between August 31 and November 9, 1888, at least five women were murdered in the Whitechapel district of London's East End. All victims were engaged in prostitution, and the bodies showed evidence of sharp instrument wounds and organ removal. The killer, who taunted authorities through letters signed "Jack the Ripper," terrorized Victorian London.
The five victims officially attributed to Jack the Ripper are Mary Ann Nichols, Annie Chapman, Elizabeth Stride, Catherine Eddowes, and Mary Jane Kelly. The murders escalated in brutality; Kelly, the final victim, was found indoors with her body extensively mutilated.
Several letters claiming to be from the killer were sent to police and newspapers, including the "Dear Boss" letter, the "Saucy Jacky" postcard, and the "From Hell" letter (accompanied by half a human kidney). However, many of these are believed to be hoaxes by pranksters or journalists.
