Who were Jack the Ripper's victims?

Answer 1

That listing would probably depend on which research is accepted, or which author seems to be the most believable. The actual number remains unknown because no confession or memoir exists. The victims may number as few as three and some consider that the number may have reached a dozen or more. The following five are generally accepted as Ripper victims by Scotland Yard both then and now.

• Mary Ann Nichols also called Polly, 31 August 1888;
• Annie Chapman also called Dark Annie, 8 September 1888;
• Elizabeth Stride also called Long Liz, 30 September 1888;
• Catherine Eddowes also called Kate Conway and Mary Ann Kelly, 30 September 1888; and
• Mary Jane Kelly also known as Ginger, 9 November 1888.

However, it is impossible to ascertain which additional murders in Whitechapel during 1888 and 1889 are actually attributable to "Jack the Ripper" and there is conjecture that the Ripper may have killed previously and/or gone on to murder women later (most theories suggest this was in Boston or elsewhere in the northeastern USA).

The earliest murder usually associated with Jack the Ripper is that of Emma Smith on April 2, 1888. However, it is now generally considered that the facts of this case do not match with the characteristics of the definite Jack the Ripper cases. There were several non-fatal attacks on women early in 1888 which may potentially fit with the Ripper's modus operandii.

The earliest likely Ripper murder is that of Martha Tabram, on the night of 6-7 August 1888. While Tabram is not a "canonical" Ripper victim, the facts of her murder are consistent with a killer who would go on to commit the Ripper murder-mutilations.

The following three murders have also been attributed by some sources to the Ripper:
1. Rose Mylett, 20 December 1888.
2. Alice McKenzie, 17 July 1889.
3. Frances Coles, 13 February 1891.
However, there are various features of each case which make any connection with the Ripper cases dubious.

In addition, there were two mutilated female torsos discovered in the vicinity, one on 2 October 1888 in Whitehall and one on 10 September 1889 in Whitechapel. Some commentators link these to Jack the Ripper.

Answer 2

I believe he killed them since he thought prostitutes were all unholy and it was his twisted way of fulfilling his religious beliefs.