Did Jack the Ripper live in the same area as the victims?

Answer 1

It is almost certain that Jack The Ripper did not know his victims. This was a classic case of stranger murder similar to the crimes of serial killers Ted Bundy and Gary Ridgeway (Green River Killer), ect. That is why these kinds of killers are much harder to apprehend. With no connection to the victim standard detection methods don't apply.

Jack The Ripper had characteristics of both an organized and disorganized killer.

His victims were probably chosen at random, a short amount of time before the actual attack. He may have followed them for a brief time before deciding if she would be the next victim.

There has also been conspiracy theories that the women were all friends and knew a secret which is why they were killed. Based on what is now understood about this type of killer, it is rediculous to think that these crimes were revenge, conspiracy, royal coverup, committed by a woman, involved the Freemasons. ect. The typical serial killer is male, white, 20's to 30's at onset of crimes, kills strangers, intelligent, shows no remorse. When looking for the Ripper this is where to start.

Answer 2

Murder is like most other things in life, the more one practices the better you will be at your choosen skill. Serial killers of the ilk of Victorian London's east end Jack The Ripper don't just suddenly appear one day out of the blue, even though it does look that way to the casual observer.

We now understand much more about serial murder than in Queen Victoria's day. And killers like this fantasize and rehearse mentally sometimes years before an actual attempt. So applying modern-day knowledge to this 19th century killer gives us an advantage Scotland Yard did not possess at the time. It is very possible that JTR did in fact have a surviving victim, someone that may or may not have later connected their encounter with the victims that did not escape.

But at this point in time, it will probably remain an unknown, something to be wondered about by crimefighters that have come after the fact. Unless as yet unknown documents or such evidence 'turn up' it will always be just speculation.

Answer 3

We don't know for sure, but many believe it to be highly likely because whoever the Ripper was, he was able to get around Whitechaple quickly and without drawing attention to himself.