Jack the Ripper is one of history’s most infamous serial killers and, with ABC’s new series “Time After Time,” there’s probably little that will be left unknown about this mysterious man — but here are 10 things you may be surprised to find out.
“Jack the Ripper” wasn’t what the infamous serial killer was always called.
Before a semi-legitimate letter was sent to the Central News Agency and signed “Jack the Ripper,” he was called “Leather Apron” and “Whitechapel Murderer.”
Although the serial killer’s grandeur and media attention would make it seem like he murdered dozens of people, Jack the Ripper is only believed to be responsible for the murders of five women, known as the Canonical Five.
Not saying it’s insignificant, but you know.
Jack the Ripper only killed on the weekends during the late night hours or early in the morning.
All five victims were killed on a Friday, Saturday or Sunday.
Despite the grisly manner in which the women were discovered, apparently, all his victims were not physically tortured — until they died.
Jack the Ripper killed his victims first, then mutilated their bodies.
A former FBI agent, John Douglas, said that Jack the Ripper was probably a “loner” and dreamed about “domination, cruelty and mutilation of women.”
All of Jack the Ripper’s victims were killed outside… except for one.
His last known murder — Mary Jane Kelly — took place in the woman’s apartment. She was the most mutilated, and it’s suspected that he spent a “considerable amount of time” at that scene.
Former FBI agent Douglas profiled Jack the Ripper as having had an absent father and a mother who drank a lot and liked to have men around.
He killed two of his victims on the same night within just minutes of each other.
Elizabeth Stride and Catherine Eddowes’ murders are referred to as Jack the Ripper’s “double event” which occurred on Sept. 30, 1888.
Jack the Ripper’s murderous rampage lasted about three months.
Although there were murders that took place in April 1888 and well after November 1888, only those between Aug. 31 and Nov. 9 of 1888 only those between Aug. 31 and Nov. 9 of 1888 have been directly attributed to him.
Prince Albert Victor, the grandson of Queen Victoria, was once suspected to be Jack the Ripper.
It was thought the Prince contracted an STD from a prostitute that lead him to kill.
