Jack the Ripper

In the later half of 1888, London was terrorrized by a series of murders in the Whitechapel neighborhood. The name "Jack the Ripper" was taken from a letter sent to a newspaper by someone claiming to be the killer. The victims were typically prostitutes who had their throats cut and bodies mutilated. In some cases the bodies were discovered just minutes after the ripper had left the scene. The police at the time had many suspects, but could never find sufficient evidence to convict anyone.  Even with modern police methods, no further light has been shed on the murders in recent times. To this day, no one knows who the ripper was.

Electronic Sources

Casebook: Jack the Ripper
http://www.casebook.org/

London Metropolitan Police Website (With Background and List of Crimes)
http://www.met.police.uk/history/ripper.htm

BBC News: "Jack the Ripper Letter Made Public
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/1286183.stm

The Independent: "Was Jack the Ripper a woman?"
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/was-jack-the-ripper-a-woman-478597.html