It is a mystery that has lasted more than 130 years.
Now the descendants of Jack the Ripper’s victims hope to finally establish the truth about one of the most notorious unsolved crimes of all time.
They are backing a legal request for a new investigation into the death of Catherine Eddowes after evidence emerged suggesting the killer was Aaron Kosminski.
The Polish barber, who emigrated to the UK in the 1880s, was a suspect at the time of the five murders in Whitechapel, east London, in 1888. But he was never arrested because the police had no evidence of his involvement. . until now.
A blood-stained shawl said to have been found on Ms Eddowes’ body, which was bought at auction in 2007 by Ripper author and investigator Russell Edwards, was later found to have the DNA of both the victim like Kosminski.
In October, the Mail revealed that Edwards had uncovered new evidence of Kosminski’s links to the highly secretive Freemasons, which could have motivated his sadistic murders and protected him from law enforcement, ensuring he was locked up in an asylum, where he died.
Now Edwards has hired a legal team to fight for an investigation, arguing that there is more evidence for a coroner to consider about the circumstances of the death and, crucially, who was responsible.
Karen Miller, of Barnard Castle, County Durham, a descendant of Jack the Ripper victim Catherine Eddowes, is calling for a fresh investigation to establish that her killer was Ripper suspect Aaron Kosminski.

Catherine Eddowes (pictured) was the fourth of the five canonical victims of the famous serial killer Jack the Ripper.

A blood-stained shawl said to have been found on Ms Eddowes’ body and bought at auction in 2007 was later found to have DNA from both the victim and Kosminski.

Aaron Kosminski was a Polish barber who emigrated to the United Kingdom in the 1880s and was a suspect at the time of the five murders in Whitechapel, east London, in 1888.
The campaign has been backed by descendants of Eddowes and Kosminski, who say it is time to unmask the real killer and achieve justice for the women involved. The other four victims were Mary Ann Nichols, Annie Chapman, Elizabeth Stride and Mary Jane Kelly.
Karen Miller, 53, Ms Eddowes’s three-time great-granddaughter, provided her DNA, which matched her ancestor’s blood on the shawl.
She said: “The name Jack the Ripper has become sensationalized, he has gone down in history as this famous character.”
“Everything has been about him, this iconic name, but people have forgotten about the victims who didn’t get justice at that time.
‘What about the real name of the person who did this? Having the real person legally named before a court that can consider all the evidence would be a form of justice for the victims. We have the evidence, now we need this investigation to legally identify the murderer.
“It would mean a lot to me, my family and a lot of people if this crime was finally solved.”

Karen Miller, 53, Ms Eddowes’s three-time great-granddaughter, provided her DNA, which matched her ancestor’s blood on the shawl.

Lucy Worsley in Lucy Worsley investigates Jack The Ripper at the BBC

Lucy Worsley investigates some of Britain’s greatest unsolved mysteries – a dramatization of Jack the Ripper
Descendants of the other Ripper victims have also backed calls for a new investigation.
Sue Parlour, whose husband Andy is a distant relative of Mary Ann Nichols, known as Polly, said: “There was no justice for these victims at the time. It was all a long time ago. But it would mean a lot to finally be able to name the killer, to get closure. from this.
“These women have been dismissed as just prostitutes as if they didn’t matter, but they did.”
Kosminski’s descendants also supported the measure.
Her three-time great-niece Amanda Poulos said: “I am more than happy to finally establish what really happened.” When the original inquest was held on 4 October 1888, a verdict of “intentional murder” was returned. But at that time the police were still searching for the serial killer.
Under the law, the Attorney General must grant permission for any application for a new investigation to the High Court.
Two years ago, Sir Michael Ellis, then Attorney General, refused permission, saying there was insufficient new evidence.
But lawyer Dr Tim Sampson said this sets “a terrible precedent in relation to requests to reopen investigations into violent deaths of women and gives the impression that such matters are best swept under the rug or simply left to reporting.” sensationalism, rather than exposing them. to dispassionate judicial scrutiny.

Kosminski’s descendants also supported the move: pictured, Karen Miller with a portrait of her Jack the Ripper victim, Catherine Eddowes.

Andy Noble pictured as a reporter in the Lucy Worsley Investigates series about Jack the Ripper
He has written to Attorney General Richard Hermer arguing that there is new evidence to consider which, if available at the time, “would have been justifiable for the coroner to lay charges and then seek to prosecute Aaron Kosminski for both the murder of Ms. Eddowes as for the other four victims.”
If permission was granted, the case would go on to be considered by a High Court judge. East London coroner Nadia Persaud has indicated she would be willing to chair any inquest if ordered to do so.
He had previously written to Mr Edwards’s solicitor, saying: ‘I would not oppose your request… it seems to me that a new investigation would hardly reach a different result, the only new factor being the suggestion that the perpetrator might now be identified.’
Mr Edwards said: “A second investigation is the only way to confirm what happened. As we have now identified the real killer with a wealth of evidence putting the man we call the Ripper in the crosshairs, we want justice to be done. ‘