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DNA samples may identify Jack the Ripper
Minneapolis Red Star ^ | November 13, 2002 | Robert Kahn

Posted on 11/13/2002 9:54:03 AM PST by GreatOne

Edited on 04/13/2004 3:37:56 AM PDT by Jim Robinson. [history]

Jack the Ripper's DNA could match that of respected British artist Walter Sickert, according to a new book from U.S. crime novelist Patricia Cornwell.

In "Portrait of a Killer: Jack the Ripper -- Case Closed," excerpted in the December issue of Vanity Fair, Cornwell describes how she and a team of investigators came to their conclusion after analyzing DNA samples from 55 letters, envelopes and stamps sent by Jack the Ripper; Sickert, as well as his wife and his mentor, and Ripper suspect Montague John Druitt.


(Excerpt) Read more at startribune.com ...


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Extended News; Front Page News; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: ancientautopsies; godsgravesglyphs; jack; jacktheripper; montaguejohndruitt; patriciacornwell; ripper; serialkiller; sickert; waltersickert
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Very interesting. I've always thought that the identity, if ever discovered, would turn out to be someone who was not previously suspected. I've seen a show about Cornwell's case and the evidence she has accumulated, and I was pretty impressed. Seems like she's got it nailed to me.
1 posted on 11/13/2002 9:54:03 AM PST by GreatOne
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To: GreatOne
DNA samples may identify Jack the Ripper

But, not O.J. the Ripper.

2 posted on 11/13/2002 9:56:29 AM PST by Paul Atreides
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To: Paul Atreides
But not Jon Benet Ramsey's killer
3 posted on 11/13/2002 10:00:22 AM PST by spycatcher
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To: GreatOne
a tormented artist...wouldn't surprise me.
4 posted on 11/13/2002 10:03:29 AM PST by ItisaReligionofPeace
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To: GreatOne
Damning though this may seem to be we can't be sure until we use the DNA to clone him and see if his clone manifests a tendency to slice and dice women.

If he does, then we can execute him and finally be done with it.

5 posted on 11/13/2002 10:05:43 AM PST by DWSUWF
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To: GreatOne
I saw the program,too, and recall that Cornwell staked her professional reputation on this one.
6 posted on 11/13/2002 10:06:50 AM PST by stanz
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To: ItisaReligionofPeace
The excerpt in Vanity Fair said that this fellow had a deformed and undersized penis, which led him to commit the murders. Does that sound like someone else we all know?
7 posted on 11/13/2002 10:08:32 AM PST by tom paine 2
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To: GreatOne
Here's another view.

Patricia Cornwell and Walter Sickert - a Primer

The evidence is by no means as cut-and-dried as the publicity would have you believe. (It's that old "cui bono" thing again.)

These guys have put together a Jack-the-Ripper website examining the evidence against the various suspects, the witnesses, etc. [WARNING: the crime scene photos are hideously graphic, and I'm speaking as a former arson death investigator.]

8 posted on 11/13/2002 10:10:32 AM PST by AnAmericanMother
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To: tom paine 2
He didn't happen to reign from Arkansas, did he?
9 posted on 11/13/2002 10:10:56 AM PST by ItisaReligionofPeace
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To: GreatOne
The best part is that many Brits are apoplectic about what this woman has done to prove her point. She is rich, and has paid huge sums for his paintings (Swickerts). He is considered one of Britians best painters in his era. Anyways, she has shredded some of his art in order to search from clues.. they think she is a loon.
10 posted on 11/13/2002 10:13:33 AM PST by Paradox
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To: tom paine 2
BWAHAHAHAHAHA! Too Funny!

Gee, I don't know are we talking about Clintoon or Al Gore....

You vote......We'll count the Chads.

11 posted on 11/13/2002 10:14:09 AM PST by thingumbob
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To: AnAmericanMother
If they want to seriously find a DNA sample for the Ripper then they need DNA from Kozminski, because he is still the most likely suspect.
12 posted on 11/13/2002 10:27:56 AM PST by KC_Conspirator
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To: GreatOne
BUMP for perusal later (when not blocked by corporate Big Brother firewall.)
13 posted on 11/13/2002 10:29:14 AM PST by Notforprophet
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To: Paul Atreides
But, not O.J. the Ripper.

No, you'd have to overlay the golf course water hazards to make a connection.
:)

14 posted on 11/13/2002 10:31:14 AM PST by Pistolshot
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To: GreatOne
Wasn't there a Law & Order roughly based on Patricia Cornwell?
15 posted on 11/13/2002 10:46:58 AM PST by nickcarraway
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To: GreatOne
a team of investigators came to their conclusion after analyzing DNA samples from 55 letters, envelopes and stamps sent by Jack the Ripper; Sickert, as well as his wife and his mentor, and Ripper suspect Montague John Druitt.

What Ripper letters? As I recall, the only letter that has any plausible claim to being authentic is the Lusk letter that was sent with part of a human kidney - and if it's even still around, I'm sure that after more than 100 years of handling whatever DNA might remain is pretty well contaminated. Furthermore, there are several more suspects than just Sickert and Druitt.

16 posted on 11/13/2002 12:33:30 PM PST by SpringheelJack
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To: GreatOne
I'm looking forward to reading the book. Though her evidence is bound to have problems (what murder investigation over 100 years old would not), her strategy is sound. She applied modern forensic investigation techniques to raw evidence, rather than relying on second hand reports resulting from primitive investigative techniques of late 19th century Scotland Yard.
17 posted on 11/13/2002 12:40:13 PM PST by Snuffington
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To: GreatOne
Very interesting. I've always thought that the identity, if ever discovered, would turn out to be someone who was not previously suspected.

Sickert's name has been floating around as a suspect for a few years now, mostly on the crackpot fringe.

18 posted on 11/13/2002 12:40:23 PM PST by SpringheelJack
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To: stanz
I saw the program,too, and recall that Cornwell staked her professional reputation on this one.

What professional reputation? She's a novelist.

19 posted on 11/13/2002 12:42:06 PM PST by SpringheelJack
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To: GreatOne
"Portrait of a Killer: Jack the Ripper -- Case Closed,"

The case will NEVER be closed... not as long as there is a buck to be made from it!

20 posted on 11/13/2002 12:46:39 PM PST by grumpster-dumpster
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