IndexAbstractIntroductionImpact on death investigationsDocumentation is criticalWhat now?ConclusionReferencesAbstractThe infamous serial killer, Jack the Ripper, terrorized Whitechapel, a town in the East End of London, during the year 1888 The methods by which Jack mutilated his victims and his knowledge of human anatomy are strikingly consistent with those of a doctor. Four of the five bodies of the alleged victims are said to have been mutilated beyond recognition. Despite multiple visits to the case, the Ripper murders still remain unsolved. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay Even today, scholars attempt to discover new truths and correlations regarding the true identity of Jack the Ripper. Although investigative techniques at the time were unable to identify the suspected killer, modern investigative techniques could have brought justice had he been active today. This essay will discuss the history of Jack the Ripper and evaluate the impact the case has had on death investigations today. Additionally, a comparison of investigative techniques from 1888 to the present will also be discussed. Introduction For a span of four months, London's East End neighborhood of Whitechapel was terrorized by a series of murders. The name of the mysterious killer, Jack the Ripper, originates from a letter published in connection with the brutal attacks that occurred in the autumn of 1888. Jack the Ripper is said to have been responsible for at least a dozen deaths between 1888 and 1888. 1892; However, five murders are canonically said to have been the work of the infamous assassin. Although there is no official number of victims; However, Jack the Ripper is said to have claimed five victims: prostitutes in a poor neighborhood. All but one of the Ripper's victims were killed while soliciting customers on the streets of Whitechapel. This indicates a change in the Ripper's MO [modus operandi]. The first murder took place on 31 August, when the Ripper took the lives of Mary Ann Nichols, Annie Chapman on 8 September, Elizabeth Stride and Catherine Eddoweson on 30 September and Mary Jane Kelly on 9 November (BBC, 2014). of each of the victims were cut along with multiple body mutilations. The way the bodies were dissected indicated that the killer possessed substantial knowledge of human anatomy. Could this mean the Ripper was a doctor? Perhaps. What is quite intriguing about this case is that serial killings were not as common back then as they are today. One Ripper theory points to Queen Victoria's nephew, Prince Albert Victor; Although the Ripper's true identity and motives are still unknown, he remains one of the most notorious serial killers of the 19th century. Impact on the investigation of the death Jack the Ripper served as the basis for criminal and forensic investigations. Looking at previous investigation methods, crime scene processing techniques seem quite logical but also lacking. In one of the letters written by Charles Warren, some techniques included the use of hunting dogs, whether or not they were effective during investigations by tracking the scent of blood on the ground. "If the killer left behind him some of his clothes and some of his blood, I can understand that a dog chased him or if I could show him a particular spot where he was even if on a London pavement where people were walking the whole time." in the evening there might be twenty odors almost as sharp as those of the murderer..." CW [Charles Warren] Police Commissioner A letterwritten by someone claiming the identity of Jack the Ripper, it indicates the type of weapon used – claiming the murder weapon to have been a knife with a small handle and a long, wide blade. While the technology may not have been helpful to police, if the Ripper murders occurred today, the identity of the weapon can be verified. Sharp force injuries will show a specific pattern on the surface and within the wounds. Acute force injuries are distinct: small, thin, delicate soft tissue bridges between the stab wound or cut are absent (Spitz, 2006). Knife characteristics indicate whether or not the knife is serrated, or like the Ripper's weapon, sharpened on both edges of the knife. Documentation is criticalInstances where investigative techniques were lacking include the validity of written documents. Although the author of the letters claimed to be the murderer, this led to nothing. The documentation of crime scenes is essential to maintain its validity, especially in the judicial field. The Victorian era did not have the resources needed to analyze crime scenes like detectives do today. For example, in 1888 there were no crime laboratories. Laboratories are crucial in processing multiple types of evidence. It is likely that the Ripper case influenced police agencies around the world to implement more efficient documentation methods. It becomes mandatory to document every aspect of the crime scene as something tiny can be crucial in determining the killer. Not to mention, crime scene security is also critical to maintaining the integrity of evidence. It is possible that a lack of knowledge in preserving and collecting evidence led to the killer's identity not being discovered. And now? If the Ripper murders had happened today, the killer would no doubt be caught. With a multitude of various forensic and medico-legal implementations, especially DNA technology, it makes it nearly impossible for anyone to get away with murder. At the end of the 19th century, the average person would have been unlikely to have knowledge of DNA and its traces simply because the processing technology did not exist. However, according to the Locard Exchange Principal, traces are the result of a transfer between one object and another (Spitz, 2006). It is likely that the Ripper left some form of trail with each victim. If the police had recovered the murder weapon from the crime scenes, they could have checked for latent fingerprints. Conducting autopsies on the victims of the Ripper murders would likely produce extraordinary results. Additionally, there are multiple databases containing information about people working in the medical field. If the Ripper were a doctor, it is likely that his fingerprints would be documented in a database. With facial recognition software and surveillance virtually everywhere, it becomes increasingly difficult for an individual to move around without leaving a trace. I am convinced that if Jack the Ripper were a serial killer active today, he would undoubtedly be caught. Technology, death investigations, and society are too advanced for anyone to get away with murder. Please note: this is just an example. Get a custom paper from our expert writers now. Get a Custom Essay Conclusion All theories aside, with advances in forensic technology, it can be said that it is highly unlikely that the Ripper murders would remain unsolved if the gruesome events had taken place today. In the late 19th century, serial murders were not as common as they are today. 10, 2018
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