facial mutilations

[Jon Guy]

This particular behavior is frequently present when the killer first is facing the reality that his victims are human. There is within the mind of the killer, a need to eliminate the victims humanity,
In JtR's case, onset of this behavior is displayed on 30 September. This behavior strongly suggests that the killer is undergoing an internal struggle. It also strongly suggests that he knows his connection to "reality" is jeopardized by his behavior.

Dave

Possibly due to my intellect, but I simply see it that our boy liked to cut and slash at flesh. He was cuting at whatever bare skin was available to him, as seen in the case of Kelly.

It was very dark in that corner of Mitre Sq which would have hidden Eddowes features, and as the guys state in the previous threads, he seems to have turned his knife to her face whilst he was positioned in that area after cutting her throat.

[Monty]

Seeing as a RN subscription is seemingly obsolete you have little option but to hold a Rip one. I agree...your comment about communication.

[Tom_Wescott]

I know, Monty. I have a Ripperologist subscription, remember. Geez, lighten up.

In any event, I would agree that is very possible. And it tells us much about the killer that - above all else- he wanted to cut her face. That might be the only unquestionable communication we have from Jack the Ripper.

Yours truly,

Tom Wescott

[Monty]

I was referring to post mortem.

[Tom_Wescott]

I still think the neck came first.

Yours truly,

Tom Wescott

[Monty]

The evidence hints at a face first mutilation, a baring?

[Tom_Wescott]

Hi Proto and CD,

Yes, time was of the essense, but there's more to the facial mutilations than that. This is evidenced by the fact that he took TWO organs with him, pilfered through her stuff, and took the time to cut the face. However, I imagine he was thinking of time and the risk of discovery when he absonded with her apron piece and left his message in Goulston Street instead of on the wall over her body as I imagine he originally intended.

Yours truly,

Tom Wescott

[c.d.]

Hi PH,

On the other hand, with respect to Kate, Jack was able to cut her face without having to get through clothes or go searching for it as say compared to a kidney. Time was of the essence.

c.d.

[protohistorian]

Facial destruction has historically been thought of simply in terms of victim identification. There can be no arguement against this position launched from the perspective of serial murderers because a large subsection of serial killers do at some point kill a victim that is close to them, and consequently, use the behavior of facial mutilation as an oblique way of hiding their identity.

With that caveat aside, repeated exercise of this behavior is an indicator of murderer pathology. In extreme cases of mutilation, they point to an internal conflict within the killer. Facial mutilation becomes a methodology used by thr criminal to reinforce the "inhumanity" of his victim. This particular behavior is frequently present when the killer first is facing the reality that his victims are human. There is within the mind of the killer, a need to eliminate the victims humanity, to allow the killer to view himself as something other than what he is. This is a particularly widespread behavior because the incidents of truly profound mental disorders is rare, and the killer has enough contact to "reality" that he must distance himself from his actions.

In JtR's case, onset of this behavior is displayed on 30 September. This behavior strongly suggests that the killer is undergoing an internal struggle. It also strongly suggests that he knows his connection to "reality" is jeopardized by his behavior. Respectfully Dave