Why Whitechapel?

[Caleb D.]

Hello i am new to the site. I was pondering why JTR would have chosen whitechapel to carry on his murders. Because i read that whitechapel was like the modern day slums, why would a serial killer who preyed on women chose the slums of all places to carry out his murders? It seems more reasonable to carry on a murder in the richer districts where the women are sure to be more pretty and have more valuables on them. Not that JTR used much reason anyway.

[lynn cates]

why

Hello Caleb. It is often speculated that "Jack" lived in Whitechapel. Too, there were many vulnerable people there. Clapham, on the other hand, would have been fraught with difficulties

The best.
LC

[sparta68]

The reason could be many, but probably are the following. He was familiar with the area and may have lived not far from that section of London. Also thats were the prostitutes were. In rich neighborhoods youur not going to find them working the corners like they do in the more depressed areas of a city. Looks had nothing to do with these killings. Neither was theft. Like most modern day serial killers Jack probably killed for pleasure, relief, or trying to make a statement. In the end though these are all guesses since he was never caught we will never know.

[The Grave Maurice]

I'd like to know why every thread around here lately begins with "why". Why? Why not?

To begin with, Whitechapel was the location of only two murders, and that's only if, like me, you include Martha Tabram. Otherwise, there were two in Spitalfields, one in St George-in-the-East, and one in Aldgate.

Many of us believe that robbery or attractiveness had nothing to do with JtR's selection of victims. Again, I believe (although there is a contrary opinion) that he lived in the area and so it became his field of operation.

Anway, hang around and read. There is much to learn here, Caleb.

[Limehouse]

Firstly, wealthier, better-class women would not have been walking the streets unaccompanied.

The streets of east London were full of vulnreable women, desperate enough to go with a man for a few pence to buy a drink or a bed.

The killer was probably local and may have been slightly familar to some or all of the women.

It is also entirely possible that he wanted to kill shabby, rather grubby, broken-down prostitutes.

[Observer]

Hi Muaurice

I'd like to know why every thread around here lately begins with "why". Why? Why not?

Because they are started by the same person my freind and invariably answerd by the same posters also.

all the best

Observer

[kensei]

From an American perspective, I think it is like asking "Why did Gary Ridgeway, the Green River Killer of Seattle, kill low-class prostitutes when he could have done what Ted Bundy did- also in Seattle- and kill richer and perhaps prettier college girls in the better neighborhoods of Seattle?" Personal motivation.