The UNKNOWN suspect

[Pettifogger]

I'm not necessarily referring to it as a theory but merely stating that I don't think any of the listed suspects currently fulfills my criteria for being JtR.

Because I believe that JtR was operational from August 1888 until February 1891, I have to eliminate certain prime suspects.

Naturally, I could be wrong of course.

[Sam Flynn]

Is an unknown suspect theory really a theory? For example, imagine if a serial killer was at large today and the police held a press conference and stated that they didn't have the foggiest idea of who it was. But, they assure the public, the killer is not among their usual suspect pool of sex offenders. Is that a theory?

It is, because if the police had good reasons for ruling out the usual suspects, it would give them more time to focus their precious efforts elsewhere. Note that an "unknown suspect" does NOT mean an unknowable suspect - a fact that ripperologists of a certain persuasion tend to ignore.

[Barnaby]

Is an unknown suspect theory really a theory? For example, imagine if a serial killer was at large today and the police held a press conference and stated that they didn't have the foggiest idea of who it was. But, they assure the public, the killer is not among their usual suspect pool of sex offenders. Is that a theory?

[Pettifogger]

I also accept the duality of the organized/disorganized killer assessment.

That's my primary reason for concluding that JtR was under the influence of psychosis.

[JTRSickert]

To me, JTR has characteristics of both an organized and disorganized killer. He was organized to engage his victims in conversation, gain their trust, and lead him to a secluded spot to kill his victims. Also, he was careful enough to make sure he didn't leave any weapons behind or a bloodtrail from the scene of the crime. His disorganized characters are shown by (with the exception of the alleged last victim) he willingness to kill them in relatively high-risk situations e.g. out in the open in public thoroughfares and the fact that he left the body at the scene without bothering to dispose of it. Unless, of course, he wanted his work to be displayed to cause a shock in the community in which he resided.

[Pettifogger]

Hi Pettifogger,



Bear in mind though that the "standard FBI profile" also suggested that JTR was more psychotic than most serial killers.

I noted the original profile by John Douglas that was written several years ago. I was unaware that Douglas saw psychotic features in JtR.

[Pettifogger]

The one unchallengeable fact remains that JtR was knowledgeable about the Whitechapel area at night.

This doesn't necessarily make him a denizen of Whitechapel but certainly someone who frequented the area at night.

Since I'm someone who believes that he was operational from August 1888 (Tabram?/Nichols) until February 1891 (Coles), I've eliminated many of the named suspects who didn't fit that timeline.

[mariag]

I do believe that the killer was an unknown- and probably unknowable- local.

My most likely named suspect is Cutbush.

[aspallek]

While I believe Montague Druitt to be the most likely named suspect for reasons that I have made abundantly clear, I do believe that the most likely scenario is the the crimes were committed by an unknown perpetrator.

[Ben]

Hi Pettifogger,

I do think that JtR was more psychotic then the normal serial killer. I don't buy into the standard FBI profiler mode that so many seem ready to impose on this case

Bear in mind though that the "standard FBI profile" also suggested that JTR was more psychotic than most serial killers.

Best regards,
Ben

[Limehouse]

I definitely lean towards the 'unknown local' as a suspect. The only 'known' suspects I have favoured even slightly are people like Cutbush.

[Pettifogger]

I've been out of the loop on this subject and was wondering how many ripperites think that none of the named suspects is really JtR?

When I was last on the site, it seemed most already had a suspect in mind.

I'm not sold on anyone myself. I do think that JtR was more psychotic then the normal serial killer. I don't buy into the standard FBI profiler mode that so many seem ready to impose on this case.