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I believe that if the Ripper did indeed kill Elizabeth Stride, it gives us some clues as to his thought process. Let’s assume that Stride was killed by the Ripper. Most importantly I believe it would indicate that the killing in itself was not his goal, nor did it satisfy him. I think it would also indicate that he was not on his way home when, coming across Catherine Eddowes, he simply took advantage of the meeting; he was actively looking for another victim. It may also show that, either his confidence in his criminal ability was increasing, or his urge to mutilate was strong enough that it was controlling him.
Here’s one possibility: The Ripper is actively searching for a victim when he runs into Elizabeth Stride. The location isn’t the greatest. The building next to them is hosting some type of event. Perhaps the Ripper felt he had enough privacy. Did he try to persuade Stride to follow him to another location? Did Stride insist on servicing him on Berner Street? Regardless, the Ripper uses the same M.O. on Stride that had worked for him twice before: a blitz style attack that quickly renders the victim unable to call for help, most likely grabbing her by the throat and strangling her into unconsciousness.
Next, the Ripper slices Stride’s throat as he had done with Mary Ann Nichols and Annie Chapman. At this point the Ripper was probably worked up into a state of intense anticipation. He was going to once again live out his sexual fantasy. But as the Ripper is about to begin the mutilations, a possible witness approaches.
The Ripper is now in a hell of a jam. He’s about to being caught in the act, knife in hand. Miraculously, the Ripper makes his escape. A rational person at this point would probably thank his lucky stars and head for home as quickly as possible. But the Ripper is unable to do that. He is like a drug addict who was narrowly denied his fix. He had worked himself up into a near frenzy when he was interrupted. At this point the Ripper was probably extremely frustrated. And the only way he could get a release was finding another victim.
It’s quite possible that the Ripper headed in the direction of Mitre Square because he knew it was away from the swarm of police that would engulf Berner Street. And he knew that he could find a victim in the square. He knew he was hot and he could be caught at any moment but his urge to mutilate was too strong. The Ripper then meets Catherine Eddowes.
So, the evidence in favor of Stride as a Ripper victim:
Victimology the same as in the case of Nichols and Chapman. Stride, as the others, was an East End prostitute of the lowest class, 40ish, working the early morning hours. Clients were serviced in corridors, alleys, and other locations that allowed some sort of limited privacy.
Time and location matches other murders: same area of Whitechapel. Crime committed in early morning hours.
Same M.O.: Blitz style attack to render victim unable to cry for help. Throat cut with sharp knife, as before. No evidence of sexual assault. Crime was not intended as robbery.
And to summarize what Stride’s murder would tell us, if in fact she was killed by the Ripper:
Killing did not satisfy him nor was it his goal. The Ripper killed to facilitate the mutilations.
The Ripper’s urge to mutilate was so strong, he was willing to take tremendous risk in Mitre Square. The fact that he was almost caught didn’t scare him into retiring for the night. (This could also be used as an argument that the killer simply didn’t stop on his own after Kelly.)
The Ripper was not heading home when he ran into Eddowes. He was actively searching for another victim at the time. And he was aware enough to head in a direction away from Berner Street.
Here’s one possibility: The Ripper is actively searching for a victim when he runs into Elizabeth Stride. The location isn’t the greatest. The building next to them is hosting some type of event. Perhaps the Ripper felt he had enough privacy. Did he try to persuade Stride to follow him to another location? Did Stride insist on servicing him on Berner Street? Regardless, the Ripper uses the same M.O. on Stride that had worked for him twice before: a blitz style attack that quickly renders the victim unable to call for help, most likely grabbing her by the throat and strangling her into unconsciousness.
Next, the Ripper slices Stride’s throat as he had done with Mary Ann Nichols and Annie Chapman. At this point the Ripper was probably worked up into a state of intense anticipation. He was going to once again live out his sexual fantasy. But as the Ripper is about to begin the mutilations, a possible witness approaches.
The Ripper is now in a hell of a jam. He’s about to being caught in the act, knife in hand. Miraculously, the Ripper makes his escape. A rational person at this point would probably thank his lucky stars and head for home as quickly as possible. But the Ripper is unable to do that. He is like a drug addict who was narrowly denied his fix. He had worked himself up into a near frenzy when he was interrupted. At this point the Ripper was probably extremely frustrated. And the only way he could get a release was finding another victim.
It’s quite possible that the Ripper headed in the direction of Mitre Square because he knew it was away from the swarm of police that would engulf Berner Street. And he knew that he could find a victim in the square. He knew he was hot and he could be caught at any moment but his urge to mutilate was too strong. The Ripper then meets Catherine Eddowes.
So, the evidence in favor of Stride as a Ripper victim:
Victimology the same as in the case of Nichols and Chapman. Stride, as the others, was an East End prostitute of the lowest class, 40ish, working the early morning hours. Clients were serviced in corridors, alleys, and other locations that allowed some sort of limited privacy.
Time and location matches other murders: same area of Whitechapel. Crime committed in early morning hours.
Same M.O.: Blitz style attack to render victim unable to cry for help. Throat cut with sharp knife, as before. No evidence of sexual assault. Crime was not intended as robbery.
And to summarize what Stride’s murder would tell us, if in fact she was killed by the Ripper:
Killing did not satisfy him nor was it his goal. The Ripper killed to facilitate the mutilations.
The Ripper’s urge to mutilate was so strong, he was willing to take tremendous risk in Mitre Square. The fact that he was almost caught didn’t scare him into retiring for the night. (This could also be used as an argument that the killer simply didn’t stop on his own after Kelly.)
The Ripper was not heading home when he ran into Eddowes. He was actively searching for another victim at the time. And he was aware enough to head in a direction away from Berner Street.
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