Did Mary know her killer?

[RockySullivan]

Hello Rocky,

Mary could have invited him in so that no key was necessary. As far as performing the mutilations, I think he was willing to take his chances as far as being disturbed figuring the likelihood was small and that if it did happen he could brandish his knife and be out the door before anyone could react.

c.d.

Does the time spent in the room indicate the ripper knew Kelly's schedule well enough to know no one would be coming in that time frame. Mary could have invited him yes, but he's taking a great risk if her boyfriend/roomate/landlord /friend could drop in at anytime. He's trapped in a lock room unlike some of the other ripper murders were he has some means of escape. If he had the key he might be sure no one could get inside (however the broken window pokes a hole in that somewhat). It's strange the McCarthy's guy came to check on Kelly when she hadn't paid rent in so long, they choose that morning to check up on her?

[c.d.]

Would the ripper have risked mutilating Kelly the way he did if someone outside had the key and could come in at anytime? Kelly didn't have a key, neither did her landlord, it is somewhat logical that the ripper might've had the only key, and if so then he knew Kelly, unless he got it thru a thrid party or stole it.

Hello Rocky,

Mary could have invited him in so that no key was necessary. As far as performing the mutilations, I think he was willing to take his chances as far as being disturbed figuring the likelihood was small and that if it did happen he could brandish his knife and be out the door before anyone could react.

c.d.

[c.d.]

In discussions on this aspect there is confusion on what is meant by "know".

Knowing her killer as it would apply to Barnett, or knowing her killer as it would apply to a previous client?
Then it may also apply to someone from her past, like Joe Fleming.

As opposed to a complete stranger who she had never met before.

Yeah, this comes up over and over again and people think it could be incredibly significant but we always have to ask knew how? It could run the gamut from lover to someone she met that day.

c.d.

[RockySullivan]

Would the ripper have risked mutilating Kelly the way he did if someone outside had the key and could come in at anytime? Kelly didn't have a key, neither did her landlord, it is somewhat logical that the ripper might've had the only key, and if so then he knew Kelly, unless he got it thru a thrid party or stole it.

[GUT]

Or know like Mrs Maxwell knew [or perhaps thought she knew] Kelly?

[Wickerman]

In discussions on this aspect there is confusion on what is meant by "know".

Knowing her killer as it would apply to Barnett, or knowing her killer as it would apply to a previous client?
Then it may also apply to someone from her past, like Joe Fleming.

As opposed to a complete stranger who she had never met before.

[Harry D]

Apart from in a Biblical sense, that is? What reason(s) do we have to believe that Mary Kelly knew the identity of her murderer that fateful night?