Aaron Kosminski, a 23-year-old Polish barber, has been named by forensic experts as the most possible suspect in the notorious Jack the Ripper case. Genetic testing on a discolored silk shawl that was allegedly discovered close to the remains of Catherine Eddowes, the fourth victim, in 1888 led to this finding. Blood and other bodily fluids, believed to have come from the murderer, are reportedly found in the shawl. For more than a century, the horrific killings that shook London in 1888 have not been solved, and now we may finally have an answer. 

By the time the killings occurred, Kosminski was already a top suspect. But this is the first time he has been connected to the crimes by DNA evidence that has been published in a peer-reviewed journal.  Biochemist Jari Louhelainen and his colleague David Miller analyzed the shawl, extracted mitochondrial DNA from it, and conducted sophisticated genetic testing. DNA samples from surviving descendants of both Catherine Eddowes and Aaron Kosminski were compared to this type of DNA, which is solely inherited from the mother. According to the reports, the results match Kosminski’s relative’s mitochondrial DNA, which is what led researchers to believe that the most likely murderer was Aaron Kosminski. 

Nonetheless, the results have been viewed with suspicion. Critics contend that because mitochondrial DNA analysis can only verify maternal lineage and cannot identify a specific individual from a pool of possible matches, proving a relationship to a single person is insufficiently definitive. Furthermore, the shawl’s integrity may have weakened over time, and its relationship to the crime scene remains unknown. 

In addition, according to the DNA analysis, the murderer had brown eyes and brown hair, which matched the suspect’s description provided by an eyewitness. The researchers’ theory gains some support from the fact that, although not unique, blue eyes are currently more frequent than brown ones in England. However, because the published article lacked particular genetic data and details, many scientists doubt the validity of these claims. The authors display the findings in a series of colored boxes rather than raw data, with overlapping regions signifying matches between the shawl and contemporary DNA. 

Because of these restrictions, many people are still not convinced. Even while the new information deepens the mystery surrounding Jack the Ripper, it is unlikely to satisfy those who are looking for a more conclusive, straightforward response. The Case of Jack the Ripper remains one of the most controversial unsolved crimes in history.