Jack the Ripper copycat killers

Once we had decided that our main character would be a Jack the Ripper copycat, we decided to look into real cases of copycat killers so that we could get inspiration for details in our own film trailer.

Some of the most famous of these cases were:

The Yorkshire Ripper

Peter Sutcliffe, also known as 'The Yorkshire Ripper', was a british serial killer born on the 2nd June 1946 convicted to serve 20 years life imprisonment in Broadmoor high security hospital for murdering 13 women and attempting to murder 7 others in 1981. In the past Sutcliffe frequently used prostitutes, and a bad experience with one of the women where he was conned out of his money was thought to have created his violent hatred for women .  

Victims

Wilma McCann- Body found of 28 year old woman on the 30th October 1975 in a playing field in Leeds. she had been struck twice with a hammer and stabbed 15 times.

Emily Jackson- Body found of 42 year old in Leeds on the 20th January 1976. She had been stabbed 51 times with a sharpened screwdriver.

Irene Richardson- Body found of 28 year old prostitute on 5th February 1977 in Leeds. Her body had been bludgeoned to death with a hammer and then mutilated with a knife. 

Patricia Atkinson- Body found of 32 year old prostitute on 23rd April 1977 in Bradford.

Jayne Macdonald- Body found of 16 year old on 26th June 1977 in a playground in Leeds. She was the youngest of the victims and the public said that even though she was not a prostitute, they believe he killed her to show that anyone can be a victim. 

Jean Jordan- Body found of 20 year old prostitute on 1st October 1977 in a cemetery in Manchester. Her body was also mutilated.

Yvonne Pearson- Body found of 21 year old prostitute on 21st January 1978 in Bradford.

Helen Rytka- Body found of 18 year old prostitute on 31st January 1978 in Huddersfield.

Vera Millward- Body found of 40 year old prostitute on 16th May 1978 in Royal Infirmary in Manchester.

Josephine Whitaker- Body found of 19 year old on 4th April 1979 in Halifax.

Barbara Leach- Body found of 21 year old university student on 2nd September 1979 in Bradford.

Marguerite Walls- Body found of 47 year old civil servant on 20th August 1980 in Leeds.

Jacqueline Hill- Body found of 21 year old university student on 17th November 1980 in Leeds. 

Like Jack the Ripper, Sutcliffe also sent anonymous letters to the Police. Here is an example of his first letter:

Translation :Dear Sir

I am sorry I cannot give my name for obvious reasons. I am the Ripper. I've been dubbed a maniac by the Press but not by you, you call me clever and I am. You and your mates haven't a clue that photo in the paper gave me fits and that bit about killing myself. I've got things to do. My purpose to rid the streets of them sluts. My only regret is that young lassie McDonald, did not know cause changed routine that nite. up to a number 8 now you say 7 but remember Preston '75, get about you know.You were right I travel a bit. You probably look for me in Sunderland, don't bother, I am not daft, just posted a letter there on one of my trips.Not a bad place compared with Chapeltown and Manningham and other places. Warn whores to keep off streets cause I feel it coming on again.
Sorry about young Lassie.
yours respectively 
Jack the Ripper

P.S  Might write again later I not sure the last one really deserved it. Whores getting younger each time. Old slut next time I hope. Huddersfield never again, too small close call last one.

Throughout the Investigation there were many photos and pictures released using the characteristics descried by victims who had survived. Here are example of one of the photofits compared to a real photo of him. 

For more information on his arrest, trial, evidence and conspiracies go to the website http://www.execulink.com/~kbrannen/

The Blackout Ripper

Gordon Cummins, also known as the Blackout Ripper, got his name from murdering 4 women in London in 1942 during the night and attempting to murder another 2 women. Similar to Jack the Ripper, Gordon mutilated the body of some of his victims. 

Victims

Evelyn Hamilton- Body found of 40 year old On Sunday 9 February 1942 in an air raid shelter in in Marylebone. She had been strangled and her handbag stolen. 

Evelyn Oatley- Body foundOn Monday 10 February of 35 year old in her flat on Wardour Street. As well as having been strangled, her throat had been cut and she had also been mutilated with a can opener.

Margaret Lowe- Body found On Tuesday 11 February of 43 year old prostitute in her flat in Gosfield Street, Marylebone. She had been strangled with a silk stocking and her body mutilated with a variety of implements including a razor blade, a knife and a candlestick. 

Doris Jouannet- Body found On Wednesday 12 February 1942 of 32 year old in the ground floor flat that she shared with her husband. She had been strangled with a scarf and mutilated.

Greta Hayward- Body found On Friday 14 February 1942 in a doorway near Piccadilly Circus by a man in RAF uniform. She managed to escape as her attacker was interrupted by the arrival of a delivery boy making his rounds. 

Mrs. Mulcahy- Shortly after the attack on Greta Hayward there was another attack of prostitute in her flat near Paddington Railway Station. She managed to fight off her attacker, who gave her an extra £5 before running off leaving his belt behind.

Cummins was shortly arrested on the 16th February 1942 after 

accidently leaving behind his gas mask case while attacking Greta 

Hayward which showed a service number registered under his name. 

once found guilty he was sentenced to death and was executed on 

the 25th June 1942. Scotland Yard later found that he had also 

murdered two other women in October 1941.