A relative of Chicago’s infamous serial killer claims on a new series that H.H. Holmes and Jack The Ripper were the same person. Is it true? His evidence remains to be seen.
Sometime in the 1800s, a horrendous serial killer terrorized Chicago using a maze of death traps built into a gigantic three-story hotel. His name? Herman Webster Mudgett alias H.H. Holmes.
Holmes is an infamous person in in American history. Prior to his excile, he confessed to killing 27 people in his supposed “Murder Castle” as it became known, although many believe his victims exceed 200.
He is known as “America’s First Serial Killer,” but some say America was not his only hunting ground but London too.
Around the time of his killing sprees, an “unidentified killer” was also terrorizing the streets of London, murdering at least five victims in Whitechapel. The murderer eventually received the moniker “Jack The Ripper.”
Beyond the killings, one theory arises: Was “America’s first serial killer” also “Jack the Ripper?”
Trying to prove the theory is Jeff Mudgett, a retired lawyer and former Commander in the US Naval, through new History channel eight-part series “American Ripper.”
Here’s the thing: Mudgett is Holmes’ great-great grandson and he often describes himself as “the descendant of the devil.”
In the investigative series, Mudgett partners with former CIA operative Amaryllis Fox to prove that Holmes was Jack The Ripper.
Bulletin Entertainment recently landed an exclusive phone interview with Mudgett and he said he has evidence to prove his claims.
“In the series, we’re going to have a step by step explaining each evidence we have uncovered, which absolutely connects Holmes to Jack The Ripper,” he said.
According to Mudgett, one of his proofs is based on the writing in two diaries he inherited from Holmes, which details the serial killer’s participation in the murder and mutilation of prostitutes in London.
He added that they tracked down the passenger list of the ships that year.
“There’s no doubt in my mind that Holmes was indeed Jack The Ripper,” he claimed. “I think, this is the right time for the world to accept those pieces of evidences we had. I worked with CIA and FBI, they have a conclusion that there’s great chance that they were the same person.”
Apart from the investigative series, the murderous stories of Holmes and Jack The Ripper are also detailed in Mudgett’s book “Bloodstain.”
Mudgett shared there are several people who want to make his life as well as his “journey for the truth” a movie.
After learning about his family roots two decades ago, Mudgett admitted it affected his life in some ways.
“It affected my marriage, it affected my relationship with my child,” he shared. “Imagine knowing yourself related to someone who brutally killed hundreds of innocent people?”
“I was really shocked when I first heard about him. Imagine the murdered and tortured hundreds of innocent people. That was a horrible experimentation. Lo and behold, it is probably the most horrible experience by a serial killer in the history of the world,” he added.
Since then, Mudgett began researching Holmes’ life and eventually gave up his career in law.
“That’s when I came to a conscious decision to absorb, decide and search for the other side of the quest. My family was really angry with me. They don’t want to support my journey to determine the truth,” he shared.
“But that’s my goal now, that’s my destiny and I’m quite proud of having that.”
Apart from claiming Holmes was Jack the Ripper, Mudgett said he also aims to prove that “there’s no such thing as evilness being passed on generation.”
“As an ancestor of that horrible man… well we don’t have choice,” he noted. “Evilness is not being passed, I believe it all depends on the choices you do as a human being.”
Mudgett continued: “Looking at my history, people will see how successful my family has been. In fact, my father or my grandfather never committed a crime even jaywalking.”
If there’s one good thing he could tell about Holmes, what is it?
“He never murdered any of his wives,” he said.
“American Ripper” airs exclusively on History.