History's "American Ripper" Asks if Jack the Ripper and H.H. Holmes were the Same Man - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

JamesG · 07-06-2017, 10:57 AM

New Series Asks if Serial Killers Jack the Ripper and H.H. Holmes were the Same Man
by Nivea Serrao
July 6, 2017

Could Jack the Ripper — Britain’s most notorious, still unidentified serial killer — have been American? That’s the question at the heart of "American Ripper", a new eight-part limited series premiering on History.

The show sees Jeff Mudgett, the great-great-grandson of America’s first serial killer, H.H. Holmes (or Herman Mudgett), attempt to prove that his ancestor is none other than the 19th-century murderer who terrorized the streets of London.

The retired attorney believes that Holmes was able to escape his execution and make his way to Whitechapel, London, where he essentially lived a second life, committing as many as 200 murders and remaining uncaught.

As you can see in the exclusive clip, Mudgett — who learned that he was related to Holmes 20 years ago and has since been extensively researching him — and his team of investigators (including CIA criminologist Amaryllis Fox) have obtained permission to exhume Holmes’ grave so they can procure a sample of his DNA to test it and see if he was indeed able to pull off this elaborate con.

And what they find — or rather, don’t find — might be another huge clue.

"American Ripper" premieres July 11 at 10 p.m. ET on History.

http://ew.com/tv/2017/07/06/american...h-holmes-clip/

atomicfizz · 07-06-2017, 11:30 AM

I've heard that theory before, it will be interesting but I can't see them being the same person. HH Holmes seemed to love attention and couldn't help but be a showoff, and a conman. We know just about everything he ever did, and we know virtually nothing about the Ripper. Was he really smart enough to change his MO that much that he could completely change who he was as a person? I can't imagine if HW Mudgett got over to England he would just have been quiet and no one would have ever noticed him. He would have had to have made an honest living, been completely unassuming, changed everything about himself. Yes, he did have medical training which I've heard them say JTR probably had (and then I've heard the opposite so I don't know) but I still just can't imagine HH Holmes being JTR. I'm sure the show will be interesting though, but if he's not in the grave to compare DNA, then where will the show go? I guess somewhere, since they are releasing it. I might watch if I think of it (I don't watch much TV anymore, too many podcasts and internet stuff) just to see what they have to say but I have strong doubts the Holmes/Mudgett was JTR.

07-06-2017, 10:57 AM	#1
JamesG Freakshow Moderator Forum Icon Join Date: Feb 01, 2008 Location: Brooklyn, NY Posts: 57,136	History's "American Ripper" Asks if Jack the Ripper and H.H. Holmes were the Same Man New Series Asks if Serial Killers Jack the Ripper and H.H. Holmes were the Same Man by Nivea Serrao July 6, 2017 Could Jack the Ripper — Britain’s most notorious, still unidentified serial killer — have been American? That’s the question at the heart of "American Ripper", a new eight-part limited series premiering on History. The show sees Jeff Mudgett, the great-great-grandson of America’s first serial killer, H.H. Holmes (or Herman Mudgett), attempt to prove that his ancestor is none other than the 19th-century murderer who terrorized the streets of London. The retired attorney believes that Holmes was able to escape his execution and make his way to Whitechapel, London, where he essentially lived a second life, committing as many as 200 murders and remaining uncaught. As you can see in the exclusive clip, Mudgett — who learned that he was related to Holmes 20 years ago and has since been extensively researching him — and his team of investigators (including CIA criminologist Amaryllis Fox) have obtained permission to exhume Holmes’ grave so they can procure a sample of his DNA to test it and see if he was indeed able to pull off this elaborate con. And what they find — or rather, don’t find — might be another huge clue. "American Ripper" premieres July 11 at 10 p.m. ET on History. http://ew.com/tv/2017/07/06/american...h-holmes-clip/

07-06-2017, 11:30 AM	#2
atomicfizz Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Jun 07, 2008 Location: Minneapolis Posts: 310	I've heard that theory before, it will be interesting but I can't see them being the same person. HH Holmes seemed to love attention and couldn't help but be a showoff, and a conman. We know just about everything he ever did, and we know virtually nothing about the Ripper. Was he really smart enough to change his MO that much that he could completely change who he was as a person? I can't imagine if HW Mudgett got over to England he would just have been quiet and no one would have ever noticed him. He would have had to have made an honest living, been completely unassuming, changed everything about himself. Yes, he did have medical training which I've heard them say JTR probably had (and then I've heard the opposite so I don't know) but I still just can't imagine HH Holmes being JTR. I'm sure the show will be interesting though, but if he's not in the grave to compare DNA, then where will the show go? I guess somewhere, since they are releasing it. I might watch if I think of it (I don't watch much TV anymore, too many podcasts and internet stuff) just to see what they have to say but I have strong doubts the Holmes/Mudgett was JTR.