13 differences between Jack the Ripper and the Yorkshire Ripper

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September 1979: Six of the young women murdered by Peter Sutcliffe, known as the Yorkshire Ripper. Top left to right; Vera Millward, Jayne MacDonald, Josephine Whittaker and bottom left to right; Jean Royle, Helga Rytka and Barbara Leach. (Photo by Keystone/Getty Images) /

11. The Yorkshire Ripper’s killing spree was longer

As you can infer from the time period each operated in, Jack only killed for one year. Or did he?

There were actually 11 murders in Whitechapel from 1888 to 1891, but only five are attributed to Jack the Ripper. There are differences in the wounds that cast doubt on the claims that he was responsible.

Sutcliffe was on the loose for five years.

10. Different victim counts

Jack the Ripper’s victims are known as the “canonical five” to distinguish them from the other Whitechapel murders. His victims were Mary Ann Nichols, Annie Chapman, Elizabeth Stride, Catherine Eddowes, and Mary Jane Kelly.

The Yorkshire Ripper murdered at least 13 women that authorities know of. It was speculated in the documentary that there could have even been more.

The victims they do know about are: Wilma McCann (1975), Emily Jackson (1976), Irene Richardson (1977), Patricia “Tina” Atkinson (1977), Jayne MacDonald (1977), Jean Jordan (1977), Yvonne Pearson (1978), Helen Rytka (1978), Vera Millward (1978), Josephine Whitaker (1979), Barbara Leach (1979), Marguerite Walls (1980) and Jacqueline Hill (1980).

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