Peter Sutcliffe: A Detailed Account of the Yorkshire Ripper Killings and Investigation
In the late 1970s, a serial killer targeted women in West Yorkshire and Greater Manchester, United Kingdom. The individual assaulted and killed women in public spaces, creating a climate of public concern.
The Killings Commence
The series of crimes attributed to the individual, known as the "Yorkshire Ripper" by the British press, began on October 30, 1975, with the murder of Wilma McCann in Leeds. McCann, a mother of four, was found deceased in a football field near her residence after being struck on the head with a hammer and stabbed multiple times. Three months later, Emily Jackson was discovered dead with multiple stab wounds in a factory field in the same city. Subsequent deaths occurred, leading to widespread public apprehension regarding the safety of women in British streets. The perpetrator was identified as Peter Sutcliffe.
The Investigation and Early Missed Opportunities
Police apprehended Sutcliffe after a six-year investigation, which later faced criticism for its procedural shortcomings and missed leads. Sutcliffe was interviewed multiple times by officers during the period of the killings but was released each time without charge.
Peter Sutcliffe, born in Bingley, West Yorkshire, left school at 15 and held various jobs, including a gravedigger. He married Sonia Szurma in 1974 and worked as a heavy-goods-vehicle driver, a role that familiarized him with areas across the county. Neighbors characterized him as reserved. Sutcliffe developed an interest in Bradford's red-light district.
His first recorded assault, believed to be against a sex worker, involved striking her with a stone. Police identified Sutcliffe as the attacker, but no charges were filed as the victim opted not to pursue the case.
Sutcliffe's attacks escalated, typically involving him approaching victims from behind, incapacitating them with a hammer, and then stabbing them with a knife or screwdriver. Some victims were found in secluded fields or parks after being drawn away from public areas.
Public safety campaigns advised women not to go out after sunset and suggested they be accompanied by a man if they needed to leave their homes. In response, women in the area organized rallies and marches to protest violence against women and to advocate for safe public spaces.
Early in the investigation, police initially theorized that the assailant was targeting sex workers. Inquiries later documented that investigators overlooked key leads and conflicting evidence due to adherence to this initial theory.
In 1976, Marcella Claxton survived an attack after accepting a lift from a man in Chapeltown, Leeds. She was struck on the head with a hammer but escaped. Claxton assisted police in creating a composite sketch of her attacker, describing him as a 30-year-old with black hair, a beard, and a mustache. Despite some detectives suspecting a link to the Ripper case, Claxton was not classified as a victim of the serial killer because she was not a sex worker. Claxton later stated that if her description had been fully considered, the perpetrator might have been caught earlier.
The investigative focus shifted after the 1977 murder of 16-year-old Jayne MacDonald. It became apparent that Sutcliffe was targeting any woman who was alone, and sex workers were among his victims due to their willingness to enter his vehicle. Officers initially referred to MacDonald as the first "innocent" victim, a term that was later criticized for its sexist implications by differentiating victims. John Robins, the chief constable of West Yorkshire police, has since apologized for the "language, tone and terminology used by senior officers at the time."
The investigation involved visits to over 23,000 homes, checks on 150,000 cars, and more than 130,000 interviews. Sutcliffe himself was interviewed nine times and released. A photograph of the killer's boot print was shown during the investigation, but officers failed to connect it to Sutcliffe, who owned identical shoes. Limitations in technology, such as an overwhelmed card index system at the Millgarth police station incident room, also posed challenges to information management.
The "Wearside Jack" Hoax
The investigation was further complicated by hoax letters and a fake recording sent to police and media. In early 1978, Assistant Chief Constable George Oldfield received a letter claiming to be from the Ripper. Additional letters and a recorded message followed, with the voice on the recording stating, "I'm Jack. I see you are still having no luck catching me."
Investigators diverted resources to locate a man they incorrectly believed had a strong Wearside accent based on the tape. Decades later, John Humble was identified as the sender of these hoax communications, subsequently dubbed "Wearside Jack." Humble was charged and sentenced, with his trial revealing a "fascination" with the original Jack the Ripper case. The hoax communications prolonged the real killer's period of activity. By the end of 1980, 13 women had been killed and several others attacked.
Apprehension and Confession
Peter Sutcliffe's apprehension occurred on January 2, 1981, during a routine police check in Sheffield's red-light district. Officers encountered Sutcliffe in a car with a companion and discovered the vehicle's license plates were fraudulent. Sutcliffe was arrested. The following day, officers located the hammer used in most of the attacks hidden in a nearby drainpipe.
Upon questioning, Sutcliffe confessed to the murders. He stated to Detective Inspector John Boyle, "It's all right, I know what you're leading up to. The Yorkshire Ripper. It's me. I killed all those women."
On May 22, 1981, Sutcliffe was convicted at London's Central Criminal Court on 13 counts of murder and seven cases of attempted murder. He received 20 concurrent life sentences.
Later Life and Legacy
Peter Sutcliffe spent three years in prison before being transferred to a psychiatric hospital in 1984 following a diagnosis of schizophrenia. In 2016, a health tribunal review concluded he no longer required treatment for a mental disorder, and he was returned to prison. Sutcliffe died in 2020 from COVID-19 complications.
Richard McCann, son of victim Wilma McCann, stated that some families of the victims might welcome the news of his death, finding a form of conclusion to the continuous media attention.
Sutcliffe's actions generated a lasting impact on residents in the affected areas during the 1970s. Ruth Bundey, a solicitor who lived in Chapeltown at the time, described a pervasive "fear in the homes of ordinary people" and mutual suspicion among neighbors. She noted that individuals dropping women home would wait until the woman had entered her residence and turned on a light before leaving.