The History Channel is set to air a special 8 part series beginning July 11 at 10:00 pm called “American Ripper”.The documentary will take a close look at the case of H.H. Holms, one of America’s most prolific serial killers. The show will sift through evidence collected more than a century ago to determine the extent of murders that America’s first documented serial committed during the late nineteenth century.Back then with no DNA evidence or other scientific ways to determine the extent of Holmes’ massacre, Holmes may have gotten away with many more murders. Today, we have the opportunity to take a close look at the evidence to determine the scope of Holmes’ crimes.
H.H. Holmes was born Herman Mudgett in New Hampshire in 1861. He was highly intelligent and studied medicine and anatomy in college. He worked in a Philadelphia drugstore before moving to Chicago. Having committed insurance fraud, Herman Mudgett changed his name to Henry Herman Holmes. Holmes worked and eventually purchased a drug store on Chicago’s south side. In 1887, he bought property across the street and built retail space, a pharmacy and apartments adding a third floor for hotel space in time for the World’s Columbian Exhibition. This turned out to be a building called the “Murder Castle”. Holmes created secret gas chambers and chutes that slid bodies into the basement where he burned them or cleaned the bones and sold them to doctors and medical schools. After he was caught in an insurance fraud case in Philadelphia, Holmes was eventually convicted of murders committed inside the “Murder Castle”. Holmes admitted to 27 murders but some of those people were found to be alive. Nine murder cases were proven before Holmes’ execution in Philadelphia on May 7, 1896. He is suspected of murdering up to 200 people.
Here is what to expect from the History Channel’s new show “American Ripper”.
H.H. Holmes’ great great Grandson
“American Ripper” is hosted by Jeff Mudget. Twenty years ago, Mudgett found out that he is related one of America’s most infamous serial killers Herman Mudgett who was also known as H.H. Holmes. Jeff Mudgett, a retired attorney, has spent the past 2 decades combing through evidence about his infamous great great grandfather. In “American Ripper”, Mudgett will work with Amaryllis Fox, a former CIA agent as they sift through evidence of the cold case.
A look at Holmes’ early life
“American Ripper” will take a look at Holmes’ early life to find links to the serial killer he would become. There was speculation that he killed animals as a boy. He allegedly abused his wife while in medical school and she left him. He married again, making him a bigamist. While studying anatomy and medicine, Holmes illegally sold skeletons. It was speculated that he was the last person seen with a boy who went missing, and a boy died after taking medicine that Holmes was responsible for. Holmes frequently committed insurance fraud and had to move around and even change his name. While building the “Murder Castle” homes constantly owed money to contractors.
Forensic evidence
“American Ripper” will take a good close look at forensic evidence taken at the time of Holmes’ arrest. Crime scene photos, hand writing samples and other material evidence will be looked at by Mudgett with the help of experts. It may never be known just how many murders H.H. Holmes committed in the infamous “Murder Castle” or if other murders can be tied to him, but “American Ripper” hopes to find convincing evidence of the extent of H.H. Holmes’ depravity to understand just what kind of fiend he was and how his patterns can help find serial killers today.
A body exhumation and ties to Jack the Ripper
News of the exhumation of H.H. Holmes’ body has recently made the news. Now that “American Ripper” will be shown on the History Channel, we understand the reason. Over the decades there has been conspiracy theorists who believe Holmes’ escaped his execution and somehow may be “Jack the Ripper”, the infamous Victorian era serial killer in Whitechapel London who was never caught. Jack the Ripper committed at least 5 murders in 1888. His victims were mostly prostitutes and Ripper enjoyed taunting the police. Although “Jack the Ripper” has never been identified, he is believed to have a medical background determined by the way he surgically mutilated his victims. Could H.H. Holmes have continued his murder spree across the Atlantic Ocean before disappearing forever?
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