Most Terrifying Things About America’s First Serial Killer

Can We Really Believe This?

While H.H. Holmes’s descendants have taken it upon themselves to have their murderous ancestor’s remains exhumed to dispel rumors that he faked his death, great-great-grandson Jeff Mudgett has a different goal: convincing everyone that his ancestor was Jack the Ripper. Mudgett remains convinced that his ancestor was the prolific serial killer.

Mudgett, who is a lawyer and former Commander in the U.S. Naval Reserve, has made a lifelong effort to prove his theory. He has devoted much of his free time to the case and is also the author of Bloodstains, in which he provides transcripts of the diaries that he inherited that were believed to have once belonged to Holmes. Despite provided word for word transcripts of what the diaries allegedly said, he doesn’t provide actual photocopies, which sort of discredits him as no one has seen the original writings. Perhaps, if Mudgett provides the original copies it will give more credence to his claim and what has now become his life’s work.