Jack the Ripper: Fog, Fear, and The Ripper

Episode Summary: Jack the Ripper stalked Victorian London in 1888—and we’re unpacking the myth, the murders, and the mess the police left behind. A grim walk through history’s most infamous whodunit.

In this premiere episode, Jenn drags Jared (mostly willingly) into the gaslit streets of 1888 Whitechapel to unravel the myth and the mess that is Jack the Ripper. Was he a criminal mastermind? A mentally unstable nobody with a knife? Or just a terrifying reflection of the time and place that enabled him?

We dive into the Canonical Five murders, the utter disaster that was Victorian policing, early forensic chaos, the origin of the “true crime” genre, and the suspects that still spark debate today. Jared tries to keep his dinner down. Jenn has a slideshow. It's fine.

This one sets the tone for everything to come — raw, researched, a little ranty, and always real.

🔪 What You'll Hear:

• The brutal truth about the Canonical Five victims
• Why the London police completely fumbled the case
• The chaos of Victorian forensics (spoiler: they washed down the crime scenes)
• A breakdown of two top suspects: Montague Druitt and Aaron Kosminski
• The first-ever criminal profile, long before the FBI existed
• Cultural fallout, victim blaming, and the eerie rise of “celebrity killers”

🕯️ Chapters & Timestamps:

• 00:00 – Cold Open: The Myth of the Monster
• 01:00 – Meet Jenn & Jared (and Jared ruins the mystery)
• 03:00 – London, 1888: The Autumn of Terror
• 06:00 – The Canonical Five: An Overview
• 06:45 – Polly Nichols
• 10:15 – Annie Chapman
• 12:15 – The Double Event (Stride & Eddowes)
• 17:45 – Mary Jane Kelly
• 21:00 – Police Investigation: Incompetence Galore
• 24:00 – The Ripper Letters: Dear Boss, Saucy Jack, From Hell
• 26:15 – 1888 Forensics: Fingerprinting? Nope.
• 28:45 – The Suspects: Druitt vs. Kosminski
• 33:00 – DNA and the Infamous Shawl
• 34:00 – The Cultural Impact of Jack the Ripper
• 36:00 – Dr. Bond's Criminal Profile
• 38:00 – Women & True Crime: Why We’re Drawn In
• 41:00 – The Victims Deserved Better
• 43:00 – So… Who Do We Think Did It?
• 45:00 – Reflections: First Episode Feels

💀 Follow for Bonus Content, Rants & Theories:

• TikTok & Instagram: @houseofsyx
• Patreon: patreon.com/HouseofSyx
• YouTube (Video version): @houseofsyx

📚 Credits:

• Written, Hosted & Produced by: Jenn Syx
• Co-hosted by: Jared Syx
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⚠️ Content Warning:

Contains discussion of graphic historical violence and victimization. No graphic images or crime scene photos are used or shown. Listener discretion advised.