It is great to see someone delve into the Ripper's possible "exploratory" victims. Serial murderers almost never begin with full blown murder--let alone the scale of mutilation seen in the Ripper case. The killer almost certainly had varying levels of violent crime, arson attempts, etc. in the years preceding the Autumn of Terror. Fascinating stuff.

Violent crimes against women back then was horrific without Jack the Ripper. I honestly can't say whether she was an earlier victim of Jack but I can honestly say that Jack murdered more than the 5 we know of.

Yes, she was an early victim. Something makes me uneasy when I hear “Canonical 5”. Five victims doesn’t add up to the stratosphere level brutality of his lunar activities.

The most startling part of this is the statement, "I immediately telephoned to the infirmary..." Blimey, that was very early to have a telephone. I suppose hospitals and medical centres would have had them installed before most other premises.

Interesting, it's certainly possible she was an unknown victim, and it's almost certain that he must've attacked if not killed before so there must be more victims that are yet to be identified, even if they were not killed. I've always thought there must be more from before and after, as it's strange how they just started and stopped, especially knowing what we now know about serial killers

Fascinating as always. Yes, spree-killers don't suddenly start with no 'build-up' - and equally they don't suddenly stop unless the perpetrators die or are caught and incarcerated (which makes the so-called Thames Torso Murders so interesting to students of JTR: a grisly coincidence or an escalation?).

I suspect that she might have been the first JTR victim and that he actually bungled it and his victim Annie Millwood survived long enough that she could’ve identified him if she ran into him again. Unfortunately that didn’t happen and Annie died from an illness that was probably compounded by the attack although she initially seemed to recover. The killer may have kept quiet for a period of time not knowing who Annie was and not knowing of her death, for fear that she may yet point the finger at him. But he starts again several months later, and this time he is successful, but whether it was Polly Nichols or Martha Tabram he killed next I couldn’t say. It may have been neither of them but someone else. Just my speculations.

Excellent coverage of a little known case. This is such a good channel and deserves a lot more views! Was she an early Ripper victim? Quite possibly! Wonder how many more of these stabbings took place that didn't get reported in newspapers?

Very interesting indeed,a lone attacker focus on lower abdomen with his knife,it's a pity nobody was able to obtain a description of the man,that's if she got a good look at him.its worth noting that specific area as you mentioned close to Dorset st but also goulston street and yes George yard.

Since it's been reported (probably by yourself among others) that there were street gangs who made a full time occupation of preying on 'retired actresses' for their scant earnings, it's reasonably likely there were a number of men in the area capable of such frightfulness.

Dear Boss, for many years of reading about old Jacky boy, i have been of the opinion that Millwood could quite well have been a fledgling killers early attempt. ...Ada Wilson is very different and possibly not an early victim...the knife wound soley aimed at the throat had all the hallmarks of an angry, spontaneous lashing out by someone during a violent argument rather than a serial killer attemping an attack....Millwood on the other hand had stab wounds, like you say, to the abdomen and legs...this would match, very well, the modus operandi of JTR, who, after subduing his victims with strangulation, followed by cutting the throat, would then turn his attention to the lower part of his victims....but even with the later victims, where ripping the unfortunate women was the method of choice, there were the occasional stab marks thrown in...and not just around the genitalia and abdomen, but also upper thighs. As another person in these comments correctly points out, Tabram was also a stab victim...this would follow logically from a randon stab attack on Millwood, to multiple stabs to Tabram, and then eventually developing into the hallmark ripping we see on Nichols. Glad you have covered this very often overlooked victim..and a very important one in the Whitchapel atrocities.

Good Heavens! Mrs. Millwood was perhaps one of the 12 Ripper's possible victims I've listed up to now thanks to your impecable videos. Quite probably not all of them fell to the knife of the same murderer(s). Anyhow the original Canonical Five statement tends to fade in view of a quite more complex scenario. My full respect for your knowledge and outstanding work.

Fascinating! I think it's possible. Based on other serial killer cases, it would seem entirely plausible that the killer would 'experiment' with other ways of satisfying their need for bloodlust... The canonical murders were seemingly so swift and structured in comparison, but it's not outside the realm of possibility that earlier attempts were somewhat messier... And to think that she may have had a good look at the culprit, too!

Definitely one of the more convincing cases for an early ripper victim. Good video.

I love these where you speculate about crimes around that time and other possible suspects. Gives info unknown to me.

I think Annie Millwood was an early JTR victim. Very similar to Martha Tabram’s murder.

Very interesting and intriguing story again Richard. It makes you wonder if she was one of his earlier victims doesnt it. The depth you go into finding the information. Excellent work as always. Look forward to more of the same. Merry Christmas to you and your family.

Absolutely fascinating! Thanks Richard. I hadn’t heard about this case before so it was very welcome indeed. I’m not sure if it was a JTR crime, it’s quite possible, but as others mentioned already it seems there are many potential suspects amongst the gangs and hoodlums of Whitechapel. Would be very interesting to hear about them in some future videos but JTR is just full of so many things to unpack!

Thank you for your latest KZfaq video. Most thought provoking and intriguing. I always thought there were more victims than the ' canonical five ' . No serial killer initially starts out with the same Modus operandi throughout their killing spree . They will frequently build up and have additions to it . Then of course as now there could have possibly been copycat killers as so much information was held in local and national newspapers . Having read - Jack the Ripper the final solution by Stephen Knight . I thought this neatly joined all the various strands together . But then years later in 2019 reading Hallie Rubenhold's book - the five , the untold lives of the women killed by Jack the Ripper. Those five had no connection at all as they did not know one another . If they did it would have come out in the inquest . So the more information that comes out in the public domain the more perplexing it becomes . I doubt now that it will ever be satisfactory solved . Thank for all your dedicated hard work extensive research . You really must , must reach a larger audience as it seems the interest in Jack the Ripper will never wain especially here In the UK but also the US . A willing and receptive audience!!

Good job, Richard, as always!!!

I have long suspected Millwood almost certainly was an early attempt - and even more so, Ada Wilson. Hope you have an episode about her soon - even the description of the attacker was similar, plus the clasp knife, something the Ripper was still using on Tabram before switching to the second blade and finally finding his weapon of choice.

I've been waiting for this to come up. Very, very interesting.

You have a way of making even the most obscure details of this case interesting, thank you. Great video!

Gorgeously done once again Richard! Absolutely brilliant mate!

Your videos are by far best on youtube. Everything you do with this fascinating case is just brilliant.

Just looks related Richard by the sheer geography of the streets and nature of the target area ( on the ladys lower abdomen) It tends to blow my theory about the obtaining of the uterus for some financial gain out of the water but its surely related to the later crimes. Every canocical victim lived within about 50 yards of each other - Polly Nichols' death certificate said 35 Dorset street.. Pearly Poll stayed there.. Annie Chapman did.. Liz Stride lived at number 38 until the week leading up to her death with Michael Kidney. A newspaper report said Catherine Eddowes rough slept down Dorset street. You'd have to say the killer either lived on this street or visited someone who resided there.

Another well informed, brilliantly put together and excellently narrated video.

Thank you Richard for another great video PS Merry Christmas to you and your family.

Every good Video Thank You So Much. Cheers 😊

Its certainly possible. He may not have "discovered" slitting the throat yet. His early letter did reference one of the victims did cry out so he was rushed. He may then have formulated a plan to silence his victims quickly. So twisted to try to imagine his thinking in any of this.....so horrific.

Great video as always

We can be sure Jack must have escalated, the trouble is he was unknown to the criminal underworld.

How common was it for women to be attacked with a knife in that part of London? For it to be mentioned in a Sheffield newspaper makes me think it was not that common at all and, as such, there's every chance she was an early victim. The violence does seem to escalate towards the climax of Mary Kelly, so this may have been an early entry.

You may be onto something here. Thanks for the video. Merry Christmas.

I've just checked and February 25th that year was a Saturday, so I'm going to guess 'YES'. Probably!

I had never heard of her. But yes, it sounds to me like she could have been one of Jack’s victims.

This is fascinating and I agree that there must have been earlier victims. I am not pleased with KZfaq since I have been subscribed to all your videos for a long time but this video has only just arrived in my feed.

Another well done video.

Interesting stuff! It makes sense to me that this demon had other victims as he was honing his skills.

Was the attack at a time and place when Lechmere was on his way to work or visiting his wife and mother?

So we have only Annie's testimony to go on. On the "canonical five" we have no testimony of witnesses at all. The wounds, speaking for themselves, seem indeed to be the precursors of Jack's work on later victims. I have always thought that had the police not excluded so many other murders from consideration, they might well have uncovered some conclusive evidence of his identity.

Nice video! It is possible that Annie was an early victim of Jack as we are learning a lot more information as time goes on.

Mrs. Millwood certainly could have been an early JTR victim. I wonder if Jack had been part of one of the gangs in that area early in his career, then left because it didn't provide the thrill that he got from working alone?

I'd say yes. He had to gain experience some way. I can't believe the location is coincidence. It seems he chooses locations close to the other killings.

It's an interesting Theory

earlier killings may not have been in london could he have done his learning before london

What strikes me about this attack is the lack of witnesses. Just as with Emma Smith. If these attacks were directly related to prostitution and took place at locations the women used often then that might explain a few things. If the financial arrangement was for penetrative intercourse then the sexual fashion of the time was for the woman to be facing away from her client. Plenty of time to produce a bottle or a knife. Not sure why nobody heard their screams though. Neither of them mentioned being strangled.

I can't believe that Jack The Ripper just started killing, this is never the case, almost all of the time with serial killers, they will start out with some small crimes before becoming a full murderer, i don't think we will ever know for sure now, but you hear it with todays killers, they always work their way to killing, so Annie could of been the rippers first victim.

Yes . I don't believe that 'The 5' were the only victims of JTR . Think he continued after Mary Kelly also and as the police couldn't catch him said the one's after Mary were unrelated to try to stop the vigilante panic and unrest of the time . 👍 Great short video.

Could be a possibility. Some people have to start experimenting somewhere (from other serial killer documentaries i've watched).

What strikes me, an American, about these street scenes is the lack of any possible places to hide if attacked. It's certainly not 100%, but our residential and commercial streets commonly have a bit of yard, or terrace, with plants and other decorations.

I think it is very possible that she was a early victim then Martha Tabram! I definitely don't think Emma Smith was a victim of JTR! All your videos r excellent!x

Another corker! When this mayhem pandemic is over would love to meet you on one of your tours

Annie could have been an early victim. Pretty sure Martha was one as well. Not so sure about Emma Smith, though.

The unusual nature of the attack makes it probable that she was an early victim of JTR.

I've always wondered about early victims. A killer typically doesn't just start out with their MO. Maybe.... I wonder if there are others, too. Very interesting.

I can't help thinking that nobody really wanted to get involved including the police on the beats. It was to convenient to have just missed the ripper to many times. More then one officer would claim that they didn't hear anything when they had just checked the murder sight just 15 minutes or so before that. Some were very close by in another street. Those poor souls didn't have a chance.I don't think the police carried weapons

I read about Annie Millwood on a Jack The Ripper site years ago, along with a few other possible early victims, I do believe she and at least 2 other women were his first attempted murders! But so many people are obsessed with it just being 5 victims, and they won't even entertain the possibility that there were more, even earlier attempts at murder, which is really kind of stupid, if you ask me. Maybe if then and a bit later, people were willing to at least investigate some of the earlier possible victims, they might have figured out who he was a long time ago! Now back then, just like now, cities and towns officials like to ignore the possibility that they might have a serial killer, so I would imagine that back then that after the last believed victim, when nothing had happened for a long time, when there were similar murders, they would have ignored them or at least denied that they were done by JTR, because they just wanted it to be done! Murders like that isn't something any town or city wants to be known for. Now any earlier victims may have been left off the cops lists of victims so they don't look like they were ignoring them or that they were bad at their jobs, so back then they would have had a good reason, at least for them, to say they weren't JTR victims too. But what's disturbing is the people much later who argue that they weren't, all because it messes with what they believe to be true, somehow there being just these 5 known victims, makes it more special to them or something. Some like they idolize Jack The Ripper. Kinda reminds me of how people are about tv shows and people writing fanfiction that doesn't keep with what they say is canon or whatever. Like it's a fictitious story, and not real life!

Is there a good reason to believe it was the Ripper's work? It sounds like it could be his earlier work and there must be more. Serial killers don't just start at the top of their game.

One thing that stands out is, that at the hight of the attacks Uniform Police were everywhere and a small amount of CID. Some of the Ripper attacks were very soon discovered . Going to ground very quickly, and if seen by other locals, who knew every one they would raise an alarm to a stranger.Criminals need a bolt hole ASAP. In 2022 that would now be a car, push bike, train etc etc.

Difficult to say as there was obviously other violent types in the area,all we can say is it's possible..

It's a possible but what about sage? The man who turned his back for a few minutes. That's fishy.

She very well could have been. It’s more than likely that JTR began a lot earlier than the canonical five. When looking for earlier victims it’s wise to keep in mind that his M.O. may have been slightly different, and the victims may not have been prostitutes from the start, however they would most certainly have been female and, from Jack’s perspective, weak.

Why didn't they get a description of him?

Is there a feature film which captures the Victorian slums of the east end of London around 1880's with any degree of authenticity

Did Annie Millwood give any description of her attacker or anything he might've said or any motive he might've had?

It’s a pity there’s no mention of attempted strangulation pre stabbing it’s far more likely that this killer would have had attempts to perfect this technique rather than random stabbings and assumption based on the silence of the assaults not the mutilation

Makes me laugh that so many people become non violent cos Jack was perhaps - perhaps not about at this time - however he was he did not mess about.

It’s quite possible

Very interesting and quiet possibly an exploratory foray by the latter serial killer jack the ripper....

So she was in the right place. The attack was similar. Do we know what time the attack happened. Was she an unfortunate, like the other victims? It doesn’t seem right because the White Chapel killer strangled his victims first.

Great video ,,it is possible that she was a very early victim of the ripper,but violence was an every day occurance ,so we shall never know ,you should think about writing a book on the ripper ,,,

I think it's very possible. He had to start somewhere, just like other serial killers.

I think its quite possible, that she was an early victim

This attack with a knife by an assailant is very unusual, in this case that the upper body, neck , face was not the target area. Would this indicate a Woman Hater? and were there other similar attacks? No location, no description, and no details concerning the lead up to the attack? or was this just self seeking by the alleged victim.

Poor women.. Since these wounds upon her body and she was actually in the are where Jack the Ripper was unfortunately operating..it seems very likely that She was a victim too

It was that sort of an occupation, maybe it always has been. Women walking about offering 'services' for cash and willing to go into dark alleys etc. Many were probably not even considered to be people by those who preyed on them.

I don’t. But then I don’t think Liz stride was either. But what do I know 😃

Yes I do and George Hutchinson lived around the corner.

I think she Was. He had to start small

Who knows? It was so long ago. So much speculation. Interesting but really who cares what I or anybody else thinks? 😉

I think Jack the Ripper did do more tasks on women around 10 or 12 from the start of 1888 to the end of 1888 who was Jack???

Absolutely-prob more like 15+😎

Was Annie Millwood An Early Victim Of Jack The Ripper? i think so , yes

Sure sounds like a victim 🤔