Ep 3. Whitechapel Runs Red

In American Ripper season 1 episode 3, titled "Whitechapel Runs Red," the investigation into the possibility of H.H. Holmes being Jack the Ripper continues. The episode focuses on the similarities between the two killers' methods, and the discovery of a potential link to Whitechapel in London.

The episode begins with Jeff Mudgett, H.H. Holmes' great-great-grandson, traveling to London to investigate the possibility that Holmes was in Whitechapel at the time of the Jack the Ripper murders. He meets with a historian who shows him evidence that Holmes had a business associate who lived in Whitechapel and who was known to have traveled there frequently. The historian also points out that the Whitechapel murders stopped around the same time that Holmes returned to the United States.

Back in the U.S., investigators continue to examine the evidence gathered from the exhumation of Holmes' body. They discover that one of the teeth found in his grave has a marker that indicates it was from a root canal, a procedure that was not commonly done at the time. This leads them to believe that Holmes may have been a victim of early dental forensics, which were used to identify the body of one of Jack the Ripper's victims. If true, this would provide a possible link between the two killers.

The team also looks into the similarities between the two killers' methods. They discover that both Holmes and Jack the Ripper used similar surgical tools and techniques. They also find evidence that suggests that Holmes may have used chloroform on his victims, a substance that was also found in the body of one of Jack the Ripper's victims.

As the investigation continues, the team brings in a forensic handwriting analyst to examine letters that were attributed to both Holmes and Jack the Ripper. The analyst finds a number of similarities between the two individuals' handwriting, including the shape of certain letters and the way they used punctuation.

Finally, the episode culminates in a visit to Union Station in Chicago, which was built by Holmes. Here, Jeff Mudgett discovers evidence that suggests that Holmes may have used the station as a base of operations for his criminal activities. This evidence includes a hidden basement, which was likely used for storing bodies, as well as a nearby location where a number of women were known to have disappeared during Holmes' time in Chicago.

Overall, American Ripper season 1 episode 3 provides further evidence to support the theory that H.H. Holmes and Jack the Ripper were the same person. The episode is filled with historical and forensic analysis, as well as interviews with experts and investigators who are trying to solve one of the biggest mysteries in criminal history.