The River Thames Torso Murders

1966: The Thames Torso

One of the most grizzly sets of murders involving the River Thames is the
series of unsolved murders that took place between 1887 and 1889. There
were four incidents that occurred over the years, happening while the
infamous Jack the Ripper was active, but are believed to be committed by
another serial killer. The cases have been documented as the Rainham
Mystery, the Whitehall Mystery, the murder of Elizabeth Jackson, and the
Pinchin Street Torso Murder. Overall, the body parts of four female victims
were discovered scattered along the Thames. Only one victim was ever
identified.

It began in 1887 with the Rainham mystery. Workers came across a female
torso in the River Thames, and within the next two months, various other body
parts were discovered. Then in 1888, the dismembered remains of another
woman were found at three different sites. Elizabeth Jackson’s torso was
found in the Thames on June 4, 1889, while more body parts were discovered
later that week. A final female torso was found in September of 1889,
suggesting this to be the work of a serial killer. However, to this day, no one
has solved any of the cases.