INTRODUCTION
Peter Sutcliffe, the Yorkshire Ripper, first began his attacks with the Stone-In-Sock attack in
September 1969. His next confessed attack was in July 1975. Both the Byford and the Sampson
reports on the police handling of the investigation pointed to a failure of the police to link as being
possible Ripper victims attacks and murders which had similar factors and aspects as the Ripper
series. The attack on Marcella Claxton (which Sutcliffe confessed to after his arrest) and the attack
on Tracy Browne (which Sutcliffe confessed to in 1992) were two cases that were cited in the
reports.
The following list contains attacks and murders that were speculated at one time or another as being possible Yorkshire Ripper victims. Some were eliminated as victims within days of the attack, or shortly afterwards, due to forensic evidence and other factors. Other attacks and murders were speculated about after the arrest of Peter Sutcliffe, some eliminated through forensic evidence years later.
Further speculation about additional Yorkshire Ripper attacks came from Keith Hellawell, Chief Constable of West Yorkshire, when it was revealed in 1996 that he had examined 60 possible murders and attacks that were unsolved and could have been Ripper attacks. He culled these 60 attacks down to 20 which he believes may be the responsibility of Sutcliffe. Mr Hellawell said that the unsolved murders and attempted murders are linked by a number of factors, including similar descriptions, the use of a hammer as a weapon, and similar head injuries.
On December 7 1996, a programme called "Silent Victims: The Untold Story Of The Yorkshire Ripper" was broadcast. The programme detailed six attacks, the confessed Stone-in-sock attack in 1969, the attack on Gloria Wood in 1974, the attack on Tracy Browne in 1975 (Sutcliffe confessed to being responsible for this attack in 1992), the murder of Debra Schlesinger on April 21 1977, the attack in Ilkley (Yvonne Mysliwiec) in 1979, and the attack on a Leeds student (Maureen Lea) in October 1980. The attack on an Irish student, which Sutcliffe also confessed to in 1992, did not feature in the programme, other than a mention that he had confessed to the attack while showing a photograph of where the attack took place. Keith Hellawell was interviewed but did not give any details of the alleged murders or attempted murders that he is convinced are the Ripper's work.
Further information about attacks which might be the responsibility of Peter Sutcliffe became available in 2003 with the release of the book "Wicked Beyond Belief" by Michael Bilton. Included in the documents available to the author, were the unpublished sections of the Byford Report which examined attacks not included in the original investigation.
On February 3 2005, the Yorkshire Evening Post reported that after Peter Sutcliffe's arrest a list of 47 crimes that he could have been responsible for was drawn up by Ripper Squad detectives on an official TIC (taken into consideration) form. The cases reported in the newspaper as being on the list were the murder of Fred Craven, the attack on John Tomey, and the murder of an unidentified young woman, believed to be a prostitute, in Hemel Hempstead, Hertsfordshire (no date given for the murder, and which later proved to be an attempted murder, and the victim was not a prostitute).
On June 29 2015, Chris Clark and Tim Tate's book "Yorkshire Ripper: The Secret Murders" was published, and detailed many murders and attacks that they believed were Sutcliffe's responsibility. Many have already been detailed here, and no new information has been added to this website from their book on those attacks and murders (other than in two of the attempted murders where they had the day of the attack, rather than just the month and year that were listed here previously).
The murders and one attack that they detail in their book, that are not already on this website, are the following:
The murder of Lucy Tinslop, age 21, on August 4 1969, in Nottingham, Nottinghamshire.
The murder of Gloria Booth, 29, on June 13 1971, in South Ruislip, London.
The attack on Maria Burke, 22, on April 18 1972, in Hemel Hamstead, Hertfordshire.
The murder of Judith Roberts, 14, on June 7 1972, in Wiggington, Staffordshire.
The murder of Wendy Sewell, 32, on September 12 1973, in Bakewell, Derbyshire.
The murder of Rosina Hilliard, 24, on February 22 1974, in Leicester, Leicestershire.
The murder of Kay O'Connor, 37, on March 1 1974, in Colchester, Essex.
The murder of Caroline Allen, 17, on April 10 1974, from Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, body
found near Little Belvoir, Leicestershire.
The murder of Eve Stratford, 21, on March 18 1975, in Leytonstone, London.
The murder of Lynne Weedon, 16, on September 3 1975, in Hounslow, London.
The murder of Elizabeth Parravicini, 27, on September 9 1977, in Osterley, London.
The murder of Lynda Farrow, 29, on January 19 1979, in Woodford Green, London
The murder of Alison Morris, 25, on September 1 1979, in Ramsey, Essex (over two hundred miles away
and six and half hours before the murder of Barbara Leach).
The murder of Sally Shepherd, 24, on November 30 1979, in Peckham, London.
The murder of Patricia Morris, 14, on June 16 1980, in Hounslow Heath, London.
Of the above fifteen, six include strangulation as part of the method of attack. While Sutcliffe is known to have used a ligature only in 1980 in two of the final four attacks and murders he committed, it is not inconceivable that he may have used it in previous and so far unconnected attacks. However, it was definitely not his preferred method (attack with a hammer or blunt instrument) and seems unlikely to have been included in many, if any, other attacks, such as they detail (some without any blunt instrument included).
Without devling too deeply into the attacks themselves, by expanding and making more prominent strangulation in Sutcliffe's standard MO, bascially also means that other than shooting, it pretty much covers all methods of attack that sexual and/or serial killers use. Clark and Tate have also included at least two murders where the victim was tied up, something never seen in any of Sutcliffe's attacks and murders.
As well, all the above are definitely not in what could be called Sutcliffe's geographical location of known attacks. While Sutcliffe was very mobile both before and after becoming a lorry driver in 1975, and did spent some time visiting Sonia in London in 1971 and 1972, and did have relatives that he visited in the general area of some of the attacks, the book basically can only offer sheer speculation to place him in the area during the attacks. Besides the obvious problem of placing Sutcliffe anywhere near these murders, most, if not all, of the murders have various aspects that make them less likely to be Sutcliffe's responsibility, either witness statements, evidence, method of attack (or lack of Sutcliffe's known signature), remoteness of location, etc. While it is possible there may be some that are Sutcliffe's, generally, they all appear very unlikely.
Clark and Tate have also included Barbara Mayo (October 12 1970, see below) and the linked (unknown if DNA linked, as well) murder of Jacci Ansell-Lamb (March 8 1970, found near Mere, Cheshire, see Barbara Mayo entry below). There is a DNA fingerprint of the murderer of Barbara Mayo, and it is known that Sutcliffe has been included in the DNA National Database. There was an attempt to obtain DNA from at least one suspect in Canada after a sample from Sutcliffe was taken, and there have been further appeals to help solve these murders. It is obvious and logical that the DNA fingerprint of the murderer of Barbara Mayo (and possibly the murderer of Jacci Ansell-Lamb) is not Peter Sutcliffe.
As well, it is detailed in the book that in 2007 a DNA fingerprint of the murderer of Eve Stratford (March 18 1975, Leytonstone, London) was matched with the DNA fingerprint of the murderer of Lynne Weedon (September 3 1975, Hounslow, London). Yet again, it is obvious that the DNA fingerprint of the murderer does not match Peter Sutcliffe's DNA sample in the National Database. Again, there have been further appeals about the murders, the latest in April 2015 where a new reward was offered for information, so it cannot be said that they did match Sutcliffe and it is being covered up.
Even more interesting, as far as Clark and Tate including all of them in their book (and as Sutcliffe's responsibility), and not explained or discussed, is that there has been no DNA linkage between Barbara Mayo (and the murder of Jacci Ansell-Lamb) and the DNA fingerprint of the murderer of Eve Stratford and Lynne Weedon. Besides these murders not being Sutcliffe's, they are also not connected to each other, which means there were, besides Sutcliffe (and others that were known to be operating during that time period), at least two other sexual and/or serial murderers operating at the time, one of them being in the London area, where many of the murders took place that Clark and Tate detail in their book.
The following list is by no means a complete listing. Any speculation about the "Victim Status" is based only on what information (at times, very incomplete in details) I have been able to gather, and my own personal opinion about the viability of the victim being a possible Ripper victim.
The confessed Yorkshire Ripper victims have also been included as a point of reference.
![]() | FRED CRAVEN Date of attack: April 22 1966 Place of attack: Bradford Outcome: Murdered |
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![]() | JOHN TOMEY Date of attack: March 22 1967 Place of attack: Oxenhope Outcome: Survived |
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![]() | MARY JUDGE Date of attack: February 26 1968 Place of attack: Leeds Outcome: Murdered |
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![]() | STONE-IN-SOCK ATTACK Date of attack: September ?? 1969 Place of attack: Bradford Outcome: Survived Details Of Attack (opens new window) YORKSHIRE RIPPER VICTIM |
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![]() | BARBARA MAYO Date of attack: October 12 1970 Place of attack: Ault Hucknall, Derbyshire Outcome: Murdered |
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![]() | WAKEFIELD CLERK-TYPIST Date of attack: December 29 1972 Place of attack: Wakefield Outcome: Survived |
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![]() | GLORIA WOOD Date of attack: November 11 1974 Place of attack: Bradford Outcome: Survived |
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![]() | BARBARA MILLER Date of attack: March 1975 Place of attack: Bradford Outcome: Survived |
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![]() | ANNA ROGULSKYJ Date of attack: July 5 1975 Place of attack: Keighley Outcome: Survived Details Of Attack (opens new window) YORKSHIRE RIPPER VICTIM |
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![]() | RENEE McGOWAN Date of attack: July 23 1975 Place of attack: Bradford Outcome: Murdered |
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![]() | OLIVE SMELT Date of attack: August 15 1975 Place of attack: Halifax Outcome: Survived Details Of Attack (opens new window) YORKSHIRE RIPPER VICTIM |
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![]() | TRACY BROWNE Date of attack: August 27 1975 Place of attack: Silsden Outcome: Survived Details Of Attack (opens new window) YORKSHIRE RIPPER VICTIM |
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![]() | LESLEY MOLSEED Date of attack: October 5 1975 Place of attack: Rushwood Moor, Yorkshire Outcome: Murdered |
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![]() | WILMA McCANN Date of attack: October 30 1975 Place of attack: Leeds Outcome: Murdered Details Of Attack (opens new window) YORKSHIRE RIPPER VICTIM |
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![]() | JOAN HARRISON Date of attack: November 20 1975 Place of attack: Preston Outcome: Murdered Details Of Attack (opens new window) NOT A YORKSHIRE RIPPER VICTIM |
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![]() | ROSEMARY STEAD Date of attack: January 6 1976 Place of attack: Bradford Outcome: Survived |
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![]() | BARBARA & ALAN BOOTH Date of attack: January 7 1976 Place of attack: Leeds Outcome: Murdered |
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![]() | EMILY JACKSON Date of attack: January 20 1976 Place of attack: Leeds Outcome: Murdered Details Of Attack (opens new window) YORKSHIRE RIPPER VICTIM |
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![]() | MARCELLA CLAXTON Date of attack: May 9 1976 Place of attack: Leeds Outcome: Survived Details Of Attack (opens new window) YORKSHIRE RIPPER VICTIM |
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![]() | MAUREEN HOGAN Date of attack: August 29 1976 Place of attack: Bradford Outcome: Survived |
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![]() | BARBARA BREARLY Date of attack: October 1976 Place of attack: Doncaster Outcome: Survived |
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![]() | IRENE RICHARDSON Date of attack: February 5 1977 Place of attack: Leeds Outcome: Murdered Details Of Attack (opens new window) YORKSHIRE RIPPER VICTIM |
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![]() | BARBARA YOUNG Date of attack: March 22 1977 Place of attack: Doncaster Outcome: Murdered |
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![]() | DEBRA SCHLESINGER Date of attack: April 21 1977 Place of attack: Leeds Outcome: Murdered |
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![]() | PATRICIA ATKINSON Date of attack: April 23 1977 Place of attack: Bradford Outcome: Murdered Details Of Attack (opens new window) YORKSHIRE RIPPER VICTIM |
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![]() | JAYNE MacDONALD Date of attack: June 26 1977 Place of attack: Leeds Outcome: Murdered Details Of Attack (opens new window) YORKSHIRE RIPPER VICTIM |
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![]() | MAUREEN LONG Date of attack: July 10 1977 Place of attack: Bradford Outcome: Survived Details Of Attack (opens new window) YORKSHIRE RIPPER VICTIM |
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![]() | ANNA KENNY Date of attack: August 5 1977 Place of attack: Glasgow, Scotland Outcome: Murdered |
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![]() | MARY GREGSON Date of attack: August 30 1977 Place of attack: Shipley Outcome: Murdered |
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![]() | JEAN JORDAN Date of attack: October 1 1977 Place of attack: Manchester Outcome: Murdered Details Of Attack (opens new window) YORKSHIRE RIPPER VICTIM |
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![]() | HILDA MILLER (or McAULEY) Date of attack: October 1 1977 Place of attack: Glasgow, Scotland Outcome: Murdered |
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![]() | CAROL WILKINSON Date of attack: October 10 1977 Place of attack: Bradford Outcome: Murdered |
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![]() | BRADFORD SCHOOLGIRL Date of attack: Oct 11 1977 Place of attack: Bradford Outcome: Survived |
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![]() | AGNES COONEY Date of attack: December 2 1977 Place of attack: Glasgow, Scotland Outcome: Murdered |
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![]() | DONCASTER PROSTITUTE Date of attack: November/December 1977 Place of attack: Doncaster Outcome: Survived |
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![]() | MARILYN MOORE Date of attack: December 14 1977 Place of attack: Leeds Outcome: Survived Details Of Attack (opens new window) YORKSHIRE RIPPER VICTIM |
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![]() | YVONNE PEARSON Date of attack: January 21 1978 Place of attack: Bradford Outcome: Murdered Details Of Attack (opens new window) YORKSHIRE RIPPER VICTIM |
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![]() | HELEN RYTKA Date of attack: January 31 1978 Place of attack: Huddersfield Outcome: Murdered Details Of Attack (opens new window) YORKSHIRE RIPPER VICTIM |
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![]() | LEEDS SHOP ASSISTANT Date of attack: March 2 1978 Place of attack: Leeds Outcome: Survived |
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![]() | VERA MILLWARD Date of attack: May 16 1978 Place of attack: Manchester Outcome: Murdered Details Of Attack (opens new window) YORKSHIRE RIPPER VICTIM |
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![]() | MARY GALLACHER Date of attack: November 19 1978 Place of attack: Glasgow, Scotland Outcome: Murdered |
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![]() | BRADFORD ADDRESSOGRAPH OPERATOR Date of attack: November 28 1978 Place of attack: Bradford Outcome: Survived |
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![]() | HARROGATE STUDENT Date of attack: February 17 1979 Place of attack: Harrogate Outcome: Survived |
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![]() | ANN ROONEY Date of attack: March 2 1979 Place of attack: Horsforth, Leeds Outcome: Survived Details Of Attack (opens new window) YORKSHIRE RIPPER VICTIM |
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![]() | CAROL LANNEN Date of attack: March 20 1979 Place of attack: Dundee, Scotland Outcome: Murdered |
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![]() | JOSEPHINE WHITAKER Date of attack: April 4 1979 Place of attack: Halifax Outcome: Murdered Details Of Attack (opens new window) YORKSHIRE RIPPER VICTIM |
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![]() | MARION SPENCE Date of attack: June 10 1979 Place of attack: Leeds Outcome: Murdered |
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![]() | 21-YEAR-OLD DERBY WOMAN Date of attack: August 3 1979 Place of attack: Derby Outcome: Survived |
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![]() | BARBARA LEACH Date of attack: September 2 1979 Place of attack: Bradford Outcome: Murdered Details Of Attack (opens new window) YORKSHIRE RIPPER VICTIM |
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![]() | RUBY ZACHERT Date of attack: September 21 1979 Place of attack: Manchester Outcome: Murdered |
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![]() | YVONNE MYSLIWIEC Date of attack: October 11 1979 Place of attack: Ilkley Outcome: Survived |
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![]() | ELIZABETH McCABE Date of attack: February 11 1980 Place of attack: Dundee, Scotland Outcome: Murdered |
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![]() | MARGUERITE WALLS Date of attack: August 20 1980 Place of attack: Leeds Outcome: Murdered Details Of Attack (opens new window) YORKSHIRE RIPPER VICTIM |
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![]() | ANN MARIE HAROLD Date of attack: September 1980 Place of attack: Mexborough Outcome: Murdered |
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![]() | UPADHYA BANDARA Date of attack: September 24 1980 Place of attack: Leeds Outcome: Survived Details Of Attack (opens new window) YORKSHIRE RIPPER VICTIM |
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![]() | MAUREEN LEA Date of attack: October 25 1980 Place of attack: Leeds Outcome: Survived |
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![]() | THERESA SYKES Date of attack: November 5 1980 Place of attack: Huddersfield Outcome: Survived Details Of Attack (opens new window) YORKSHIRE RIPPER VICTIM |
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![]() | JACQUELINE HILL Date of attack: November 17 1980 Place of attack: Leeds Outcome: Murdered Details Of Attack (opens new window) YORKSHIRE RIPPER VICTIM |
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![]() | JEAN CLAY Date: December 10 1980 Place: Dewsbury Outcome: Accidental Death |
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