Wilma McCann
Wilma McCann was the first victim of Peter Sutcliffe. On October 30, 1975, this 28-year-old mother-of-four from Scott Hall in Leeds was brutally attacked and murdered just 100 yards away from her own home. Sutcliffe used a hammer and stabbed her 15 times in the chest, neck, and abdomen. Recently, Wilma’s son, Richard McCann, applauded ITV’s decision to drop the label ‘Yorkshire Ripper’ from the upcoming drama series, as it only serves to traumatize the families of the victims.
Emily Jackson
Emily Jackson, Sutcliffe’s second victim, was a 42-year-old woman from Morley in Leeds. She worked part-time as a sex worker to support her struggling family. On January 20, 1976, Sutcliffe picked her up outside the Gaiety pub and lured her into his car. He viciously attacked her with a hammer and stabbed her 52 times in the neck, breasts, lower abdomen, and back. Emily’s son, Neil Jackson, affectionately describes his mother as a ‘wonderful’ woman who would always share her last sweet.
Irene Richardson
Aged 28, Irene Richardson was Sutcliffe’s third victim. She worked as a sex worker in Chapeltown, Leeds. In a shocking twist, it was discovered in 2012 that Irene was the biological mother of Geoff Beattie, a man who had been adopted. Born into a large Glaswegian family with six siblings, Irene’s life was tragically cut short on February 5, 1977, when Sutcliffe bludgeoned her to death with a hammer in Roundhay Park.
Patricia Atkinson
Patricia Atkinson, also known as ‘Tina,’ was a 32-year-old sex worker from Manningham, Bradford. On April 24, 1977, she was killed inside her own flat. Sutcliffe lured her into his car after a night of drinking and brutally attacked her with a claw hammer, leaving her with multiple head injuries. He also stabbed her six times in the stomach and attempted to stab her in the back. Patricia’s body was discovered the next day by a friend.
Jayne McDonald
Jayne McDonald, just 16 years old at the time, became another victim of Peter Sutcliffe. She worked as a shop assistant and was on her way home from a night out dancing when she was attacked and killed on June 26, 1977. Sutcliffe stalked her, using a hammer and a knife in the brutal assault. Jayne’s body was found at a playground in Chapeltown, Leeds. Her tragic death made national headlines as she was the first victim who was not a known sex worker, highlighting Sutcliffe’s indiscriminate targeting of women.
Jean Jordan
Jean Jordan, a 20-year-old sex worker from Manchester, was Sutcliffe’s sixth victim. On October 1, 1977, he offered her a lift after giving her a £5 note. Sadly, Jean would not return home. Her husband, Alan Royle, believes that Jean’s encounter with Sutcliffe outside a shop, where he provided her with change and a lift, sealed her fate. Jean’s body was found later, and Royle expressed his belief that the police unfairly labeled her a prostitute despite their relationship and the love they shared.
Yvonne Pearson
Yvonne Pearson, a 21-year-old prostitute from Leeds, was murdered by Peter Sutcliffe on January 21, 1978, in Bradford. Yvonne was a mother of two young children who were being cared for by a neighbor at the time. Sutcliffe beat her to death with a hammer, then stuffed her mouth with horsehair from an old sofa before concealing her body under the sofa near Lumb Lane. Sadly, her remains would not be discovered until March 26, 1978.
Helen Rytka
Helen Rytka, an 18-year-old sex worker, became Sutcliffe’s eighth victim. She was killed on January 31, 1978, just two weeks after Yvonne Pearson’s murder. Sutcliffe struck her on the head multiple times as she exited his vehicle, then stripped her and stabbed her in the chest. Helen’s body was discovered at the location where the murder took place, under railway arches in Garrards timberyard. Her twin sister, Rita, had also recently started working as a sex worker, highlighting the vulnerability of these young women.
Vera Millward
Vera Millward, a 40-year-old mother of seven from Manchester, was killed on May 16, 1978. Sutcliffe attacked her, striking her head and stabbing her before leaving her body in Manchester Royal Infirmary’s car park. Vera’s health had been poor, with multiple surgeries and only one lung. On the night of her murder, she left home to buy cigarettes, and her body was discovered the next morning by hospital workers.
Josephine Whitaker
Josephine Whitaker, the tenth victim of Peter Sutcliffe, was just 19 years old when she was killed on April 4, 1979. As Josephine walked home from her grandparents’ house, she encountered Sutcliffe, who attacked her mercilessly. The details of her tragic fate are too disturbing to mention here.
These are just a few of the women whose lives were tragically taken by Peter Sutcliffe during his reign of terror. Each victim had a story, dreams, and loved ones who mourned their untimely loss. Let us remember these women not as mere statistics but as individuals whose lives were cut short by a ruthless killer.
Denial of responsibility! Vigour Times is an automatic aggregator of Global media. In each content, the hyperlink to the primary source is specified. All trademarks belong to their rightful owners, and all materials to their authors. For any complaint, please reach us at – [email protected]. We will take necessary action within 24 hours.
