Portrait of a Killer: Jack the Ripper-Case Closed

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July 20, 2026

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Portrait of a Killer: Jack the Ripper—Case Closed is a 2002 non-fiction book by American crime writer Patricia Cornwell. In this work, Cornwell controversially identifies the artist Walter Sickert as the infamous serial killer known as Jack the Ripper.

Jack the Ripper was an unidentified murderer who killed at least five women in London's Whitechapel district between August and November 1888. The victims' throats were cut, and their bodies were often mutilated, suggesting the killer had anatomical knowledge. Despite extensive efforts, the killer was never apprehended, making it one of England's most famous unsolved crimes. Cornwell's investigation, detailed in her book, uses forensic analysis to support her theory about Sickert's guilt.123

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Patricia Cornwell
…a work of nonfiction (Portrait of a Killer: Jack the Ripper—Case Closed, 2002). The latter book controversially posits the artist Walter Sickert as the fiendish killer.
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…a work of nonfiction (Portrait of a Killer: Jack the Ripper—Case Closed, 2002). The latter book controversially posits the artist Walter Sickert as the fiendish killer.
Read More