A couple’a weeks back, I provided a book review of BLOODSTAINS by author Jeff Mudgett. This particular Mudgett claims to be the great-great-grandson of one Herman Mudgett, aka H.H. Holmes, one of this country’s first (and worst) serial killers. If Mudgett the junior’s tale is to be believed, he had to struggle for his own soul as the ghost of his evil ancestor tried to possess him, infecting him with a brain tumor and confessing to him that he, Holmes, was in fact Jack the Ripper. It’s an outrageous story, but there are just enough points where established fact lines up with Mudgett’s narrative to make it disconcerting. Could it be true?
Did the decision to recently disinter Holmes’ body have anything to do with Mudgett’s book? Doubtless, although this article fails to mention it. Rumors existed to the effect that Holmes had faked his death and escaped long before Jeff Mudgett’s book came out, however, and the established descendents of the infamous murderer–there are those who cast doubt upon Jeff Mudgett’s claims to be a relative–are ready to see the whole thing laid to rest once and for all. We should know before too long if the guy buried in the concrete (as per Holmes’ request) is really Holmes. But if it ISN’T Holmes, who is it? And what became of the man? Might the evil ghost described by Jeff Mudgett really exist?