Database: Mary Jane Kelly

Mary Jane Kelly (c. 1863 - 9 November 1888), also known as Marie Jeanette Kelly, "Fair Emma", "Ginger" and "Black Mary", is widely believed to be the fifth and final victim of the notorious unidentified serial killer Jack the Ripper. She was about 25 years old at the time of her death.

She was born in Limerick, Ireland but we do not know if that refers to the county or the town. On arriving in London, Kelly went to work in a high class brothel in the West End.

In early September 1888 when her man Barnett lost his job, Mary Jane returned to the streets. Barnett decided to leave her.

At around 2am on the day of her murder, a witness claimed to have seen Mary Jane Kelly cross Commercial Street and turn down Dorset Street with a powerfully-built man wearing a high hat and a dark trench coat, but he wore some kind of covering over his face. Kelly and the man stopped outside Miller's Court and talked for a bit. Kelly is heard to say "All right, my dear. Come along. You will be comfortable." The couple then heads down Miller's Court. she was never seen alive again.

Mary Kelly was murdered and mutilated sometime between 2 and 10:45 am when John McCarthy, owner of Miller's Court, sent Thomas Bowyer to collect past due rent money from Mary Kelly.

None who entered the room that day would ever forget the horror of what Jack the Ripper had done to Mary Jane Kelly.