Peter William Sutcliffe, also known as Peter Coonan, was a notorious British serial killer, convicted of murdering thirteen women and attempting to murder seven others between 1975 and 1980.
He was dubbed the “Yorkshire Ripper” by the press, evoking a chilling resemblance to the notorious Victorian serial killer Jack the Ripper.
Sutcliffe’s crimes were brutal and extremely barbaric.
He mainly targeted prostitutes in Yorkshire, often using a hammer or screwdriver to beat and mutilate his victims.
The killings sowed fear and anguish throughout the community, and the police investigation was criticized for being ineffective and failing to catch the killer for years.
File
- Full name: Peter William Sutcliffe
- Stage name: Peter Sutcliffe
- Date of birth: June 2, 1946
- Date of death: November 13, 2020
- Age: 74 years old
- Place of birth: Bingley, West Riding of Yorkshire, England.
- Nationality: British
- Occupation: Serial Killer
- Height: 1.73 m
- Parents: John William Sutcliffe and Kathleen Frances
- Siblings: Carl Sutcliffe, Mick Sutcliffe, Anne Sumner, Maureen Sutcliffe and Jean Sutcliffe.
- Spouse: Sonia Sutcliffe (married 1974–1994)
- Children: Unknown
- Relationship: Divorced
- Net worth: Unknown
Early life and education
Peter William Sutcliffe was born on 2 June 1946 in Bingley, West Riding of Yorkshire, England. He was born into a working-class family, the son of John William Sutcliffe (1922–2004) and Kathleen Frances Coonan (1919–1978). He had several siblings – Carl Sutcliffe, Mick Sutcliffe, Anne Sumner, Maureen Sutcliffe and Jean Sutcliffe.
Sutcliffe’s education needed improvement. He left school at the age of 15 to go to work instead of pursuing further education. Although his mother was Irish, Peter Sutcliffe was born and raised in England and is therefore English. His father was also English. Sutcliffe was a Catholic.
Career
Peter Sutcliffe grew up in a working-class family in West Yorkshire. He had a troubled childhood, was bullied and struggled at school. After leaving school, Sutcliffe worked a variety of jobs including gravedigger and lorry driver. It was while working as a lorry driver that he committed most of his attacks.
Between 1975 and 1980, Sutcliffe murdered thirteen women and attempted to murder seven others in the Yorkshire area. His victims were mainly prostitutes, and his attacks were characterised by extreme violence, often involving the use of a hammer or knife.
The crimes caused widespread fear and panic across the area, and police struggled to identify the killer, who was dubbed the “Yorkshire Ripper” by the media.
Sutcliffe was finally arrested in January 1981. After a lengthy trial, he was convicted of 13 counts of murder and seven counts of attempted murder and sentenced to life in prison.
The investigation into the Yorkshire Ripper has been criticised for its handling, including the diversion of police resources by a hoax letter claiming the killer was from the south of England. The case remains a subject of public interest, with numerous books, documentaries and films exploring the crimes and their impact on the region.
Social media
Peter Sutcliffe does not have any active social media accounts.
Personal life
Peter Sutcliffe’s relationship with his wife, Sonia Szurma, was a complex and deeply troubled one, deeply shaped by his horrific crimes. They met in 1966 and married in 1974, but Sonia remained unaware of her husband’s true identity as the infamous “Yorkshire Ripper”.
Throughout Sutcliffe’s trial, Sonia stood by him, steadfastly supporting her husband despite mounting evidence of his guilt. However, the pressure of the revelations and public scrutiny eventually became too much, and the couple divorced in 1994, despite never having children together.
Sutcliffe, who was convicted of murdering 13 women and attempting to kill seven others, died on November 13, 2020, aged 74, after serving a life sentence.
His relationship with Sonia Szurma, marked by profound betrayal and the devastation of crime, is a tragic testament to the human capacity for unspeakable love and violence.
Net worth
“The Yorkshire Ripper, Peter Sutcliffe,” had no significant net worth. His crimes and subsequent incarceration prevented him from accumulating wealth, and his incarceration could result in significant legal costs.
