Jack the Ripper was the name signed to a letter to London's Central News Agency, which was reputedly sent by a serial killer active in the Whitechapel area in 1888. There is disagreement on whether the letter was a hoax. Jack the Ripper soon came into general use to designate the single person widely believed responsible for at least five murders of prostitutes at that time. The identity of the killer, other murders that person may have committed, the competence of the police investigation, and other aspects of the case are still matters of debate. Thus, there are as many Jack the Ripper characters as their are writers with theories about his or her identity, which is a great many indeed!