WARNING: Graphic Images
“Madam, we the women of East London feel horror at the dreadful sins that have been lately committed in our midst.”
–Petition to Queen Victoria by 4000 impoverished women of Whitechapel
In fear for their lives, the women of London’s Whitechapel petitioned Queen Victoria for relief when Jack the Ripper was at large [1][2]. The Ripper is known to have murdered 5 women, but the exact number of his victims is uncertain [3]. These women were all characterized as prostitutes, though they may simply have been destitute women.
Serial Killings
Despite his infamy, Jack the Ripper was not the first serial killer of women. Nor will he be the last. The savagery of such attacks will not be addressed here.
There are, however, men who have no compassion for women — whether they ever become serial killers or not. They do not recognize women as human beings, and feel entitled to use and degrade them. A few celebrity predators come to mind, though fame is not a prerequisite.
Sex Trafficking
Worldwide, of course, there are sex traffickers who exploit women by force, fraud, and coercion for their own financial gain. Drugs are commonly employed to secure control over women in the sex trade.
Rape by Proxy
Dominique Pelicot, aged 71, went a step further. Pelicot was recently convicted in France of repeatedly drugging Gisele (his wife of 50 years), then recruiting 50 different men to rape her over a 10 year period [4A]. The men (who, themselves, ranged in age from 26 to 68) were likewise convicted, though some claim they believed they were taking part in an erotic game [5].
Pelicot took thousands of videos of these men abusing his unconscious wife. Though she was asleep during the assaults, Gisele Pelicot suffered large gaps in memory, hair and weight loss, as side effects of the drugs her husband was surreptitiously administering to her [4B]. She feared she was developing Alzheimer’s Disease or a brain tumor.
Pelicot testified that he “loved” Gisele, and was distraught when he learned she was having an affair. This statement is suspect as self-serving. In any case, the revenge he took was vicious.
Apparently as an explanation for his behavior, Pelicot stated he had been abused by a male nurse as a boy [4C]. As an adult, Pelicot became acquainted with another male nurse who suggested he drug his wife. Pelicot claimed to have continued with the heinous behavior for so long because he became addicted to it [4D].
Pelicot is, also, accused of having drugged and sexually abused his daughter Caroline. Semi-nude photographs of Caroline were found on his computer [4E].
The mass rape trial has ignited a national dialog about rape and consent. Gisele Pelicot, a grandmother who waived her right to anonymity, has become a symbol of courage and resilience [6].
Dreadful Sins
“Be sure of this: The wicked will not go unpunished, but those who are righteous will go free” (Prov. 11: 21).
Murder, sex trafficking, and rape are not only ruthless crimes. They are sins, violations of God’s law. As such, they come with eternal penalties. Jack the Ripper was never identified. But he and those like him will not escape punishment. And the consequences for them will be dreadful.
—
[1] PBS, “Lucy Worsley Investigates: Jack the Ripper”, Series 2, Episode 1 of 4, https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m0025ntd.
[2] Wikipedia, “Jack the Ripper”, https://en.wikipedia.org/.
[3] Jack the Ripper Tour, “Jack the Ripper Victims”, https://www.jack-the-ripper-tour.com/the-victims/#:~:text=It%20isn%27t%20known%20for,the%20hands%20of%20the%20ripper.
[4A through 4E] BBC, “’I am a rapist’, admits husband in French mass rape trial” by Laura Gozzi, 9/17/24, https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cx2kdd3n7yqo.
[5] CBS, “Gisele Pelicot’s ex-husband, dozens of others found guilty in rape and drugging trial in France” by Haley Ott, 12/19/24, https://www.cbsnews.com/news/gisele-pelicot-france-husband-dozens-of-men-found-guilty-rape-trial/.
[6] BBC, “Women moved by defiant Gisèle Pelicot in France mass rape trial” by Marianne Baisnee and Laura Gozzi, 9/13/24, https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cvg5g24rr6lo.
FOR MORE OF MY ARTICLES ON POVERTY, POLITICS, AND MATTERS OF CONSCIENCE CHECK OUT MY BLOG A LAWYER’S PRAYERS AT: https://alawyersprayers.com
A Voice Reclaimed, Surviving Child Abuse and More 
😲
I do agree that all the crimes you mentioned are indeed dreadful, and yet we are oddly fascinated by true crime stories.
I think that fascination stems from the satisfaction we get on resolution of the crime. The culprit is caught and punished. Justice is served.
It is God who put that desire for justice in our hearts. Justice in this world, of course, is rarely perfect. But we know that in the next world it will be.
Good point!
The depths of evil that man is capable of never ceases to confound my senses. For such a “man” as this husband, he has sold his soul to the devil, and for that he will reap the rewards of his vile deeds. Indeed, why “men” believe they are somehow superior or above women is beyond my understanding. Are we not all made in God’s image?
I cannot find it within me to feel anything but contempt for such a person who would treat his wife with such contempt, and whether or not he has any redeeming qualities I will leave to God.
One thing I am sure of however, is that unrepentant sins of any magnitude will damn our souls to Hell when we enter eternity. How much more for such a person as those you have written about?
This is the kind of crime that knocks the breath out of one, the kind of crime for which there really is no adequate punishment on earth. But there will be punishment in the hereafter. There is no doubt of that.
Yes, while many love to say that God is love (and of course, He is), they pull back when you say that He is also a God of righteous judgment.
Great post Anna.
I always found it hard to grasp why so many are filled with lust and perversion.. Many willing partners can be found, yet they find pleasure in taking by force from the unwilling and innocent..
I believe God will judge them more harshly than a judge who takes pity on those claiming mental illness or sexual addiction..
Always wonderful to hear from you, Mary!
God knows man’s heart, which is sadly corrupt. God can understand motive and mitigating factors far better than we can.
I, like you, cannot understand the motivation behind rape (especially when innocence is taken, as from children).
God created the sexual urge to support procreation and as a bond between men and women in the context of marriage. Rape, by contrast, is the result of a destructive urge. It is about violence, power, and control.
I hadn’t heard about Pelicot also abusing his daughter, but not surprised. What’s really shocking is the number of men who went along with what he did to his wife.
I agree that Pelicot’s accomplices were, by no means, innocent parties.
Unbelievable and unthinkable, but how many more heinous crimes against women and children remain unknown?
You are so right, Dolly.
I read too that of all the men who encountered the website during the ten years Pelicot was posting his “invitation,” one man (one!) declined to take part. But he did not report Pelicot’s activities to the authorities. Was his crime as heinous? Maybe not. But morally, just as reprehensible. I was outraged at the slight sentences the men were all given.
Shocking account of abuse and betrayal. They get away with these things for so long too but there is always exposure and justice in the end.
‘For nothing is secret, that shall not be made manifest; neither any thing hid, that shall not be known and come abroad.’
Luke 8:17-19
Pingback: Dreadful Sins – QuietMomentsWithGod
What deeply disturbs me is how perpetrators often exploit the vulnerabilities of their victims to their advantage. Jack the Ripper, for instance, preyed on destitute women who were in desperate need of money.
Personally, I dislike the very idea of wielding power over others, even in something as trivial as being a customer to a waiter—I have always loathed using any position of advantage, even within my own family (my parental one).
As for Pelicot, I am at a complete loss for words. And that’s coming from someone who often relies on cold, emotionless calculations in life.
What also deeply disturbs me is how many horrors exist that I—and hopefully most people—can’t even begin to imagine. This only reinforces the need for the psychologically sound majority to stay vigilant and offer support. And let’s not forget: looking away or choosing cowardice in the face of such crimes is just as heinous and inexcusable.
It is a great encouragement to know that there are honorable men like you in the world, Hubert.
I hesitate to write about some of these crimes in part because I do not wish to overlook such men as yourself. I have been blessed to know many.
Men of integrity are the pillars of society, exemplars to their families. But they do not receive much credit. God, of course, sees and will reward their efforts.
Meanwhile, as you say, we must all stand up for the truth. For evil never rests.
Thank you, Anna, for your kind words. I truly believe—and sincerely hope—that men and women of honor are the norm, with anything else bein an exception. To me, and hopefully to the vast majority of people, basic decency and compassion are non-negotiable fundamentals. Without them, the world would be a far more difficult place to live in.
It brings me great joy to see my children beginning to embody these values—sometimes even reminding and nudging me to uohold them more diligently.
It is a pleasure to know you, Hubert.
😔💜
While human kind has achieved wonderful things we cannot erase the record of terrible deeds
First, thank you for providing a light into a subject often not talked about. The heinous actions of Pelicot need to be exposed to humanity at large in order to draw attention to these horrid crimes, for human evil is often (in my small opinion) patched over with new mundane titles in order to hide the festering horror often swept under the rug. Also, I breathed a sigh of satisfaction at seeing your citations. Amazing. Again, in small my small opinion, citations are sorely lacking from many blogs.
Thank you so much. I agree that too often we ignore evil. We grow accustomed to it, rationalize it.
This is a broken world. So there will never be perfect justice. But we must all protect the vulnerable.
That is not to suggest that we become vigilantes. It is to say that we must be aware of the world around us, and willing to take a stand for what is right.