Mary Ann Nichols, also known as 'Polly,' was the first of Jack the Ripper's confirmed victims, whose murder on the last day of August 1888 marked the start of a series of grisly killings in London's Whitechapel district. Born in 1845, Nichols had experienced a challenging life filled with periods of poverty and instability. Leading up to that fateful night, she was known to have been living in a lodging house but had left on a brief outing. Witnesses reported having seen her in the hours prior to her murder, further complicating the timeline of events leading to her death.

The discovery of Nichols' body by a cart driver at about 3:40 AM in Buck's Row sent shockwaves throughout the neighborhood. Her throat had been deeply slashed, and her body bore severe abdominal mutilations. This violent crime was particularly alarming to a community already grappling with social issues such as poverty and crime. The police quickly began an investigation, interviewing potential witnesses and suspects; however, the brutal and seemingly random nature of the murder left them with few leads.

The method and violence of the murder were indicators of a serial killer at work, a terrifying thought that gripped Whitechapel. The initials 'JTR' began to circulate in the press as speculation mounted around the identity of the perpetrator. As the months progressed, more women fell victim, all sharing similar horrific fates, reinforcing the fear that gripped not only the local populace but also a wider international audience. This incident catalyzed media frenzy around 'Jack the Ripper' and contributed significantly to the mythology surrounding the unsolved case.