Mary Kelly’s Right Thigh

Why did Mary Kelly’s killer mutilate her body so completely? Because the killer knew Mary. It was personal. Is there more that can be asked about the specific mutilations? Yes. One such area would be Kelly’s right thigh. Why did the killer put a focus on her right thigh?

As the photo reveals, the killer removed the flesh and muscle so that the right thighbone is visible. He then cut through or broke her thighbone in two. Her right leg was freed from her body. He could have positioned it however he wished. He chose to put a rolled-up blanket behind it and prop it up, giving it some prominence.

But why the focus on the right thigh? Because, similar to other acts he committed in her room, the killer was using events in his own life to “play” with what he did to Kelly’s body.

One such event is found in Van Gogh’s life, which relates to his mother falling off a train and breaking her right thighbone. Van Gogh was present when the doctor snapped her femur back into place. To his family’s surprise, he chose to care for his mother during her recovery.

Planning to kill Mary Kelly in her room, Vincent would have already fantasized about all he wanted to do to her body after he strangled her and cut her throat. And one of those fantasies was to represent on Kelly’s body what occurred with his mother. So, he made Kelly’s right thighbone visible and broke or cut it in two. Why do such a horrid act? For personal delight by tying together the two women. Power and control.

Vincent took this a step further when he decided later on what a thrill it would be to paint Mary Kelly as she was found on her bed. Of course, he couldn’t do that straight out. He had to hide it, and he did so in his Irises painting. Naturally, he had to include a representation for her skinned and snapped right thighbone.

The basic layout of Kelly’s body hidden in the Irises is highlighted. The right leg is then highlighted by itself. Where the right thigh is represented, Vincent allowed the yellow background to show through, acting as the exposed thighbone. He then divided it to show it was cut in two.

It’s very difficult to believe such insanity, but the truth of what serial killers do is often hard to comprehend. It just so happens this one is an artist, and he wanted the thrill of not only killing Mary Kelly but hiding what he did to her in a painting of Irises.

The devil is in the details.