Haley Gustafson | Daily Press American Ripper Pic3: At left, Co-host of the History Channel show, “American Ripper,” Jeff Mudgett, along with Escanaba resident and close friend, Tracy Warning, right, meet with some of Mudgett’s fans during a visit to Book World in Escanaba Friday afternoon.

ESCANABA — The co-host of the History Channel thriller “American Ripper” was at Book World in Escanaba Friday afternoon for a meet and greet with local fans of the show.

Jeff Mudgett, who recently wrapped up shooting the first season of his television show, talked with fans about the series, which discusses the theory that America’s first serial killer, Herman Webster Mudgett (who went under the alias H.H. Holmes) was in fact also Jack the Ripper.

Escanaba resident and friend of Mudgett’s, Tracy Warning, brought Mudgett to Escanaba while he was visiting friends in the area. Warning said she first met Mudgett at a paranormal conference in Sault Sainte Marie, Mich., and wanted to know more about Mudgett and his story.

Over the past five years, Warning said she and Mudgett have kept in contact and have become great friends. During his time in the U.P., Warning said she wants to take Mudgett to see the landscape of the Upper Peninsula, including Kitch-iti-kipi, a natural spring located Schoolcraft County. Mudgett said he also hopes to kayak while here.

Mudgett is also the great-great-grandson of H.H. Holmes. Mudgett found out this troubled part of his family history from his grandfather when he was 40-years-old.

“There is no doubt in my mind that H.H Holmes is Jack the Ripper,” said Mudgett, adding that if Holmes were to stand trial today, there would be enough evidence to point him as the Ripper.

Upon finding out, Mudgett thrust himself into researching the mass murderer in an attempt to discover “what was true and what wasn’t.”

Over the past 20 years, Mudgett said he has devoted his life to researching Holmes.

H.H. Holmes, born Herman Webster Mudgett in 1861, is considered America’s first serial killer. Holmes admitted to murdering 27 people, but the total number of lives he took is still unknown. The mass murderer is most famous for his creation of what has been dubbed “The Murder Castle” in Chicago, Ill, explained Mudgett. The castle housed a factory of death, which included gas chambers, trap doors, dissection room and more.

At around the same time as Holmes, Jack the Ripper was terrorizing the streets of London, England.

During the course of Mudgett’s research, Mudgett noted he has reason to believe his great-great-grandfather was also responsible for the Ripper killings. Mudgett added that the goal of the show is to help his theory “evolve through the evidence.”

According to Mudgett, the show took off after he did an interview over the radio. After hearing the talk, producers at the History Channel approached Mudgett about possibly doing a television series.

Mudgett, along with his co-host, Amaryllis Fox, have delved deep into the story of H.H Holmes, looking into his childhood and reasons for his killings. Fox is an ex-CIA operative, who Mudgett describes as the “real Scully” a character from the television series “The X-Files.”

One of the most terrifying things Mudgett discovered about Holmes was hearing the story of how he murdered a young boy.

“I can’t imagine how it was to premeditate the murder of an 8-year-old boy,” said Mudgett.

In his new book, “Blood Stains,” Mudgett explores H.H Holmes even deeper, talking about what it was like to discover this part of his family’s ancestry and why he believes Holmes could be Jack the Ripper.

Even though it is a tough subject to discuss, Mudgett said he hopes that his journey in discovering the truth will help the descendants of the families who have suffered from Holmes’ and the Ripper’s terror.

“It’s more than any other suspect in history has against them,” said Mudgett of the evidence he has against Holmes.

For more information about Mudgett and the television series, visit his website at www.bloodstainsthebook.com.