Unmasking the Blackout Ripper: The Chilling Crimes of Gordon Cummings

Gordon Cummins, infamously known as the "Blackout Ripper," was a notorious British serial killer active during World War II. In 1942, Cummins exploited London's wartime blackout conditions to brutally murder and mutilate four women over six days. His spree caused widespread panic. Cummins, a Royal Air Force serviceman, was apprehended after leaving behind incriminating evidence. His trial was swift, and he was found guilty, leading to his execution in June 1942. The gruesome nature of his crimes and the wartime setting added to the public's fear and fascination.
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[@AAMARTCLUB]

When I’m anxious or lonely I look to see if you’ve recorded another episode… your voice which is so melodious and clear, it gives me a pause for thought: my little stresses are nothing in the big scheme of things. Right then. Time to get comfy and listen to your latest gem! Bless you Paul. 👍

[@pimpozza]

What a lovely comment.. 👍

[@Kay_Jay_Pea]

Just wanted to comment to thank you for the sensitivity you have when covering crimes like these. Often times crimes involving victims who were sex workers are covered in a very disrespectful way, so thank you for treating them with the respect they deserve and not demeaning them for their profession.

[@addie_is_me]

I think the blitz covered for a bunch of killers. They did well to get this one and connect his various murders. Police investigation must have been a nightmare like everything else during those dark days. Thanks Paul and Co., you all did it again. ❤

[@CountryLifeEngland]

OMG There was so many. So many serial killers got away with it.

[@sokalbenoit]

I wanted to comment in the middle of your story and I'm glad I waited as you summed it up in the last sentence. It puts things into a different perspective when you realise that war, famine, drought and other horrible events do not make crimes to stop and absolutely don't make them less horrible. Thank you very much for another story, Paul 💙

[@Boo-dawg.]

*Famine *Drought Someone should have paid a LOT more attention in spelling class.

[@lisakendall-mcphee9694]

You are right. There was a detective series called Foyle's War, which was about crime during war time. It was very good.

[@sokalbenoit]

@@Boo-dawg. I am Polish, sorry for not meeting your high spelling standards... and I checked my comment again and it must have been corrected by autocorrect, as I wrote it the way you suggested. But I will remember not to offend you by my alleged incompetence...

[@sokalbenoit]

@@lisakendall-mcphee9694 thank you for bringing it up. I will definitely look it up.

[@JootjeJ]

​@@Boo-dawg. Wow! I'd love to see you try to write a comment in Polish - or any other language - and be even half as competent as the original commenter.

[@ecabe1793]

Another great story! I’ve always wondered how many serial killers used war to cover their crimes. Especially in the ages when serial killings were not connected, and often blamed on animals, monsters, werewolves etc.

[@PamelaFarmer]

When I saw the BBC series "Bletchley Circle" a few years ago, I thought the crimes were ridiculously gory. Turns out it was inspired by Gordon Cummins, and were very true to his dark deeds.

[@ThatDuckieMoment]

I've literally just watched bletchley circle. I had no idea it was based on a real story

[@janicesullivan8942]

Just when you think that something was too “gory” to have actually really happened…monsters like Gordon Cummins come along. Evil exists.

[@robynw6307]

What a great series. Wish they'd made more episodes.

[@keiththorpe9571]

Among your merch, you might include a T-shirt or a coffee/tea mug with the quote: "Right, then..." True fans will get it!

[@momcat2223]

OH - that's a tee shirt I'd wear!

[@keiththorpe9571]

@@momcat2223 when they come out with one, I'm totally getting one. 👍

[@milodemoray]

I'd love me a t-shirt with that on it.

[@fabulousgerro661]

Well, I never..

[@Richhhi]

Yes! I would definitely wear that t-shirt!

[@pimpozza]

What a gruesome war-time story! Evelyn appeared to have a red scarf tied around her neck! 🤦🏻‍♀️ Those poor women.. may they rest in peace! Thank you for another fascinating crime case, Paul.. you always know how to tell them and I appreciate all the hard work that goes into these videos.. 👍

[@willowhofmann7409]

You are very much appreciated from a small town in California.

[@rickjensen2717]

Greetings from a small town in Cornwall, UK.

[@kayevans2964]

Why have I not heard of this man before? 😳 A trusted British airman and a serial killer 😮 Great story Paul. Thank you!

[@vanessastenglein6810]

There are evil people everywhere, at all times and situations. LOVE your work Paul. You're lookin' good!

[@trishmcl9055]

Yes. Evil. Everywhere.

[@sameyers2670]

I wonder if he had committed any murders while he was posted in Cornwall. Thank you, this was interesting

[@jpendowski7503]

What great use of fingerprint evidence. And your story presentation is entrancing Paul. An excellent episode.

[@megpie404]

My great-grandpa was actually caught in the middle of an air raid in Centralish London with a not so legal truck full of butter. Yes, he worked on the black market during the war, mostly with food. He risked higher consequences with dealing in *illegal* food then say, illegal 🔫

[@bostonrailfan2427]

as a maker, as a thief, or just the middleman transporting it?

[@colindeer9657]

Dear Paul, thank you for yet another masterful crime oration. I just love your way of turning a story and a phrase. Superb. Cheers and many thanks for your kind works. ( are we really worthy )

[@leeannrogers4977]

I adore your narrations!!💕💕💕 The way you tell a story is captivating.. keeps one attentive and riveted to the very end!!!❤❤❤ Keep cracking on!!! Even the folks in Florida (such as myself) are on the edges of their seats!! Thank you so much, Paul!!!💗💗💗

[@fulanichild3138]

This is almost as bad as Jack the Ripper but I'd never heard of this case. Thanks for covering it.

[@Trebor74]

Jack only killed around 3 people.

[@catherinep2034]

​@@Trebor745 women.

[@jeanroe3428]

Another awesome story told so eloquently by my fave Mr. Brodie!! Thanks Paul 😊

[@jacktheripper13]

What a fascinating case, thannks for another great video Paul

[@natalieisham9679]

So interesting! Thank you, Paul. As a Kalamazoo, Michigan resident, I implore you to research the serial killers, Larry and Danny Ranes. Brothers who were operating as serial killers independently of one another. Might be the only case in the US!

[@mnicholl93]

@natalieisham9679 This story was covered by "The Crime Reel" channel 2 weeks ago. As a Kalamazoo, Michigan resident, you might be interested to learn that your surname, Isham, is a small village in Northamptonshire, in the East Midlands of the UK

[@andrewyoung2796]

Has he done michael collins?

[@pimpozza]

​@@mnicholl93 Crimey did a great job covering that case.. 👍

[@pooddescrewch8718]

Maybe , sadly

[@SmilerORocker]

Feck!! Saw the headline popup and thought it was gonna be about my sons paternal family. Gave me a start. It's not... but one day it might. Its a crazy sad world sometimes. Stay safe all x

[@laurieb3703]

Ermmm.... Maybe you should have a chat with police? 👀

[@darthbauer5153]

@@laurieb3703I think the commenter was implying a story from the distant past considering the content usually covered on this channel. Granted I may be wrong and the poster may have expected a more recent story. That was my take away though.

[@susannahhunt100]

Very intriguing, will you tell us more about your family?

[@susannahhunt100]

@@laurieb3703 Exactly, but I would like to know more.

[@TheBusterMan]

Read about this years ago, but didn't realise the violence involved in this case. Good video. Keep up the good work.

[@ann7882]

❤ Best dressed man! Great story. You take care Paul! 💕♥️💕♥️💕♥️💕

[@rblad739]

I could listen to Paul Brodie for hours

[@mariannehay4209]

As if the horrors of war weren’t enough! So hard to imagine.

[@bettyfeliciano7322]

What a horrible man ! I’m glad he was caught. Thank you for sharing. Blessings always my friend! ❤️🙏😊

[@WillPrimo]

Lots of use of the word “mutilated” stood out to me. Terrible things that happened to those women. So sad.

[@emmajulian8716]

Mr brodie come on sir your spoiling me your videos are so fascinating and informative thank you so much for another fantastic video

[@kevinmott6205]

Wow what was his pathology......grisly to the core😮. Thanks for your work Paul....❤

[@dancingdingo]

My man! I love your work 😍 I have a "naughty" confession to make😮 I make a playlist of your uploads and play it when I go to 😴 and I end up with the weirdest dreams. Keep up the awesome work. 😊 This will be replayed on this evening's list. You have such a lovely relaxing voice.

[@moniquetheobald889]

Lovely channel, love your style and presentation so classy, this guy was a terrible psycho, he used the war to cover it, terrifying for these ladies, no matter how hard it was they were surviving the best they could, how many evil others did what he did? Thank you as always for your superb presentation.

[@arrowsf11973]

a well spoken and calming voice a wonderful story telling, thank you

[@Onyxmoon44]

My favourite channel, you deserve triple the subscribers at least! Much loves ❤

[@whiteonggoy7009]

So much hardship during those times from our enemy and still evil lurked our streets from those we thought was there to protect us.

[@dianamdevlin828]

Oh Mr. Brodie, mahalo once again for your channel and stories! Your storytelling and commentaries are a work of art. I wish I could talk just like you my friend, my family and do-workers would lose their minds lol. God bless and do take care - right then ~ warmest aloha Diana

[@michaelsinger4638]

War time is actually a really opportune time for a serial killer to operate.

[@thebooknitter]

How well narrated and done as always Paul. Love to listen to these tales from the past and how much work to put into them. Gruesome tale and i am glad it was caught even in the darkest times of the war

[@JacquelineDeigan]

Thank you. I had never heard of this and found it very interesting

[@deniseleplatt1616]

Excellent as always. Thank you Paul

[@FMNelly]

Thank you for another great story

[@tillyg8858]

Can't 😢 trust anyone, no matter how they look. Thank you for sharing.

[@mamasinger49]

Just subscribed after seeing your video, you have a wonderful voice and great way of telling the stories of these poor women. Going to check out your other videos too.

[@jodiebishop766]

Thanks Paul for another story.

[@anneg8162]

Magnificent storyteller. Great story.

[@PinkyJujubean]

I just love your channel. You're like the cool wise old grandpa that everyone wishes they had 🩷

[@EnticinglyDeadly]

Thanks for the useful information Paul.

[@LostwaveObsession]

Well, I never... have heard of this case. Thank you.

[@fay-amieaspen6046]

Thanks Paul, I really enjoyed this video, a case I've not previously come across. You've done a great job 👏 👍 XXXX.

[@MarilynKarr-f9n]

Very interesting story. Amazing that "we" don't think this would happen during a war. I appreciate that you told it.

[@Charlotte66666]

Fantastic content as always, thank you Paul 😊

[@TammyKuchta]

I love listening to your videos! Thank you for sharing. 😊

[@davidhuddleston3127]

I’ve been looking forward to your next video and it didn’t disappoint ,superbly narrated as always 👍

[@kalilaaltobi7435]

Another great Storie thank you.

[@AnnacolleenEtters]

Always a pleasure, my friend!

[@johnLee-qm7pm]

Another fantastic video. Thank you for entertaining us in these doom and glooming times 👍

[@susannahhunt100]

Not for long G.E. in July.

[@thurayya8905]

Thank you for another outstanding video ⚜️.

[@ladysaffire4006]

Terrifying what humans are capable of 😥

[@bostonrailfan2427]

considering what the madman was doing in Germany and Poland to people in camps and what Japan was doing for years in China it’s not a surprise

[@Ms.HarmonyJ]

Paul, you and your team demonstrate remarkable skills and dedication. I encourage you to continue your exceptional work. It is evident that human behavior remains consistent, as individuals persist in pursuing their desires regardless of prevailing circumstances.

[@amyc7528]

I had never heard of him. Thanks, Paul! Keep up the good work.

[@RegHoldsworth-ri7hh]

Yer channels a bit of a gem. Keep them coming. Thx

[@gailmaree7719]

Another very interesting report. Thank you for sharing.

[@263Adder]

Another great video! They covered these murders in the second season of the Bad Women podcast too, also a good listen.

[@deemecklin4864]

Another riveting story!! Thank you so much! I always look forward to your videos!

[@artfuldetective7447]

Good grief! Gordon really was begging to be caught leaving so much evidence behind at every crime scene. Thank you for sharing! Never heard of the Blackout Ripper before.

[@NanaBren]

Hi Paul, a disturbing story indeed. He looked so normal that the women never suspected a thing until it was too late. His psychopathy was evident as he went farther each time with his torture and mutilation of his victims. Thank God he was caught because he was escalating his behavior. I hadn’t heard of him before. Thanks to you and your team for bringing this story forward. ❤

[@valkyriehutton4556]

Looking forward to read about Gordon Cummins' dark deeds that you can't share on KZbin. Thanks for the story.

[@ekstadropsen]

I first came across this story on the podcast Bad Women, it's a truly grusomme story and yet there are so many other stories that aren't as well know but equally terrible.

[@momcat2223]

Have followed true crime channels for years, but this fellow is completely new to me. :::shudder::: What a frenetic and demonic presence Cummins was! "...sinister monsters in the shadows" indeed. Has anyone ever theorized what caused him to commit such heinous acts = PTSD, childhood trauma, multiple concussions, etc.?

[@kellydalstok8900]

My guess is that he was a psychopath. My uncle was a fighter pilot and he was fearless. As a young man during WW2 he was put to work in Germany, but he escaped. After the war he joined the air force and was sent to Indonesia to fight. After his stint in Indonesia he voluntarily went to fight in New Guinea, though he told his wife the army ordered him to go there. During his training as a pilot back home, he once flew very low over the street where his parents (my grandparents) lived. Although he was punished for this, I think he still found it funny. Years later, when I was a child, during family gatherings he would often pull his much younger sister in law or my oldest cousin on his lap. In hindsight I find this very inappropriate behaviour. What I want to say with my anecdote is, that in my experience the forces attract psychopaths, because they are fearless and are not too concerned with the results of their actions. Luckily my uncle had no criminal tendencies, he was brought up to be a law abiding citizen by my very honest grandparents.

[@NanaBren]

I’m sorry. I’m finding it hard to feel sympathy for this gruesome murderer. He picked his victim, lured them to a secure place and tortured each one in horrific ways before killing them. I don’t really give a damn about his childhood trauma or PTSD. He became a psychopathic murderer. His evil destroyed many lives and would have continued had he not been caught. He is worse than Jack the Ripper. The women thought he was a nice, clean cut man. The trouble with psychopaths is that they look just like everyone else. 😢

[@Estoverax]

I googled RAF wedding belt - I thought it was some kind of lovely tradition when people became betrothed while working in the forces 😂

[@mazcats66silver34]

I think it's a webbing belt as opposed to leather..Lol🙂

[@gailmaree7719]

Yes lol webbing belt.

[@emilyr3451]

@Estoverax. I was thinking something along those lines as well... 😂 💒

[@bostonrailfan2427]

…reading what you said i did the same!

[@thegreencat9947]

To me it sounds like a strong drink before saying " I do".😁🥃🍻🍸🍷🍹

[@boosqueezy2418]

excellent channel !

[@Theturtleowl]

It is so strange to hear that this reminded people of the Jack the Ripper murders, 50 years ago. There were people alive who remembered the murders in Whitechapel.

[@TheFinalBathAmber]

I am so enjoying your videos

[@cadillacdeville5828]

You're awesome 👍🏾 thank you as always

[@JJW77]

Well, I never thought that it took such good detective work to caught the killer...

[@nicolad8822]

He certainly seems to have had something against women. He married in 1936, but in 1939 his wife was described as “incapacitated” and was living in Northamptonshire. Maybe a temporary thing, she did live until age 98, she never remarried. This spree killing involving mainly sex workers is a bit reminiscent of the more recent era Ipswich murders.

[@Karlito77751]

❤fascinating story teller luv from Liverpool

[@pocho689]

And from British Columbia, Canada 🇨🇦 16:20

[@irishmammy6002]

Can I ask how it was ascertained the first victim had £80 in her pocketbook?

[@franken-pattern]

I watch many of your episodes, but this one I had to ingest in parts because its such a gruesome installment. 😮 A very intriguing case! Thank you, Paul!

[@karenmcdonald7801]

Always a treat to see a new WIN.

[@ThikChikBritt]

PROUD FAN OF PAUL WHO HAS SEEN EVERY VIDEO!

[@WellINever]

Thank you so much, Britt. Your support is really appreciated 😊

[@bostonrailfan2427]

listening to you is like listening to stories told by an uncle or grandpa: interesting, sometimes bonkers, yet riveting tales that should be told 😎

[@janethammond5925]

I'm surprised that Cummins isn't better known, considering that his crimes were on a par with the Ripper murders, but perhaps they were overshadowed by the war, and the blitz specifically. It's horrible to think that men like Cummins use the war as a cover for their crimes. And what woman wouldn't trust a serving airforce officer? At least amid all the chaos he was caught...🙏

[@doctorarb]

I need the music name for this episode! It's so good for writing inspiration!

[@Erik_Swiger]

@ 14:25 Jehoshaphat. Looking at that picture, and being told that he's an executioner, I am seriously creeped out. Real Nosferatu vibe there. lol

[@throow]

I once read a book about serial killer that was using hurricanes as cover and pretending to be a hurricane hunter. It was fiction, but imagine that.

[@lauracleveland6195]

I have to stop watching your videos at night!

[@ailsasublett9885]

The combination of a horrible story and your lovely voice is quite addictive.

[@AnnaAnna-uc2ff]

Thank you.

[@rubyslippers9611]

Well, I never.................................................

[@cindysmith6612]

Thank you very much ❤

[@Down_the_Wind]

My wife calls me the Blackout Ripper after hitting the baked beans a bit too hard earlier that day.

[@annabanana8700]

You have to feel bad for Mr. Jouette too! Not only did he have to live with his wife being a prostitute and finding her dead and horribly mutilated, he probably was also a suspect for a time as well💔

[@GrandmaLoves2Scuba]

I've never heard of this case. Wonder why...

[@thegreencat9947]

" In the mist of chaos, there is also opportunity "

[@brianedwards7142]

He was "nice looking". I wouldn't have thought he was a mad killer based just on his photo.

[@donnadunlop7853]

Thankyou Paul 🖤 🖤

[@Richhhi]

I just ordered my “Dueling Nuns” t-shirt.

[@susannahhunt100]

Not heard of him before. Many people around at the time make out that the War was such fun. My Great, Great Grandmother was a young girl of 8 during Jack The Rippers killig spree and apparently she lay in bed at night petrified.

[@markstothard630]

What a shocking story and one I hadn't been aware of before...the enemy within. Also shocking to hear how many married women were forced into sex work at the time...such a shame that the social safety nets, which are now simply taken for granted, were not in place back then, or perhaps I'm being a little naive, maybe that's never changed....maybe that's still the case.

[@shereenmorrison9660]

There's a very good series on radio 4 called " bad women, the black out ripper" diffently worth listening too.