Jeffrey Dahmer: All About the Infamous Serial Killer the “Milwaukee Cannibal” Who Killed 17 Men and Boys

Jeffrey Dahmer, also known as the “Milwaukee Cannibal” and the “Milwaukee Monster,” remains one of the most notorious figures in criminal history. His gruesome killing spree from 1978 to 1991 shocked the world, leaving behind a trail of devastated families and a community forever impacted by his horrific acts. Dahmer was convicted of murdering 17 young men and boys, many of whom were subjected to unspeakable horrors, including necrophilia and cannibalism. His crimes captured the public’s attention, making him a subject of fascination, fear, and disbelief.

But how did a young man, seemingly ordinary at first glance, become one of the most infamous serial killers in modern history? From his early years in Ohio to his brutal killing spree in Milwaukee and his eventual death in prison, Dahmer’s life was filled with tragedy, twisted desires, and chilling moments that raised questions about how someone could become capable of such evil.

Early Life: The Making of a Killer

Born on May 21, 1960, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Jeffrey Lionel Dahmer was the first child of Lionel and Joyce Dahmer. The family moved to Ohio in 1966, where Jeffrey spent much of his childhood. Though his early life appeared typical, Dahmer struggled with various personal issues. He was described as a shy, introverted child, often withdrawing from social activities. As a young boy, he exhibited early signs of troubling behaviour, including an obsession with dissecting animals, a habit that would later manifest in his later crimes.

High School Years

Jeffrey Dahmer when he was younger.
Source: Paramount Plus

Dahmer’s high school years were marked by increasing isolation and a growing sense of alienation. Despite his struggles with academics and relationships, he graduated from Revere High School in 1978. That same year, Dahmer committed his first murder, a pivotal moment in his life that would lead him down the dark path of serial killings. He lured 18-year-old hitchhiker Steven Hicks to his home, where he bludgeoned him to death and dismembered his body. Dahmer later admitted that his first murder fulfilled a long-held fantasy.

Military Service and Struggles with Addiction

After high school, Dahmer briefly enlisted in the U.S. Army, where he served for nearly two years before being discharged in 1981 due to his alcoholism. His time in the Army was marked by personal struggles, including his worsening drinking problem. Despite these issues, Dahmer continued to attempt to live a “normal” life, moving to Milwaukee in 1982, where he would commit his most infamous murders.

The Milwaukee Murders: Dahmer’s Reign of Terror

From 1987 to 1991, Dahmer’s killing spree escalated in the city of Milwaukee, where he targeted young men and boys, often luring them to his apartment with promises of money or modelling opportunities. Once at his apartment, Dahmer would drug, strangle, and dismember his victims. Some of the bodies were preserved, with Dahmer keeping body parts as macabre trophies. His brutal methods were characterized by necrophilia and, disturbingly, cannibalism in some cases.

Dahmer’s killing spree finally ended in 1991 when Tracy Edwards, one of his intended victims, managed to escape and alert the police. Inside Dahmer’s apartment, officers discovered a horrifying scene: photographs of dismembered bodies, human skulls, and other remains. The evidence led to Dahmer’s arrest, and he quickly confessed to the murders, sparking an international media frenzy.

Trial and Conviction

American serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer flanked by his attorneys during a preliminary hearing in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, August 22, 1991.
Photo: Allan Y. Scott/AP/Shutterstock

In 1992, Dahmer was convicted of 15 counts of murder and sentenced to 15 consecutive life terms in prison. His trial and confession revealed the full extent of his depravity, as Dahmer admitted to committing horrific acts against his victims, including dismemberment and cannibalism. His chilling lack of remorse added to his infamy, with many questioning his motivations and mental state.

Dahmer’s Death in Prison

On November 28, 1994, just two years into his prison sentence, Dahmer’s life came to an end brutally and ironically. Fellow inmate Christopher Scarver murdered him at Columbia Correctional Institution in Portage, Wisconsin. Scarver, who had reportedly been disgusted by Dahmer’s behaviour, including his attempts to mock the other prisoners by pretending to be an inmate, attacked him with a metal bar. At the same time, the two were assigned to clean a gym bathroom. Dahmer was later found with severe head wounds and died an hour after the attack.

The Aftermath of Dahmer’s Crimes

The aftermath of Dahmer’s crimes continues to haunt the families of his victims. Many have spoken out about the pain and suffering caused by Dahmer’s actions, which have been the subject of numerous documentaries, books, and films. Despite his death, the name “Jeffrey Dahmer” remains synonymous with true crime, and his life has become a disturbing cautionary tale.

What Happened to Jeffrey Dahmer’s Remains?

After Dahmer’s death, his body was cremated, as per his wishes. However, there was a public dispute over his ashes between his parents, Lionel and Joyce. Ultimately, Lionel Dahmer took responsibility for scattering his son’s ashes in a field near his home in Seville, Ohio. Dahmer’s remains are not buried in a family plot, as both of his parents opted to cremate him.

The Cultural Legacy of Jeffrey Dahmer

Jeffrey Dahmer and Evan Peters.
Photo: Eugene Garcia/AFP via Getty, Courtesy Of Netflix, via People

In recent years, interest in Dahmer has surged, particularly with the release of the Netflix series Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story, which dramatized his life and crimes. While the series, starring Evan Peters as Dahmer, garnered attention for its portrayal of his chilling murders, it also sparked controversy. Some victims’ families criticized the show for retraumatizing them and sensationalizing Dahmer’s crimes for entertainment value.

Despite the mixed reactions to these portrayals, the fascination with Dahmer and his crimes persists. His case remains one of the most studied in criminal psychology, raising questions about human behaviour, the capacity for evil, and the systems that failed to stop him.

FAQs

What was Jeffrey Dahmer’s first murder? Dahmer’s first victim was 18-year-old Steven Hicks, whom he killed in 1978. He lured Hicks to his home, where he bludgeoned him to death and later dismembered his body.

How did Jeffrey Dahmer die? Dahmer was murdered by fellow inmate Christopher Scarver in 1994 while serving a life sentence at Columbia Correctional Institution in Wisconsin.

How many victims did Jeffrey Dahmer have? Dahmer was convicted of 15 murders, though he confessed to 17 killings in total.

Where is Jeffrey Dahmer buried? Dahmer was cremated, and his ashes were divided between his parents. His remains were scattered in a field by his father.

What was Jeffrey Dahmer’s childhood like? Dahmer had a difficult childhood marked by isolation and strange behaviour, including his early fascination with dead animals. His parents’ divorce and his subsequent move to Milwaukee were pivotal in his downward spiral.

Did Jeffrey Dahmer express remorse for his crimes? During his trial, Dahmer expressed remorse, saying he understood the hatred directed at him by the families of his victims and admitting that he had created a “holocaust” by straying from God.