Jeffrey Dahmer Age, Death, Family, Biography & More

Some Lesser Known Facts About Jeffrey Dahmer

• Jeffrey Dahmer, an American serial killer and sex offender, committed the heinous acts of murdering seventeen men and boys from 1978 to 1991. His crimes included engaging in necrophilia, cannibalism, and preserving body parts of his victims. In 1991, he was arrested and later sentenced to life imprisonment. However, on November 28, 1994, while incarcerated at Columbia Correctional Institution in Portage, Wisconsin, Dahmer was fatally assaulted by another inmate named Christopher Scarver.

• According to the book A Father’s Story by Lionel Dahmer, it is stated that Jeffrey Dahmer was a joyful and content child. However, his mother, Joyce, was often anxious and easily annoyed, frequently getting into arguments with Lionel and their neighbors. In 1960, there is a photograph that captures Lionel Dahmer with his newborn son, Jeffrey Dahmer.

• After Jeffrey’s fourth birthday, he was diagnosed with a double hernia. Lionel noticed that Jeffrey’s behavior changed significantly and he became unusually calm following his surgery for the double hernia.

• When Jeffrey was only four years old, Lionel became aware of a putrid smell emanating from beneath their house on Pammel Court. Intrigued, Lionel embarked on a quest to locate the source of this unbearable odor. To his surprise, he stumbled upon a substantial accumulation of bones beneath their dwelling. This marked the initial occasion when Lionel observed Dahmer’s peculiar fascination and delight in the presence of deceased creatures and the eerie sound produced by their bones. Subsequently, Jeffrey’s fixation shifted towards playing with these bones, comparing them to the game of “fiddlesticks.” From that moment on, Jeffrey sporadically engaged in searches for bones in and around their family home. He even ventured into dissecting live animals to unravel the whereabouts of their skeletal structures.

• After starting first grade, Lionel became occupied with his university studies while Jeffrey’s hypochondriac mother, Joyce, began experiencing depression. Joyce demanded Lionel’s constant attention and began spending more time in bed. At one point, she even tried to take her own life by using Equanil, an anxiety-reducing medication. As a result, both Lionel and Joyce were unable to dedicate much time to their son. Looking back in his confession years later, Jeffrey remembered feeling uncertain about the stability of his family during his childhood. He witnessed frequent arguments and intense tension between his parents.

• In October 1966, the family relocated to Doylestown, Ohio. Just two months later, in December 1966, Joyce welcomed her second son into the world. By May 1968, they had settled in Bath Township, Summit County, Ohio. Their new residence was surrounded by one and a half acres of woodland, with a small hut conveniently located nearby. Following his double hernia surgery, Dahmer’s spirits plummeted, and his withdrawal only intensified with the arrival of his younger brother and the family’s frequent moves.

• During his childhood in Bath Township, Jeffrey dedicated his free time to gathering sizable insects like dragonflies and moths, as well as the skeletons of small creatures such as chipmunks and squirrels. He would carefully conserve the animal remains in formaldehyde-filled jars. Lionel, Jeffrey’s father, viewed these peculiar activities as a result of scientific curiosity, and he instructed his son on the proper techniques for bleaching and preserving animal bones. Gradually, Jeffrey expanded his collection to include deceased animals, including those found on the roadside. He would meticulously dissect them and bury them near his hut, occasionally adorning makeshift crosses with their skulls.

• Dahmer came to understand his homosexuality upon reaching puberty.

• At the tender age of 14, he had already embarked on a journey of consuming not just beer, but also hard liquor during the daytime. To keep his secret safe, he would cleverly stash his alcoholic beverages within the confines of his school jacket.

• During his mid-teens, he started daydreaming about having dominion over and exerting control on a fully submissive male companion. Over time, these fantasies gradually evolved and became entangled with his passion for dissection.

• Dahmer was initially quiet during his first year in school, but he eventually transformed into a mischievous prankster, earning a reputation for his antics, commonly referred to as “Doing a Dahmer.” These pranks involved mimicking seizures or cerebral palsy in exchange for money, which he later spent on alcohol. In 1978, a photo was captured at Revere High School in Ohio, displaying Jeffrey Dahmer on the left side, accompanied by an unidentified fellow classmate.

• Dahmer had a busy year in 1978, marked by significant milestones such as graduating from high school in May, committing his first murder in June, and witnessing his parents’ divorce in July.

• Three weeks passed after his graduation, and Dahmer committed his first murder. On 18 June 1978, Dahmer encountered a hitchhiker named Steven Mark Hicks and convinced him to come to his house for a few beers. A photograph captures Steven Hicks, who unfortunately became Jeffrey Dahmer’s first victim. They spent the next few hours talking, drinking, and listening to music. However, when Hicks expressed his desire to leave, Dahmer suddenly attacked him with a 10-pound dumbbell. Tragically, Dahmer proceeded to strangle Hicks with the bar of the dumbbell, resulting in his premature death. Following this horrific act, Dahmer removed Hicks’ clothes and, disturbingly, engaged in a sexual act while standing over the lifeless body. The next day, Dahmer took Hicks’ body to the basement, where he dissected it before burying the remains in his backyard. After a few weeks, he dug up the remains and meticulously separated the flesh from the bones. Using acid, he dissolved the flesh and disposed of it through the toilet, while the bones were crushed with a sledgehammer.

• In September 1977, Lionel made a shocking discovery – Joyce had been involved in a short-lived affair. This revelation led them to the decision of filing for a divorce. In early 1978, Lionel packed his things and moved out of the house. As spring rolled around, Joyce and David decided to leave the family home and reside with their relatives in Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin. Meanwhile, Dahmer, having recently turned 18, chose to stay behind in the family home.

• On July 24, 1978, the divorce was officially concluded, granting custody of Jeffrey’s younger brother, David, to Joyce. Simultaneously, Lionel tied the knot with Shari in that very year.

• After Hicks’ murder, Dahmer’s father and his fiancée came back home six weeks later and decided to enroll Dahmer at Ohio State University (OSU), with hopes of him pursuing a business major. Nevertheless, his continuous alcohol addiction and declining grades eventually forced him to withdraw from OSU.

• In January 1979, at the insistence of his father, Dahmer enlisted in the United States Army. Following his basic training at Fort McClellan in Anniston, Alabama, he underwent specialized medical training at Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio, Texas. On July 13, 1979, he was deployed to Baumholder in West Germany, where he served as a combat medic in the 2nd Battalion, 68th Armored Regiment, 8th Infantry Division. During his time in the military, he frequently engaged in heavy drinking. One incident of disobedience led to his entire platoon being punished, resulting in Dahmer being severely beaten by his fellow recruits. Eventually, in March 1981, he was deemed unfit for military service and honorably discharged. His debriefing occurred at Fort Jackson, South Carolina, and he was given a plane ticket to travel anywhere within the country.

• Following his debriefing, he made the decision to seek solace in Miami Beach, Florida rather than confronting his father at home. Settling into a modest motel room, he found employment at a local deli. Unfortunately, his reckless spending on alcohol resulted in his eviction from the motel due to unpaid rent.

• After returning to Ohio, he took up residence with his father and took on household chores while searching for employment. However, on 7 October 1981, Dahmer found himself in trouble with the law when he was arrested for public intoxication and disorderly conduct in Wisconsin. In an inappropriate act, he exposed himself in front of a crowd. As a result, in December 1981, his father and stepmother made the decision to send him to live with his grandmother in West Allis, Wisconsin. Surprisingly, it was only his grandmother who received any affection from Dahmer. Despite the hope that a change of environment and her influence would lead him to stop drinking, find a job, and adopt a responsible lifestyle, Dahmer continued to drink alcohol and smoke while staying with his grandmother. Finally, in early 1982, he was able to secure a job as a phlebotomist at the Milwaukee Blood Plasma Center. Unfortunately, his employment there came to an end after just 10 months. Subsequently, Dahmer remained unemployed for over two years.

• Dahmer was apprehended for indecent exposure on the southern side of the Coliseum at Wisconsin State Fair Park on 8 August 1982. This incident occurred shortly before he was terminated from his employment.

• Following his dismissal from the Milwaukee Blood Plasma Center, he relied solely on the financial support provided by his grandmother. However, in January 1985, Dahmer managed to secure employment on the night shift as a mixer at the Milwaukee Ambrosia Chocolate Factory.

• While seated at the West Allis Public Library, Dahmer was approached by a man who made a proposition. Although Dahmer chose not to acknowledge the suggestive gestures, this encounter served as a reminder of the control and dominance fantasies he had during his teenage years.

• After a while, he began frequenting local establishments catering to the gay community, such as gay bars and bathhouses. There, he would secretly administer sleeping pills to his partners before engaging in various sexual activities. When questioned after his arrest, he admitted feeling annoyed when his partners moved during their encounters. He confessed, “I trained myself to view people solely as objects of pleasure, rather than recognizing their humanity.” As a result, he would offer them drinks infused with sedatives, waiting patiently for them to fall asleep. Following approximately 12 similar incidents, the management of the bathhouses decided to revoke Dahmer’s membership.

• Afterwards, he started utilizing hotel rooms for the same purpose. By persuading doctors that he needed the sleeping pills to adapt to his night shift at the chocolate factory, he ensured he had a sufficient stock of them.

• Dahmer’s arrest occurred on September 8, 1986, for engaging in lewd and lascivious behavior by masturbating in front of two 12-year-old boys near Kinnickinnic River. Following his arrest, on March 10, 1987, he received a one-year probation sentence and was mandated to undergo counseling.

• Dahmer resided with his grandmother in West Allis at the time he committed his second murder. One evening, he met a man named Steven Tuomi, who was 25 years old, at a bar. Dahmer convinced Tuomi to accompany him back to the Ambassador Hotel in Milwaukee, where they spent the night. The next morning, Dahmer woke up to discover that Tuomi had died. Tuomi’s chest exhibited severe bruising and appeared to be crushed. Dahmer admitted during his confession that he did not plan to kill Tuomi. His original intention was to drug Tuomi and lay beside him to explore his body. To transport the body back to his grandmother’s place, Dahmer purchased a large suitcase. Afterward, he dismembered Tuomi’s body for easier disposal, while keeping the severed head. Dahmer boiled the head in a mixture of Soilax to preserve the skull, which he initially used as a sexual aid. Eventually, the bleaching process made the skull too fragile, leading Dahmer to dispose of it.

• Following Tuomi’s murder, Dahmer relinquished control over his murderous urges. Shortly thereafter, approximately two months later, he targeted his next victim, a 14-year-old Native American male prostitute named James Doxtator. Dahmer enticed Doxtator to his residence by promising him $50 in exchange for posing for nude photographs.

• Following Doxtator, Dahmer proceeded to murder Richard Guerrero, a 22-year-old man who identified as bisexual, outside a popular gay establishment known as The Phoenix.

• He relocated from his grandmother’s residence to a one-bedroom apartment at 808 North 24th Street in September 1988.

• After a span of two days, he was taken into custody for the offense of administering drugs and engaging in inappropriate sexual contact with a 13-year-old boy. This incident occurred when he deceitfully invited the young boy to his residence, under the false pretense of conducting a nude photoshoot.

• Anthony Sears, a 24-year-old model of mixed race, became Dahmer’s fifth victim following their encounter at a gay bar on March 25, 1989. Disturbingly, Sears was the first victim whose head and genitalia Dahmer chose to preserve in acetone, marking a significant departure from his previous actions.

• Dahmer received his sentence on May 23, 1989, which included five years of probation and one year in the House of Correction. He was granted work release during his time in custody. Additionally, he was mandated to register as a sex offender.

• Dahmer relocated to Apartment 213, situated at 924 North 25th Street, on May 14, 1990. As he settled in, he brought along Sears’ preserved head and genitals.

• Dahmer set his sights on Raymond Smith, a 32-year-old male prostitute, just one week after settling into his new apartment. Throughout that year, he proceeded to take the lives of Edward Smith, Ernest Miller, and David Thomas as well.

• Following Thomas’ murder, Dahmer refrained from committing any further murders for nearly five months. However, during the period from October 1990 to February 1991, he made nearly five unsuccessful endeavors to entice men to his apartment.

• In February 1991, at a bus stop close to Marquette University, Dahmer encountered Curtis Straughter, a 17-year-old, who unfortunately became his next victim.

• Errol Lindsey, a 19-year-old heterosexual boy, was killed by him on 7 April 1991.

• Together with Lindsey, Dahmer embarked on a fresh experiment involving his victims. He would perforate their skulls and administer hydrochloric acid in an attempt to establish a lasting, obedient state that was impervious to resistance. Despite its lethal outcomes, he persisted with this method.

• Sopa Princewill, the building manager of Oxford Apartments, received numerous complaints from fellow residents regarding the intolerable odours emanating from Dahmer’s apartment. Additionally, residents expressed concern over the recurring sounds of objects falling and chainsaws. Initially, Dahmer attributed the foul smells to a malfunctioning freezer and spoiled contents. However, he later claimed that the odour was due to his deceased tropical fish and assured that he would address the issue.

• Nearly caught, he was responsible for the death of a 14-year-old named Konerak Sinthasomphone, whom he had picked up on May 26, 1991, from Wisconsin Avenue. Sinthasomphone, a member of the Lao community, was enticed into the killer’s apartment under false pretenses of money and nude photographs. Once there, he was drugged into unconsciousness and subjected to a horrifying procedure involving the drilling of a hole in his skull and the injection of hydrochloric acid into his frontal lobe. After drinking several beers and falling asleep next to the victim, the murderer left his apartment to continue drinking at a bar and buy more alcohol.<br><br>In the early morning hours of May 27, Dahmer returned to his apartment only to discover Sinthasomphone sitting naked on the corner of 25th and State, accompanied by three distressed young women. The victim was speaking incoherently in Lao. Dahmer unsuccessfully attempted to lead Sinthasomphone back to his apartment, claiming to the women that he was a friend. However, they saw through his lies and refused to believe him. Concerned for the victim’s safety, the women called 9-1-1 and stayed with Sinthasomphone until the police arrived.<br><br>Deceiving the authorities, Dahmer convinced them that Sinthasomphone was his 19-year-old boyfriend who had consumed too much alcohol after a disagreement. Despite the women’s efforts to show the police evidence of the victim’s injuries, including blood on his testicles and rectal bleeding from previous struggles with Dahmer, the police disregarded their concerns and returned Sinthasomphone to the killer’s apartment. Dahmer further manipulated the situation by presenting two semi-nude Polaroid pictures he had taken of the victim the previous night as proof of their relationship. Once the police departed, Dahmer administered another fatal dose of hydrochloric acid to Sinthasomphone’s brain.

• In addition to the victims mentioned above, Tony Anthony Hughes, Jeremiah Benjamin Weinberger, Matt Turner, Oliver Lacy, and Joseph Bradehoft are also included in the list.

• From 1978 to 1991, Dahmer took the lives of seventeen young men. Out of these victims, twelve met their tragic fate at Dahmer’s North 25th Street apartment. Three others were brutally killed and dismembered at his grandmother’s residence in West Allis. The first and second victims, however, were murdered at his parents’ home in Ohio and the Ambassador Hotel in Milwaukee, respectively. Here is a collection of photographs showcasing the individuals who fell victim to Jeffrey Dahmer.

• Tracy Edwards, a 32-year-old man, played a crucial role in the capture of Dahmer. On July 22, 1991, Dahmer offered $100 to a group of men, including Edwards, to go to his apartment and pose for nude pictures. Edwards agreed and went with him. While in the apartment, Dahmer handcuffed Edwards and threatened him with a knife. Edwards managed to calm Dahmer down and convinced him to remove the handcuffs and put away the knife. Dahmer then rested his head on Edwards’ chest, listening to his heartbeat while still holding the knife and expressing his desire to eat his heart. Edwards spent several hours ensuring Dahmer wouldn’t attack, pretending to be his friend. However, he secretly planned to escape at the first opportunity either by jumping out the window or running through the unlocked front door. When Dahmer momentarily left the room to use the bathroom, Edwards punched him and fled out the front door. He found two police officers and explained what had happened, but their keys didn’t fit the handcuffs. Edwards had to accompany them back to Dahmer’s apartment, where the key to the handcuffs was found. During the search, the officers discovered disturbing Polaroid pictures of dismembered human bodies. Dahmer resisted arrest but was eventually subdued.

• During a thorough search of the apartment, authorities made shocking discoveries. On the bottom shelf of the refrigerator, they found a freshly severed head of a black male. In Dahmer’s bedroom closet, they uncovered a collection of seven skulls, some painted and others bleached. Additional gruesome items included two human hearts, a pair of severed hands, two preserved penises, and a mummified scalp. Furthermore, a stocked-up freezer contained even more horrors, while a 57-gallon drum held three dismembered torsos dissolving in an acid solution. Among the chilling evidence, 74 Polaroid pictures were found, meticulously documenting the dismemberment of Dahmer’s victims. This disturbing scene prompted authorities to transport the 57-gallon drum from Dahmer’s residence in July 1991.

• Detective Patrick Kennedy and Detective Dennis Murphy conducted an interrogation with Dahmer, who willingly chose to forgo his right to legal representation during the questioning. It became evident that Dahmer had a strong desire to confess the entirety of his crimes. Shockingly, he admitted to the gruesome murders of sixteen young men, the majority of whom he suffocated. The remaining victims tragically perished after Dahmer injected their brains with acid or boiling water. Additionally, Dahmer made a chilling admission regarding his engagement in necrophilia with the deceased bodies, and he disclosed that he dismembered the victims in his bathtub. To eliminate any evidence, he either pulverized or dissolved the bones he wanted to dispose of. In a rather macabre twist, Dahmer revealed that he preserved the skeletons and skulls he wished to keep by utilizing Soilax and bleach solutions. Furthermore, Dahmer confessed to practicing cannibalism and disclosed that he consumed the hearts, livers, biceps, and portions of the thighs of three victims. He attempted to explain the origins of his cannibalistic urges, stating that they seemed to be deeply ingrained within him, reinforcing their permanent presence in his psyche.

• During his questioning, he was asked about the preservation of seven skulls and two complete skeletons of his victims. He explained that he planned to build a personal altar with the skulls and display it on the black table in his living room. When questioned about the intended dedication of the altar, Dahmer replied, “I felt a sense of belonging within myself.” Dahmer’s arrest in July 1991 brought to light an illustration he had created, illustrating his desire to create a private altar using the seven preserved skulls he possessed at that time.

• Dahmer was accused of committing 16 homicides in Wisconsin and faced 15 charges of first-degree murder. Despite being diagnosed with borderline personality disorder, schizotypal personality disorder, and psychotic disorder, he was considered mentally fit to stand trial. He pleaded guilty but insane and received 15 life sentences on February 17, 1992, as Wisconsin had abolished the death penalty in 1853. Additionally, he was later given another life sentence for his first murder, which took place in Ohio in 1978. Dahmer served his time in the Columbia Correctional Institution located in Portage.

• For the initial year of his imprisonment, Dahmer was isolated in solitary confinement as a precautionary measure to ensure his protection from potential harm by other inmates. Following this, he was moved to a less secure section and given the responsibility of cleaning the toilet block for two hours each day. Additionally, he was later assigned to clean the prison gymnasium. As a janitor in the gymnasium, Dahmer earned a wage of 24 cents per hour.

• After mimicking a prison staff member over the phone, he was terminated from his position as a gymnasium janitor. Consequently, he found himself back in solitary confinement for a duration exceeding one month.

• It is intriguing to note that the serial killer received a significant amount of mail from people worldwide while he was in prison. According to prison records, he received over $12,000 from these correspondents. Among them, a woman expressed her desire to educate Jeffrey about Jesus and sent him $350 along with some Bible literature. Additionally, another individual sent $50 to assist Dahmer in purchasing cigarettes, stamps, and envelopes.

• In an interview with Nancy Glass, he explained his motivation for the homicides, stating that it was not driven by anger or hatred towards the victims. Rather, his intention was to keep them by his side. In another interview, he expressed that his sole purpose was to assert complete control over individuals, disregarding their desires and keeping them under his command indefinitely.
• Dahmer narrowly escaped serious harm on July 3, 1994, when a fellow inmate named Osvaldo Durruthy made an attempt to slit his throat using a razor. This incident took place in the prison chapel shortly after the conclusion of the weekly church service. Durruthy had cleverly concealed the razor within a toothbrush. Fortunately, Dahmer only suffered superficial wounds and did not sustain any major injuries.

• On the morning of November 28, 1994, Jeffrey Dahmer, along with his fellow inmates Jesse Anderson and Christopher Scarver, were left alone in the prison gym showers for about 20 minutes. Their assigned task was to clean the gymnasium toilet. At around 8:10 am, Dahmer and Anderson were found with severe head injuries on the bathroom floor. They were immediately taken to a nearby hospital for treatment. Unfortunately, Dahmer was pronounced dead one hour after reaching the hospital, and Anderson passed away two days later after being taken off life support. Both men were violently attacked by Christopher Scarver, who used a 20-inch metal bar. Scarver, who was believed to have schizophrenia, returned to his cell after the assault and informed the prison guard, stating that he was instructed by God to carry out this act, resulting in the deaths of Jesse Anderson and Jeffrey Dahmer.

• Several literary works have been published about the life of Jeffrey Dahmer, such as “Milwaukee Massacre: Jeffrey Dahmer and the Milwaukee Murders” (1992), “A Father’s Story” by Lionel Dahmer (1994), “Dark Journey, Deep Grace: Jeffrey Dahmer’s Story of Faith” by Lindy Adams and Roy Ratcliff (2006), “Jeffrey Dahmer: A Terrifying True Story of Rape, Murder and Cannibalism” by Jack Rosewood (2017), and “Inside the Mind of Jeffrey Dahmer: The Cannibal Killer” by Christopher Berry-Dee (2022). Netflix also released two shows, “Dahmer – Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story” (2022) and “Conversations With a Killer: The Jeffrey Dahmer Tapes” (2022), which provided an account of the serial killer’s life. Furthermore, his life served as inspiration for theatrical productions like “The Law of Remains” (1992) by Reza Abdoh and “Jeffrey Dahmer: Guilty but Insane” (2013) written by Joshua Hitchens and directed by Ryan Walter.

• In November 1992, the infamous Oxford Apartments, known as the site where Jeffrey Dahmer took the lives of twelve victims, was demolished. The ongoing demolition process continues at the exact location of the Oxford Apartments, situated at 924 N. 25th Street, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, US. This particular residence was where Jeffrey Dahmer lived and committed a substantial portion of his heinous acts.

• was given to the families of eleven victims who had filed lawsuits seeking compensation. This property, located in Ohio, was where Dahmer carried out his initial murder.

• In 1996, Milwaukee Civic Pride, a community organization, successfully raised funds to acquire and dispose of the belongings of Dahmer. The group committed $407,225 towards purchasing Dahmer’s estate, which included a generous contribution of $100,000 from Joseph Zilber, a prominent Milwaukee real estate developer. Following the acquisition, all of Dahmer’s possessions were appropriately destroyed and laid to rest in an undisclosed landfill located in Illinois.