Introduction
Jeffrey Dahmer was an American serial killer, sex offender, and cannibal who committed the rape, murder, and dismemberment of 17 men and boys between 1978 and 1991. He earned the nickname “The Milwaukee Cannibal” and is considered one of the most notorious serial killers in American history. Dahmer’s horrific crimes and subsequent trial, conviction, and imprisonment have become the subject of numerous books, movies, and documentaries. This article will examine six of the most notable things Jeffrey Dahmer did in his life.
1. Dahmer’s Childhood
Jeffrey Dahmer was born on May 21, 1960, to Lionel and Joyce Dahmer in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. His parents were a research chemist and a teletype machine instructor. Dahmer was an introverted child and had difficulty making friends. He suffered from severe depression and also experienced poor academic performance. At age 10, his parents moved to Ohio and Dahmer was left in the care of his grandmother. This was a difficult time for Dahmer, as he had to adjust to a new environment and make new friends. He began to drink alcohol and experiment with drugs, which further exacerbated his issues.
2. Dahmer’s First Murders
In 1978, at the age of 18, Dahmer committed his first murder. He lured a hitchhiker named Steven Hicks to his grandmother’s house and bludgeoned him to death with a barbell. After disposing of Hicks’ body, Dahmer continued to commit more murders over the next 13 years. He would lure victims to his home and drug them before strangling them to death. He would then dismember their bodies and store the remains in his home or dispose of them in various locations.
3. Dahmer’s Trial
In July of 1991, Dahmer was arrested after one of his victims, Tracy Edwards, managed to escape from his apartment and alert the police. Upon searching Dahmer’s residence, the police found numerous dismembered body parts, photographs of his victims, and other evidence of his crimes. Dahmer initially pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity, but later changed his plea to guilty. On February 15, 1992, he was convicted of 15 counts of murder and was sentenced to 15 life terms in prison, totaling 936 years.
4. Dahmer’s Imprisonment
Dahmer was sent to the Columbia Correctional Institution in Wisconsin to serve his sentence. While there, he was kept in a special cell and had limited contact with other inmates. He was also kept under constant surveillance by correctional officers. Dahmer became a model prisoner and received several privileges, including access to a personal computer, which he used to write letters and keep a journal.
5. Dahmer’s Death
On November 28, 1994, Dahmer was attacked and killed by another inmate, Christopher Scarver. Scarver, who had a history of mental illness, was serving a life sentence for murder. During a routine cleaning assignment, Scarver bludgeoned Dahmer to death with a metal bar. After the attack, Scarver told authorities that he had killed Dahmer because he was disgusted by his crimes.
6. Dahmer’s Legacy
Jeffrey Dahmer’s gruesome crimes have become the subject of numerous books, movies, and documentaries. The most notable of these is the 2002 film Dahmer, which starred actor Jeremy Renner as the titular character. The film chronicles Dahmer’s life and crimes in a sympathetic light. In addition, Dahmer’s case has been used as a cautionary tale to highlight the dangers of mental illness and untreated psychological disorders.
Conclusion
Jeffrey Dahmer was one of the most notorious serial killers in American history. His horrific crimes shocked the world and continue to be the subject of numerous books, movies, and documentaries. In this article, we examined six of the most notable things Dahmer did in his life, from his troubled childhood to his gruesome murder. His case serves as a cautionary tale and a reminder of the dangers of mental illness and untreated psychological disorders.
