Jeffrey Dahmer, one of the world's most notorious serial killers, murdered 17 people between 1978 and 1991. How did he go undetected for over a decade? Well, no one knows (besides the fact that his neighbor literally warned police about him with no prevail).
As the focus of Netflix's new limited series Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story, true crime junkies get a horrific front row seat to his crimes, a breakdown of how he targeted men to come to his apartment, and an introduction to a brave woman named Glenda Cleveland who tried to warn police about Dahmer's suspicious behavior.
While there is a laundry list of questions about why Jeffrey Dahmer did what he did, there are some things we'll just never understand. Here's everything we know about one of America's most infamous serial killers.
Who is Jeffrey Dahmer?
Born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, to Lionel and Joyce Dahmer on May 21, 1960, Jeffery grew up like any other kid. His parents soon noticed that he lost his energetic spirit and became disengaged and preferred to be alone.
In high school, he did your typical extracurriculars—band and intramural sports. But, at the young age of 14, he admitted that he began fantasizing about murder and necrophilia. He later went on to enlist in the army, where he was honorably discharged.
What did Jeffrey Dahmer do?
In 1978, Jeffrey murdered his first victim.
Shortly after graduating high school, he picked up a hitchhiker and took him to his parents' house where he gave him alcohol and had sex with him. When the hitchhiker tried to leave, Jeffrey hit him in the head and strangled him with a barbell.
In an interview with Inside Edition in 1993, Dahmer admitted, “I always knew that it was wrong. The first killing was not planned."
Dahmer went on to murder 16 more people between the years of 1978 and 1991. Crime junkies probably know that this is typical serial killer behavior, but what disturbs people the most is what he did after the murders.
Dahmer would have sex with some of the victims' corpses, keep body parts in jars, and even practice cannibalism.
Who were Dahmer's victims?
Jeffrey Dahmer would often meet his victims at bars, bus stops, malls, and adult bookstores. He targeted mostly gay men of color and would convince them to come home with him by promising drinks or money in exchange for photos.
By the time police caught Dahmer, he had killed 17 men and boys, including:
- Steven Hicks, 19
- Steven Tuomi, 24
- Jamie Doxtator, 14
- Richard Guerrero, 25
- Anthony Lee Sears, 26
- Raymond Lamont Smith, 33
- Edward W. Smith, 27
- Ernest Miller, 22
- David Thomas, 23
- Curtis Straughter, 19
- Errol Lindsey, 19
- Anthony Hughes, 31
- Konerak Sinthasomphone, 14
- Matt Turner, 20
- Jeremiah "Jeremy" Weinberger, 23
- Oliver Lacy, 23
- Joseph Bradehoft, 25
How did he get caught?
Despite receiving multiple reports from Dahmer's neighbor, Glenda Cleveland, police didn't catch him until one of his victims escaped his apartment.
His name is Tracy Edwards. Tracy escaped Jeffrey's home July 22, 1991, and police found him wondering the streets with handcuffs hanging from one wrist. He then led police back to Dahmer's apartment, where he offered to get the keys for the handcuffs, but when police searched his bedroom, they spotted disturbing Polaroid photos Jeffrey had taken.
Following his arrest, when police came to search Dahmer's apartment further, what they discovered was beyond shocking—chloroform believed to be used to drug his victims, a barrel of acid to dissolve the men's bodies but preserve their skeletal remains, knives, dismembered body parts, and gruesome photos of the victims' bodies.
Where is Jeffrey Dahmer now?
Dahmer was charged with 15 counts of first-degree murder during a 1992 trial where he was found guilty on all charges and sentenced to 15 consecutive life terms.
He was sent to Columbia Correctional Institution in Wisconsin where he supposedly adjusted well to life behind bars. However, on November 28, 1994, a fellow inmate Christopher Scarver ended Dahmer's life. According to the New York Post, Jeffrey's sense of humor and macabre behavior didn't sit well with the inmate and Dahmer was beaten to death.
His body was eventually cremated and the ashes given to his parents.
Chaise Sanders
Associate Editor
Chaise Sanders is an Associate Editor at Cosmopolitan, where she covers anything from lifestyle and beauty to entertainment and style. Wanna upgrade your skincare game? She's got you covered with the best facial cleansing brushes. Or maybe you're in need of a new true crime show to binge? Got that covered too! Prior to joining the Cosmo team, Chaise was an editor at Country Living (also part of the Hearst fam) where she interviewed celebs like Dolly Parton, LeAnn Rimes and even Martha Stewart. Now, as one of the Big Apple's newest residents, there's a good chance that you can catch her checking out an Insta-worthy cafe or spending way to much $$$ in vintage stores.
