by Terry Baxter
The fact remains that Jeffrey Dahmer’s upbringing is an example of how neglect can allow mental disorders to fester to a point beyond repair. After his parents’ divorce, Jeffrey was essentially left up to his own devices. Since the courts had considered be an adult and was left out of custodial considerations in his parents’ divorce settlement, he could essentially do as he pleased; which he did.
The next part of his life would open the door for the series of murders for which he would become infamous. His first murder, the killing of Steven Hicks in Ohio, would prove that all it takes is just one time before a serial killer can become unleashed.
This murder would remain unsolved until Jeffrey’s arrest and trial in the early 90s. Jeffrey’s childhood and adolescence can be dissected to its minimum expression. However, the more it is studied, the more it can be seen that Jeffrey was not the product of an abusive childhood that led to the creation of a monster. He was the product of a childhood in which no one noticed that a monster was lurking beneath.
Chapter 2:
Early adulthood and the murder of Steven Hicks
Following Dahmer’s parents’ divorce and his graduation from High School, Dahmer remained living alone at his family’s residence. The residence had been vacated by his mother who had moved in with relatives following the divorce. She and David had moved in with relatives.
However, since Jeffrey had been unaffected by the custody decision, he was essentially free to do as he pleased. Lionel had left the family and moved to a nearby motel. Shortly thereafter, Dahmer’s mother and his younger brother David left Ohio for good and moved to Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin.
At the point, Dahmer was essentially on his own without any kind of supervision. How Dahmer supported himself during this time remains unclear. It is believed that he received some type of financial support from his father though this is unsubstantiated. Dahmer did not hold a job and did not seek employment of any kind. In fact, Dahmer, who had barely turned 18, drifted around continuing his alcohol and substance abuse patterns.
On June 18th, Dahmer picked a hitchhiker named Steven Mark Hicks. Hicks had just turned 19 and was essentially a drifter. Hicks was purportedly hitchhiking his way to a rock concert in Lockwood Corners. Since Hicks was essentially a drifter, he had nowhere to go and even less money. So, Dahmer convinced Hicks to join him at his home in order to keep him company and get a few drinks. The homeless Hicks accepted to accompany Dahmer back to his place.
According to Dahmer, he attacked Hicks when he, Hicks, attempted to leave. They had been drinking and listening to music for a few hours. But as Hicks had grown tired and impatient, he told Dahmer that he wanted to leave. The specific reasons as to why Hicks wanted to leave are unclear especially in light of the fact that he had nowhere to go.
Dahmer admitted to striking Hicks twice in the head, from behind, with a 10-pound dumbbell. As Hicks lay unconscious, Dahmer strangled Hicks with the bar of the dumbbell he had struck him with. It is unclear whether Hicks was killed by blows to the head or whether Hicks died of strangulation. The remains of Hicks’ body did not provide any evidence given Dahmer’s treatment of it.
As Hicks’ body lay of the floor following his death, Dahmer claims that he stripped the body naked, stood over it, and masturbated on the corpse. The body lay on the floor overnight. The next day, Dahmer took the body down to the basement of his home and promptly dismembered and dissected it. After, Dahmer buried Hicks’ remains in the backyard of his family’s home.
Several weeks later, Dahmer dug up Hicks’ remains, peeled the flesh from his bones and proceeded to dissolve the flesh in acid. He would then flush this concoction down the toilet. Dahmer would then crush Hicks’ bones with a sledgehammer before tossing them into the woods behind his family’s home.
This was the end of Steven Hicks. His disappearance and murder would essentially go unnoticed. Some time later, Hicks was presumed dead though it was considered an unsolved case. Dahmer would be charged for Hicks’ murder as per Dahmer’s own admission to the crime. Wisconsin prosecutors would alert Ohio authorities who investigated Dahmer’s claims. They would produce bone fragments that coincided with Dahmer’s accounts. He would be charged by Ohio prosecutors for the death of Steven Hicks in the 1990s.
Following Hicks’ murder, Dahmer would enlist in the US Army at Lionel’s behest. Lionel, who had come to visit the family home, found Jeffrey living alone. Initially, Lionel convinced Jeffrey to attend college in order to get his life sorted out. Jeffrey agreed and enrolled at Ohio State University. He intended to major in business. However, Jeffrey lasted one term at Ohio State University. He basically flunked out as his alcohol abuse got the best of him. Jeffrey’s overall GPA for that term was 0.45/4.0.
One event highlights Jeffrey’s failed attempted at college:
Lionel came to visit Jeffrey at his dorm. His was surprised to find that Jeffrey was absent. Furthermore, Lionel found several bottles of liquor scattered around the room. Although Lionel had paid two terms, in advanced, for Jeffrey’s studies at Ohio State, Jeffrey left unceremoniously following his first term.
Given the fact that Jeffrey had essentially flunked out, Lionel insisted that Jeffrey join the US army. Jeffery obliged. So, Jeffrey enlisted in the US Army.
Jeffrey received training as a medical specialist and was stationed at Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio, Texas. In 1979, Dahmer was sent to Germany and stationed at Baumholder. He was attached to the Second Battalion, 68th Armored Regiment of the 8th Infantry Division. As per the reports published by the US Army, Dahmer was considered as an average or above average soldier.
It was during this time that two soldiers attested to having been raped by Dahmer. One solider claimed in 2010 that he had been raped several times by Dahmer over a 17-month stretch. Another soldier claimed that he had been drugged and raped by Dahmer within an armored personnel carrier in 1979. These claims are unsubstantiated and went unreported at the time. Dahmer was never accused of any wrongdoing nor did he receive any disciplinary actions.
Still, Dahmer’s alcohol abuse problem persisted. As a result, his performance began to decline drastically. His performance reviews began to reflect this pattern. In March 1981, he deemed “unfit for military service” and was discharged from the US Army. He received an honorable discharge on the grounds that his commanding officers did not consider the problems which he encountered in military life to be of concern in civilian life.
Dahmer was then transferred to Fort Jackson in South Carolina for the outplacement process. He was given a ticket to fly anywhere in the country. He opted to fly to Miami, Florida, as he felt he could not return home and face his father after failing yet again.
Dahmer attempted to live on his own means in Miami. He worked in a deli shop and rented a room in a motel. Apparently, Dahmer had grown “tired of the cold” and wanted to live somewhere warm. However, after a few months, Dahmer had failed yet again. He had spent most of his money on alcohol and was evicted from motel due to non-payment. Though he continued to work at the deli shop, Dahmer was left homeless. He had no choice but to call his father to ask for help. Lionel agreed to help Jeffrey return to Ohio.
By the time Jeffrey returned to Ohio, Lionel had remarried. So, Jeffrey temporarily moved in with Lionel and his new stepmother. Jeffrey insisted on helping out around the house in order to earn his keep. Nevertheless, Jeffrey continue to drink quite heavily. A mere two weeks following his return, Jeffrey was arrested on drunk and disorderly conduct charges. He received a $60 fine and a suspended 10-day jail sentence.
In light of these events, Lionel tried hard to get Jeffrey to stop drinking. Despite several efforts, Lionel was unsuccessful. Jeffrey continued his heavy alcohol consumption which led to Lionel and his wife to grow tired of Jeffrey’s antics. As a result, Lionel sent Jeffrey to live with his grandmother in West Allis, Wisconsin. Jeffrey’s grandmother was the only other family member to apparently hold some type of esteem for Jeffrey.
Lionel had hoped that
a change of scenery would provide Jeffrey with a fresh start. Indeed, it appeared that it had worked. Jeffrey’s initial living arrangements were productive. He had lived by his grandmother’s rules and even frequently accompanied her to church. Jeffery seemed to have taken upon great household responsibilities with regard to chores and other duties. Nevertheless, Jeffrey continued to drink and smoke though not quite as heavily as before.
By 1982, Jeffrey had found employment as a phlebotomist at the Milwaukee Blood Plasma Center. It seemed that he had finally gotten his life on track. Ultimately, Jeffrey worked at this facility for 10 months before being dismissed.
His dismissal was a tremendous blow to his confidence as Jeffrey was unemployed for more than two years. During this time, he did not seek employment actively and opted to live off whatever money his grandmother provided him.
Following his dismissal, the first signs of trouble appeared for Dahmer. He was arrested again. This time, it was for indecent exposure as he exposed himself to a group of women and children at the Wisconsin State Fair Park in August of 1982. He was charged and convicted to a $50 fine in addition to court costs.
The next few years of his life were rather quiet. Dahmer was not arrested nor charged with any improper conduct. It seemed as though he had gotten things under control. It wasn’t until around 1985 that Dahmer, while working at the Milwaukee Ambrosia Chocolate Factory, received a proposition from a man while he was reading at the West Allis Public Library. The man handed a note to Dahmer proposing that he perform fellatio on him. Dahmer did not respond and left the library.
However, this incident served to stir up feelings that had apparently remained dormant in him. This led to Dahmer beginning to acquaint himself with the Milwaukee gay scene by frequenting bars and clubs. To what extent Dahmer acted upon his inclinations is uncertain. The fact of the matter is that Dahmer allowed these feelings to emerge once again. One such example of this is an incident in which Dahmer stole a male mannequin which he used to arouse himself sexually. When his grandmother discovered the mannequin hidden in a closet, she urged him to get rid of it.
At this time, it is clear that Jeffrey was undergoing serious issues. While exploring his sexuality was by no means a sign of trouble, his deviant behavior began to emerge beneath the surface. This deviant behavior led to another arrest in 1986 when he was charged with masturbating in front of a group of 12-year-old boys near the Kinnickinnic River.
At first, Dahmer has admitted to the charges but later claimed that he had only been urinating. However, witnesses testified to his deviant behavior. This led to Dahmer being convicted of indecent exposure once again. 1987, he was sentenced to one year’s probation. The court had also ordered Dahmer to submit to counseling and treatment due to his behavior.
By 1987, it was clear that trouble was brewing inside Jeffrey Dahmer. He had already been convicted twice of indecent exposure and had openly engaged in deviant sexual behavior. He had made no attempts to curtail his homosexual inclinations. And while that should not have been any cause for concern, his lack of restraint was clearly a sign that something else was stirring inside of him.
Dahmer had remained largely quiet and harmless during his tenure with his grandmother. However, it is unclear at what point Dahmer decided to act upon the fantasies which he harbored as a teenager. Recalling that earlier incident in which he attempted to attack a jogger, Dahmer was keen on living out fantasies of his youth.
Perhaps there was a turning point in Dahmer’s psyche which triggered his actions. Perhaps it was a question of repressed feelings stirring inside of him which eventually broke through and took control of his actions.
Much of the Dahmer’s mental condition at this time is up to speculation. While he fit the typical profile of being a loner, he did not exhibit any behavior that would indicate that he would commit such gruesome acts.
Of course, Dahmer had already committed the murder of Steven Hicks. In hindsight, it was only a matter of time before he would strike again. The fact is that Dahmer exhibited a pattern of violent behavior. However, the main issue with mass murderers is that they are often unpredictable. Though they may have systematic patterns in the way the approach their victims and subsequently carry out their attacks, it is largely random when they choose to do act upon their urges.
Looking back at this case, 1987 marked the year in which Dahmer would unleash his fury on the Milwaukee community. There would be holding back as he began to target males which he could use to carry out his demented plans. Dahmer’s victims were largely unaware of the monster that he truly was as he could perfectly conceal his true nature behind his meek demeanor. Dahmer was never described as a violent individual. He was always characterized as being quiet and withdrawn.
While this type of depiction fits into the mold of psychopathy, Dahmer’s victims were largely unsuspecting individuals who essentially thought they would only engage in sexual acts. As such, Dahmer’s prey had no real chance of knowing what fate awaited them.
The details of Dahmer’s upcoming murders were collected largely from Dahmer’s own admission. Dahmer was rather forthcoming with the details of his crimes. Perhaps it was a means of horrifying investigators and jurors. Perhaps it was his way of boasting about his exploits.
The fact of the matter is that Dahmer was now ready to strike. He did not plan to hold back. He would have no mercy on his prey. He would simply let loose and see where his urges would take him. It is unclear if even Dahmer, himself, figured he would go as far as he did. But the fact remains that he not only did what he did, but also regaled in the accounts of his grisly deeds.
Chapter 3:
Killing Spree
By late 1987, Dahmer was gearing up for what would be his reign of terror on the Milwaukee community.
According to Dahmer, he didn’t intend on committing murder. His intention was to satisfy his personal pleasures on unsuspecting males. Nevertheless, accounts by his own admission point to a patter in which he was unable to control himself. He ended up committing heinous acts which were largely driven by uncontrollable fits of rage.
The first incident was at the Ambassador Hotel in November of 1987.
On November 20th, 1987, Dahmer, while still living with his grandmother in West Allis, met a young man from Michigan named Steven Tuomi. After a few drinks, Dahmer got the Tuomi to join him back at his hotel room at the Ambassador Hotel in Milwaukee.
Initially, Dahmer had intended to drug and rape Tuomi. By all accounts, this was Dahmer acting upon his fantasies of dominating and raping males. However, Dahmer later confessed to investigators that he woke up the next morning lying on top of Tuomi in bed.
According to Dahmer, he had crushed Tuomi’s chest. In addition, Tuomi had been covered “black and blue” by all the bruises located throughout his body. Furthermore, Dahmer’s arms and fists were severely bruised. Blood oozed out of the mouth of Tuomi.
However, Dahmer claimed to investigators that he had no recollecting of having killed Tuomi. Given the fact that Dahmer had no intention of killing Tuomi, it is plausible to assume that Dahmer had been temporarily incapacitated by insanity. While this is largely speculative it is hard to imagine how Dahmer would have recollections of specific details of Tuomi’s body the following day, but not recall actually killing him.
Dahmer would then purchase a large suitcase in order to transport Tuomi’s body back to his grandmother’s house. After a week, Dahmer went about the task of dismembering Tuomi’s body. Dahmer cut the arms and legs from the torso. He would then go on to remove the flesh from the bones into chunk large enough to maneuver. The flesh was then put into plastic trash bags for disposal. The bones were then wrapped up in a sheet and pummeled with a sledgehammer. In all, the entire process took Dahmer about two hours to complete.
Tuomi’s remains were disposed of in the trash with the exception of the severed head.
Dahmer would later claim that he kept the severed head in order to preserve it. Dahmer boiled the head in Soilex,
which is an industrial detergent, and bleach in order to preserve the skull. He would then use the skull as stimulation during masturbation. Ultimately, the skull become brittle due to the detergent and bleach. Dahmer disposed of the skills by crushing and then pulverizing it.
This initial murder was a clear indication of what was to come. If Dahmer’s murder of Tuomi had been an irrational act, the entire dismemberment and disposal of the body was hardly irrational. This was the consequence of an individual who knew exactly what he was doing. Furthermore, his admission to investigators provided them with very clear details, from his own accounts, of the way in which he disposed of the bodies of his victims.
Following the Tuomi incident, Dahmer did not hold back. He began to actively seek males for the purpose of drugging and engaging in sexual intercourse with them. This were deliberate plans in which there was no other intent but to cause harm.
The Tuomi incident was the first in what would become a string of murders. After two months following the Tuomi murder, Dahmer met a 14-year-old male prostitute by the name of James Doxtator. Dahmer proposition Doxtator to come home with him in exchange for $50. In addition, Dahmer convinced Doxtator to pose for nude photos. Dahmer claimed that he would sell the photos and give Doxtator his cut of the profits.
Dahmer subsequently drugged Doxtator after having engaged in sexual activity. Dahmer then strangled Doxtator’s body on the cellar floor of his residence. The body lay there for a week before it was dismembered and disposed of much in the same manner that Tuomi’s body had been treated. Dahmer would once again boil and keep the skull before pulverizing it some weeks later.
The next incident involved a bisexual man named Richard Guerrero. The 22-year-old Guerrero met Dahmer in gay bar called “The Phoenix”. This bar was frequented by Dahmer though there is no indication that he was recognized by the patrons or workers of this bar.