Jeffrey Dahmer was an American serial killer and sex offender known for committing a series of murders in the late 20th century, primarily in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, between 1978 and 1991.

Key Facts

• He is linked to 17 known victims killed between 1978 and 1991.
• Dahmer was commonly referred to in media as the “Milwaukee Cannibal.”
• He was apprehended in July 1991 after a potential victim escaped and alerted police.
• In 1992 he was convicted on multiple counts of murder and received 15 consecutive life sentences.
• Dahmer was murdered by a fellow inmate in prison in November 1994.
• His crimes included sexual assault, strangulation, dismemberment, and acts of necrophilia and cannibalism.
• The killings occurred over a period spanning from his first known homicide in 1978 to his arrest in 1991.
• Most of the offenses took place in and around Milwaukee, with victims lured to his apartment.
• Dahmer was born in 1960 and his early adulthood showed signs of social isolation and alcohol abuse.

Crimes and Victims

Authorities attribute 17 deaths to Dahmer, with victims primarily young men and adolescent boys. The majority of the offenses took place in private settings where he had isolated his victims.

Investigators documented patterns in his behavior, including drugging and strangulation, followed by post-mortem mutilation. The investigation revealed that some victims were subjected to sexual acts after death and that parts of bodies were retained or disposed of in his residence.

Capture and Trial

Dahmer was arrested in July 1991 when a man he had tried to detain escaped and brought officers back to his apartment. Police discovered evidence linking him to multiple murders, which led to his formal arrest and charging.

At trial in 1992 he faced multiple counts of murder; the jury found him legally sane and guilty on the charged counts. He received 15 consecutive life sentences and was incarcerated in a state correctional facility.

Psychology and Motives

Psychological evaluations and commentary after his arrest noted paraphilic tendencies and a desire for control and intimacy that manifested in violent ways. Experts emphasized a mix of sexual pathology, social isolation, and substance abuse as contributing factors.

During proceedings and interviews, Dahmer spoke about his compulsions and fantasies, but the precise interplay of motivations remains the subject of professional analysis and public debate. Mental health professionals disagreed over the extent to which he met criteria for legal insanity versus criminal responsibility.

Background / Early Life

Jeffrey Dahmer was born in 1960 and grew up in a suburban Midwestern family. Accounts of his childhood and adolescence describe increasing social withdrawal and early alcohol use.

His first known homicide occurred shortly after high school, and he later served briefly in the Army before being discharged. Patterns in his behavior and personal relationships preceding the murders have been examined to understand how his offending escalated over time.

Legacy and Media Coverage

The case has generated extensive media attention, spawning books, documentaries, and dramatizations that examine both the crimes and their wider social implications. Coverage has prompted discussions about policing, victim vulnerability, and the responsibilities of media in portraying violent crime.

Dahmer’s offenses also influenced public discourse on mental health and criminal justice responses to sexually motivated homicides. The case remains frequently cited in studies of criminal behavior and in popular true-crime media.