7 Unsettling Facts About Jeffrey Dahmer’s Life

As a society, our fascination with serial killers seems to know no limits. We watch documentaries on them, comb through their Wikipedia pages to learn the gruesome details of their crimes, and try to theorize what went on in their early lives that led them to become monsters. One serial killer that Americans have long been fascinated by is Jeffrey Dahmer, also known as the Milwaukee Cannibal. Here are seven unsettling facts about his life.

He Had a (Somewhat) Normal Childhood – The word “normal” is relative of course, and as such, Dahmer’s early life was relatively normal when compared with other serial killers. He grew up with two absent parents and a younger brother, but managed to make friends in school and was even described as an “energetic and happy child.”

He Was Given an Honorable Discharge From the Military – After dropping out of Ohio State University after just three months in 1979, Dahmer was urged by his father to enlist in the United States Army. By 1981, his drinking habits had gotten so out of hand that he was deemed unfit to serve and was given an honorable discharge on the basis that his superiors did not believe that he would pose a problem to others in his civilian life.

He Had a Fascination With Torsos – Somewhere along the way, Dahmer developed a fascination with the torso region of the human body, and with dissecting animals and preserving their bones. This bizarre interest would later manifest in the gruesome ways in which he murdered and mutilated his victims.

He Was Deemed Legally Sane – Believe it or not, Dahmer was found to be legally sane during his trial, despite having been diagnosed with borderline personality disorder, schizotypal personality disorder, and a psychotic disorder. However, he was still able to grasp the concept of right and wrong, and therefore could not be classified as insane in a court of law.

He Became a Born-Again Christian While in Prison – After confessing to the murders, Dahmer requested a copy of the Bible and gradually devoted himself to becoming a born-again Christian during his sentence. He was baptized in May 1994.

He Was Beaten to Death in Prison – On Nov. 28, 1994, Dahmer and one other inmate were beaten to death by fellow inmate Christopher Scarver (pictured) while the three were left unsupervised in the showers of the prison gym. Dahmer was rushed to a nearby hospital but was pronounced dead just one hour later.

His Younger Brother Changed His Identity – In the aftermath of his brother’s high-profile trial and death, David Dahmer changed his last name in an attempt to fade into anonymity. Although, he is reportedly doing very well. “We’ve promised to keep him completely secret,” his father Lionel said in an interview in 2004 on Larry King Live. His stepmother Shari remarked that “he has a career and a family. He’s very happy. We’re expecting a second grandchild. Everything is going well.” 

Well, we’re glad that this story had a happy ending for someone.