Offender Record · OFF-2026-051
Jeff Dahmer (photo from the Radford University biography)
Jeffrey Lionel Dahmer
Also known as The Milwaukee Cannibal, The Milwaukee Monster
Sex
Male
Race
white
Height
6'0"
Born
1960
Custody
Deceased
States
OH, WI, FL, TX, AL, IA, DE
Distinguishing featuresLong blond hair
Custody
Deceased at Columbia Correctional Institution
Custody record at the facility
Beaten to death by fellow inmate Christopher Scarver on November 28, 1994, at Columbia Correctional Institution in Portage, Wisconsin, while serving 16 consecutive life sentences without parole.
This record documents arrests, charges and convictions reported by courts, law enforcement agencies and news organizations. Every statement is tied to a cited source with an archived copy. A charge is an accusation, not proof of guilt; a person charged is presumed innocent unless convicted. Solve the Case does not allege that this person committed any offense beyond what the cited records state, and this record is not a suggestion that the person is connected to any unsolved case. How records are built, corrected and removed.
Summary of the record
Jeffrey Lionel Dahmer was convicted of 16 counts of first-degree murder between 1978 and 1991 in Ohio and Wisconsin. He murdered 17 men and boys, primarily luring them to his residence with promises of money or sex, then drugging, strangling, and dismembering them. Dahmer engaged in necrophilia and cannibalism, preserving body parts and skulls as souvenirs. He was arrested on July 22, 1991, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, after a victim escaped. Dahmer was found guilty on February 15, 1992, in Wisconsin and received 15 consecutive life sentences; a 16th consecutive life sentence was added in May 1992 for a 1978 Ohio murder. He was killed by fellow inmate Christopher Scarver on November 28, 1994, at Columbia Correctional Institution in Portage, Wisconsin, where he was serving his sentences.
Documented Arrests, Charges and Convictions
Dispositions are shown exactly as the cited records report them. Pending charges are updated when a court acts; a record with no remaining conviction or pending charge is removed from the site.
Offense date Jun 18, 1978, Bath, Ohio
First-degree murder (Steven Mark Hicks)
Bath Township Police; Summit County, Ohio · Summit County Common Pleas Court; then Wisconsin trial · Aggravated murder (Ohio) · Convicted Convicted · Sentence: Life imprisonment without parole (consecutive to Wisconsin sentences)
Dahmer picked up 18-year-old hitchhiker Steven Hicks after high school graduation. They drank at Dahmer's family home in Bath, Ohio. When Hicks tried to leave, Dahmer struck him in the head with a barbell, killed him, and dismembered the body in the basement. Remains were buried in the woods behind the house. Dahmer later returned to the site, used acid to dissolve flesh, crushed remaining bones with a sledgehammer, and scattered the pieces.
SourcesRadford University serial killer biography: Dahmer, Jeff; Jeffrey Dahmer; Jeffrey Dahmer; Jeffrey Dahmer
Offense date Sep 08, 1986, Milwaukee, Wisconsin (Kinnickinnic River)
Disorderly conduct (indecent exposure)
Milwaukee Police Department · Milwaukee County · Wisconsin disorderly conduct · Arrested Sep 08, 1986 · Convicted Convicted · Sentence: 1 year probation, mandatory counseling for sexual deviance
Dahmer was arrested for masturbating in front of two 12-year-old boys near Kinnickinnic River. He initially admitted the offense but later claimed he was merely urinating. Witnesses contradicted his story. Charged with disorderly conduct and sentenced to one year probation with mandatory counseling.
SourcesRadford University serial killer biography: Dahmer, Jeff; What happened to Jeffrey Dahmer's Army career?
Offense date Sep 1987, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
First-degree intentional homicide (15 counts, Wisconsin)
Milwaukee Police Department · Milwaukee County Circuit Court · Wisconsin first-degree intentional homicide · Arrested Jul 22, 1991 · Convicted Convicted · Sentence: 15 consecutive life sentences without parole
Between September 1987 and July 1991, Dahmer killed 15 men and boys in Milwaukee, primarily at his apartments. His modus operandi involved luring victims from bars and streets with offers of money for photos or sex. Victims were drugged with sedatives in alcohol, then strangled. Dahmer engaged in necrophilia, dismembered bodies, preserved body parts as trophies (skulls, heads, genitals), and disposed of remains using acid, freezers, and burial.
SourcesJeffrey Dahmer; Serial Killers, Part 7: Jeffrey Dahmer; This Day in History: Feb. 15, 1992: Serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer convicted in 15 murders; Jeffrey Dahmer
Offense date Sep 26, 1988, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Second-degree sexual assault and enticing a child for immoral purposes
Milwaukee Police Department · Milwaukee County Court · Wisconsin sexual assault and child enticement statutes · Arrested Sep 25, 1988 · Convicted Convicted · Sentence: 12 months jail (served 10 months before release on bail), 5 years probation, sex offender registration
Dahmer lured a 13-year-old Laotian boy (Keison Sinthasomphone) to his apartment at 808 North 24th Street in Milwaukee with an offer of $50 to pose for photographs. Dahmer drugged the boy with Halcion and sexually abused him. The boy did not lose consciousness and escaped to report the incident. Dahmer changed his plea to guilty on January 30, 1989. He served 10 months before being released on bail to continue employment with work-release privileges.
SourcesRadford University serial killer biography: Dahmer, Jeff; Jeffrey Dahmer; Case File: Jeffrey Dahmer
Pattern and Background
Victim counts and the pattern of the offenses as stated by courts, agencies and the cited reporting. Suspected counts are what officials have said publicly, not a finding of this site.
16
Victims convicted
17
Victims confessed
0
Victims suspected
Active years
1978–1991
Victim profile
Men, Teenagers, Young women, Hitchhikers, Strangers, Sex workers
Stated motive
Sexual, Power or control
Range from home
regional
Confessed
Yes
Cooperated with investigators
Yes
Education
some high school
Marital history
Never married
Children
0
Military discharge
honorable
Died
1994-11-28 · homicide
Places Lived, Worked and Frequented
Each place and date range comes from a cited record. Dates marked approximate are as reported. Know a place that is missing? Use Edit record under the photo; a moderator reviews it before it appears.
AL
Anniston, Alabama
Jan 12, 1979 – Jul 1979 · Fort McClellan; basic training as military policeman · army
DE
Baumholder, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany
Jul 1979 – Mar 1981 · Combat medic with 68th Armored Regiment, 8th Infantry Division, 2nd Battalion · army
FL
Miami Beach, Florida
approx. Oct 1981 – Oct 1981 · Moved after military discharge; worked at Sunshine Subs sub shop
IA
Iowa
approx. 1962 – 1964 · Family moved while father pursued Ph.D. at Iowa State University
OH
Doylestown, Ohio
approx. 1966 – 1968 · Moved from Iowa; attended Hazel Harvey Elementary School in Barberton
Bath Township, Ohio
approx. 1968 – 1978 · Bath Elementary School, then attended Revere High School
Bath Township, Ohio
approx. 1968 – 1978 · 4480 W. Bath Road; attended Bath Elementary School, Bath High School (Revere High School); site of first murder June 18, 1978
Bath Township, Ohio
approx. Oct 1981 – Dec 1981 · Returned after discharge to live with father; arrested for disorderly conduct October 7, 1981
TX
San Antonio, Texas
approx. Jul 1979 – Jul 1979 · Fort Sam Houston; trained as medical specialist · army
WI
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
approx. 1960 – 1962 · Birth place
West Allis, Wisconsin
approx. Dec 1981 – Sep 1988 · Lived with elderly grandmother; moved in December 1981; killed Steven Tuomi (second victim) in 1987 at Ambassador Hotel in Milwaukee
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
approx. 1983 – 1983 · Milwaukee Blood Plasma Center as phlebotomist
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
approx. 1983 – 1990 · Ambrosia Chocolate Company; left job in July 1991; worked as mixer/food service
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
approx. Sep 25, 1988 – Nov 1988 · Apartment 808 North 24th Street; arrested September 25-26, 1988 for sexual assault of 13-year-old; moved out in November 1988
West Allis, Wisconsin
approx. Nov 1988 – May 1990 · Returned to grandmother's house after charges; committed multiple murders here including Anthony Sears
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
May 1990 – Jul 22, 1991 · Apartment 213 Oxford Apartments, 924-925 North 25th Street (sometimes listed as 213); 12 murders committed here between May 1990 and July 1991
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Jul 22, 1991 – Aug 10, 1991 · Milwaukee County Jail after arrest
Portage, Wisconsin
approx. Aug 10, 1991 – Jan 30, 1992 · Columbia Correctional Institution during trial
Portage, Wisconsin
Feb 17, 1992 – Nov 28, 1994 · Columbia Correctional Institution serving 16 consecutive life sentences without parole; killed by fellow inmate Christopher Scarver on November 28, 1994
Timeline
May 21, 1960
Jeffrey Lionel Dahmer born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
Jun 18, 1978
Dahmer commits first murder of 18-year-old Steven Hicks, a hitchhiker, in Bath Township, Ohio.
Dec 29, 1978
Dahmer enlists in the U.S. Army.
Jan 12, 1979
Dahmer reports to Fort McClellan, Alabama for Army basic training.
Jul 13, 1979
Dahmer stationed to Baumholder, West Germany as combat medic.
Mar 1981
Dahmer discharged from Army under alcohol/drug abuse regulations.
Oct 07, 1981
Dahmer arrested at Ramada Inn in Bath, Ohio for disorderly conduct and resisting arrest.
Aug 08, 1982
Dahmer arrested at Wisconsin State Fair for indecent exposure; fined $50.
Sep 08, 1986
Dahmer arrested for masturbating in front of two 12-year-old boys at Kinnickinnic River.
Mar 10, 1987
Dahmer convicted of disorderly conduct for 1986 incident; sentenced to one year probation and counseling.
Sep 15, 1987
Dahmer kills second victim Steven Tuomi (25) at Ambassador Hotel in Milwaukee; kills approximately 12 more men over next four years.
Sep 25, 1988
Dahmer moves into apartment 808 North 24th Street in Milwaukee.
Sep 26, 1988
Dahmer arrested for drugging and sexually assaulting 13-year-old Laotian boy Keison Sinthasomphone.
Jan 30, 1989
Dahmer pleads guilty to second-degree sexual assault and child enticement.
May 23, 1989
Dahmer convicted of second-degree assault in Sinthasomphone case.
May 24, 1989
Dahmer sentenced to eight years; released after serving 10 months on work-release.
May 1990
Dahmer moves into apartment 213 at Oxford Apartments, 924 North 25th Street, Milwaukee; kills 12 victims here through July 1991.
May 27, 1991
Dahmer kills 14-year-old Konerak Sinthasomphone (younger brother of earlier sexual assault victim); police are called but return victim to Dahmer's apartment.
Jul 22, 1991
Dahmer arrested at his apartment after victim Tracy Edwards escapes and flags down police.
Aug 10, 1991
Dahmer transferred to Columbia Correctional Institution pending trial.
Jan 13, 1992
Dahmer changes plea from not guilty to guilty but insane for 15 Wisconsin murders.
Jan 30, 1992
Trial begins in Milwaukee County Circuit Court; jury hears psychiatric testimony.
Feb 15, 1992
Jury finds Dahmer legally sane and guilty of 15 counts of first-degree murder.
Feb 17, 1992
Judge Laurence Gram sentences Dahmer to 15 consecutive life sentences without parole.
May 1992
Dahmer pleads guilty to 1978 murder of Steven Hicks in Ohio and receives 16th consecutive life sentence.
Nov 28, 1994
Dahmer beaten to death by fellow inmate Christopher Scarver at Columbia Correctional Institution in Portage, Wisconsin, while on work detail.
Sources
Solve the Case is never the original source. Each item below is the public record a statement on this page rests on, with an archived copy where one exists.
News report · Biography.com ·
Jeffrey Dahmer“Between the years of 1978 and 1991, Dahmer murdered 17 males in truly horrific fashion.”
News report · Wikipedia ·
Jeffrey Dahmer“Jeffrey Lionel Dahmer was born on May 21, 1960 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, U.S. He was convicted of 16 counts of murder (15 in Wisconsin and one in Ohio) and sentenced to 16 terms of life imprisonment without parole in 1992.”
News report · Ranker ·
The Terrifying Tale Of The Boy The Police Delivered Back To Jeffrey Dahmer's Doorstep“The youngest of his victims, whom he did not kill, was only 13 years old.”
Law enforcement release · Federal Bureau of Investigation ·
Serial Killers, Part 7: Jeffrey Dahmer“In early 1992, Wisconsin prosecutors—armed with evidence provided by the Bureau—began to set forth charges that Dahmer had killed 15 men during the course of a long criminal career.”
News report · Britannica ·
Jeffrey Dahmer“He was convicted of 16 counts of murder (15 in Wisconsin and one in Ohio) and sentenced to 16 terms of life imprisonment without parole in 1992.”
News report · Live 5 News ·
This Day in History: Feb. 15, 1992: Serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer convicted in 15 murders“Jeffrey Dahmer was found legally sane and guilty of 15 counts of murder on Feb. 15, 1992.”
News report · Military Times ·
What happened to Jeffrey Dahmer's Army career?“Dahmer was stationed from July 1979 to March 1981 with the 68th Armored Regiment in Baumholder in central Germany's Rhineland-Palatinate state, where officials say five unsolved murder cases were being re-examined to seek any connection to Dahmer.”
News report · A&E Television Networks ·
Case File: Jeffrey Dahmer“Investigators said Dahmer would lure victims to his apartment, where they would be drugged, sexually assaulted and murdered.”
News report · History.com ·
Jeffrey Dahmer murdered in prison“On November 28, 1994, Dahmer was beaten to death by Christopher Scarver, a fellow inmate at the Columbia Correctional Institution in Portage, Wisconsin.”
Other · Radford University Department of Psychology ·
Radford University serial killer biography: Dahmer, Jeff“Dahmer family moves to 4480 W. Bath Road, Bath, Ohio. Jeffrey attended Bath Elementary School.”
Discussion
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