The Death of Jeffrey Dahmer: Details of the Serial Killer's Final Moments 30 Years Ago

30 years ago, on Nov. 28, Jeffrey Dahmer met his end in prison while serving 16 consecutive life sentences. The notorious serial killer's death bore a haunting resemblance to the first murder he committed. Back in 1978, Dahmer bludgeoned a hitchhiker named Steven Hicks to death, setting off a chain of gruesome crimes that would shock the world.

By the time of his demise, Dahmer had committed unspeakable acts, including the rape, murder, and dismemberment of at least 17 boys and young men in Milwaukee. His depravity extended to engaging in cannibalism and necrophilia with some of his victims' bodies. However, his reign of terror came to an abrupt end when he was apprehended in 1991.

Despite confessing to 17 killings, Dahmer was convicted of 15 murders in Wisconsin. In February 1992, he received 15 consecutive life sentences, with the 16th conviction and life sentence following later. Notably, one of his confessed killings lacked sufficient evidence for a conviction. Nevertheless, Dahmer's time behind bars was short-lived.

Jeffrey Dahmer's death unfolded in a chilling manner at the Columbia Correctional Institution in Wisconsin. Fellow inmate Christopher Scarver, serving a life sentence for murder, became the agent of Dahmer's demise. Scarver revealed unsettling details about Dahmer's macabre activities in prison, including sculpting human limbs from food and using ketchup as blood, which disturbed other inmates.

On that fateful day, Nov. 28, 1994, Scarver, along with Dahmer and another inmate, Jesse Anderson, were left unattended to clean the gym bathroom. A moment of confrontation arose when Scarver, unaware of the instigator, felt a poke in his back. Subsequently, Scarver confronted Dahmer about his heinous crimes, leading to a fatal altercation.

Scarver recounted the events, stating, "He started looking for the door pretty quick. I blocked him. He ended up dead. I put his head down." Within a span of about 20 minutes, Scarver had taken the lives of both Dahmer and Anderson. Guards discovered Dahmer on the bathroom floor, gravely injured from the assault, and he was pronounced dead at a hospital shortly after.

While the specifics of Dahmer's last words remain undisclosed, his sentiments of remorse and seeking forgiveness were evident during his sentencing. Expressing regret for his atrocities, Dahmer acknowledged the pain he had inflicted on the victims' families and society at large. He reflected on his faith and the consequences of straying from a moral path, recognizing the irreparable damage caused by his actions.

Following Dahmer's death, a divisive reaction emerged from the public. While some found closure in knowing that Dahmer's reign of terror had ended, others lamented his escape from a prolonged prison sentence. Milwaukee County District Attorney E. Michael McCann remarked on the tragic conclusion of Dahmer's life, emphasizing the shared grief experienced by both Dahmer's family and the families of his victims.

Notably, Dahmer's parents held differing views on how to handle his remains. His mother sought to preserve his brain for scientific study, while his father opted for cremation. Ultimately, Dahmer's body and brain were cremated, marking the end of a dark chapter in American criminal history.

The aftermath of Dahmer's crimes shed light on systemic failures, particularly in law enforcement's response to early warnings about his activities. Despite reports from concerned neighbors and missed opportunities to apprehend Dahmer, his killing spree persisted unchecked until his eventual capture.