How Did Serial Killer Jeffrey Dahmer Get Caught? – The short biographical crime drama series “Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story,” which Ryan Murphy and Ian Brennan co-created, debuted on Netflix on September 21, 2022. The show centers on the killings committed by notorious serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer, played by Evan Peters, and it tells their stories from their points of view.
Jeffrey was incredibly methodical like other serial killers and carefully thought out every move. But an uncommon mistake and the stubbornness of the intended victim to flee resulted in Jeffrey’s capture in July 1991. We have the information you need if you are interested in this case, and wondering how Jeffrey Dahmer ended up being apprehended.
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How Was Jeffrey Dahmer Apprehended?
The final blow that Jeffrey Dahmer delivered was the murder of Joseph Arthur Bradehoft at his apartment on July 19, 1991, even though he was unaware of his impending demise. Before beheading Joseph and keeping his head in the refrigerator, Jeffrey kept Joseph’s body in the flat for two days. Joseph’s body was also kept in a huge blue 57-gallon drum. On July 22, 1991, Jeffrey, unable to control his violent impulses, set out in search of his next victim and soon encountered Tracy Edwards and his two friends.
Interestingly, Jeffrey introduced himself as a photographer and said he wanted to shoot images of the group in their underwear in his flat. The group was naturally wary of the idea because they didn’t know Jeffrey, but Tracy Edwards quickly accepted his offer. The 32-year-old then went back to the serial killer’s residence after Jeffrey. When Jeffrey first entered the flat, there was a foul smell, and boxes of hydrochloric acid were all over the floor. However, Jeffrey was able to provide an explanation and make an effort to make Tracy feel at ease.
Even though Tracy was on high alert, he momentarily lost focus, and Jeffrey attempted to handcuff him. The serial murderer took Tracy to another room after she objected, claiming that the handcuffs were a prop for the photo shoot. Tracy entered the second room and noticed a television show, “The Exorcist III,” while a blue 57-gallon drum emitting an offensive odor was also present. Furthermore, Jeffrey had begun acting oddly as well, telling Tracy he wanted to eat his heart.
Unexpectedly, Tracy maintained his composure and told Jeffrey that he would not flee. Additionally, he requested permission to use the restroom and talked the serial murderer into returning to the first room. Having faith that his chosen victim wouldn’t flee, Jeffrey gave himself a moment of distraction—exactly the opening Tracy was looking for. The serial killer was instantly pounced at, hit in the face, and he fled out the front door.
Edwards reported to the authorities that Dahmer had kidnapped him and made death threats at his flat. Despite their initial skepticism regarding the story, the officers returned Edwards to Dahmer’s apartment. The officers nearly believed Dahmer when he calmly explained that everything had been a mistake. However, they discovered a few Polaroid images of severed bodies, leading to Dahmer’s capture.
A house of horrors was discovered after Dahmer’s apartment was thoroughly examined. The flat contained full of human remains in addition to photo albums filled with images of body parts:
- Two skulls were on top of the computer.
- There were other heads in the freezer and refrigerator.
- A 57-gallon drum filled with victims that were rotting in chemicals was discovered in the bedroom’s corner.
Additionally, evidence suggested Dahmer had been consuming some of his victims.
The press and cops were informed by the neighbors that they had smelled terrible odors coming from the flat but that Dahmer had dismissed them as the result of expired meat. The most disturbing information about how Dahmer could hide his terrible atrocities in the middle of an apartment complex in the city, though, would emerge a few days later.
Apparently, two months prior, a 14-year-old boy who was bleeding and naked was being chased down an alley by Dahmer when the police were called. The youngster was drugged when the officers arrived, and they actually took him back to Dahmer’s residence, where he was slain immediately. Later, the police were fired after they claimed to have thought it was a domestic argument.
The first victim, who vanished in March 1989, just two months before Dahmer successfully avoided a prison sentence for child molestation by telling the judge that he was desperately trying to change his behavior, was discovered during a forensic search of the apartment. There were a total of 11 victims found there. Dahmer later admitted to committing a total of 17 killings, beginning with his first victim in 1978.
Ultimately, in 1992, Jeffrey was found guilty in Wisconsin of 15 counts of first-degree murder, earning him a total of 15 life terms and many more years for other offenses. He also admitted to killing Steven Hicks in Ohio, and in May 1992, he received his 16th life term after doing so. In July 1994, he survived an attack by inmates; however, but another prisoner killed him on November 28, 1994.