Jeffrey Dahmer was born on May 21, 1960, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, to Lionel Herbert Dahmer, a Marquette University chemistry student who later became a research chemist, and Joyce Annette Dahmer, a teletype machine instructor. His father had German and Welsh roots, while his mother was of Norwegian and Irish descent.

From infancy, reports about Jeffrey's upbringing vary. Some sources suggest he was neglected, while others indicate he received ample attention from his parents. However, his mother's health issues and demanding nature often strained the family. Jeffrey's father was frequently absent due to his studies, leaving young Dahmer feeling the instability of his family environment, marked by his parents' constant arguments and his mother's attempted suicide.

Despite being a lively and happy child initially, Dahmer became notably subdued after a double hernia surgery just before his fourth birthday. His school years were marked by timidity and signs of abandonment, compounded by his mother's illnesses and the birth of his younger brother, David, whom Jeffrey was allowed to name.

The family moved several times during Dahmer's early years, eventually settling in Bath Township, Ohio. It was here, in a wooded area near their home, that Dahmer's disturbing interest in dead animals began. He was fascinated by the sounds of bones and soon started collecting animal remains, which he would preserve in jars.

As he grew older, Dahmer's curiosity about how animals fit together led to more gruesome experiments, including dissecting roadkill and displaying animal skeletons. His father, mistaking this for scientific interest, taught him how to bleach and preserve bones, a technique Dahmer would continue to use in horrifying ways.

Throughout high school, Dahmer was seen as an outcast. He began drinking alcohol excessively, often hiding it in his school jacket. Despite being polite and intelligent, he struggled academically and socially. Dahmer discovered his sexual orientation during his teens but kept it a secret from his family. His fantasies increasingly involved dominance and control, merging with thoughts of dissection.

Dahmer's first violent fantasy involved a male jogger, whom he planned to attack and dominate, but the plan was never executed as the jogger didn't pass by on the anticipated day. At school, Dahmer was known for his pranks, which often involved mimicking disabilities, earning him beer money for his antics.

By 1977, as his parents' marriage deteriorated leading to a bitter divorce, Dahmer's life at home became increasingly troubled. His grades suffered, and despite the efforts of a private tutor and counseling for his parents, the family chaos deepened. After his parents divorced, Dahmer, now 18, was left alone in the family home as his mother moved away with his brother.

This period marked the beginning of a dark and infamous chapter in Dahmer's life, shortly after graduating from high school in 1978.

Jeffrey Dahmer's story starts chillingly on a summer day in 1978. Fresh out of high school, he committed his first murder. Dahmer met a young man named Steven Hicks who was hitchhiking to a concert. Promising a few beers, Dahmer lured him to his home. As they talked and listened to music, Dahmer didn’t want the evening to end. But when Hicks tried to leave, Dahmer stopped him permanently, using a dumbbell and then strangling him.

The following day, Dahmer dissected Hicks in his basement and later buried the remains in a shallow grave. His crime went undetected, and Dahmer's life spiraled further into darkness. Weeks later, he unearthed Hicks' remains, disposed of them ruthlessly, and scattered them in the woods.

Dahmer's life continued on a troubling path. He enrolled at Ohio State University but dropped out due to his heavy drinking. His father then urged him to join the United States Army, which he did, but his alcohol abuse continued and he was eventually discharged.

Dahmer returned home, trying to stabilize his life, but his old habits followed. In 1987, Dahmer's impulses resurfaced disastrously when he took another life in a hotel room. He woke up to find his guest dead without any memory of the act. Dahmer then dismembered the body and disposed of it in a manner becoming gruesomely familiar.

As Dahmer's desires escalated, he sought victims in gay bars, lured them home, and followed a chilling routine: drug, strangle, and dismember. His apartment became a house of horrors filled with Polaroids of his victims and preserved remains.

His crimes continued undetected until one intended victim escaped in July 1991 and led police to Dahmer’s apartment. What they discovered was beyond comprehension—photos of dismembered bodies and human remains throughout the apartment.

Dahmer was arrested and confessed to 17 murders. During his trial, he was found sane and sentenced to life in prison, where he ultimately met his own violent end.