Notorious serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer was known to have murdered, raped, and dismembered at least 17 men and boys in Milwaukee, Wisconsin between 1978 and 1991.

Dahmer reportedly committed his first murder in 1978, just three weeks after she graduated from high school. His first victim was Steven Nicks, a hitchhiker he picked up and lured back to his house.

According to People, Hicks attempted to leave, which led to Dahmer bludgeoning him with a 10-pound dumbbell before strangling him to death. Dahmer was arrested after he offered three men to pose for nude photographs in July 1991, with a man named Tracy Edwards agreeing and following Dahmer back to his apartment.

Dahmer handcuffed Edwards and told him his plan to eat his heart. Edwards managed to escape when he punched Dahmer and knocked him to the ground. It allowed Edwards to run through the unlocked front door, get out of the apartment, and flag down two police officers he led back to the Milwaukee serial killer's apartment.

When they arrived, the officers saw an opened drawer that contained Polaroid pictures of human bodies in different stages of dismemberment. Jeffrey Dahmer tried to escape, but authorities overpowered him and cuffed him.

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Some Shocking Facts about Milwaukee Serial Killer, Cannibal Jeffrey Dahmer

Jeffrey Dahmer's gruesome crimes, which included cannibalism and necrophilia, continue to shock the world. Dahmer became one of America's most terrifying serial killers and was called the "Milwaukee cannibal" after he murdered 17 men and boys, engaged in necrophilia, and ate human flesh.

Did you know that Dahmer had his own fan club at school? The serial killer was described as a "withdrawn and obsessive child," with hobbies including dissecting animals and collecting their bones.

However, Dahmer was also known to be a class clown and did outrageous pranks. Some students, who were so captivated by his antics, dubbed themselves the "Dahmer Fan Club." His former classmates encouraged him to take it further, but they were stunned years later after they learned about his crimes.

According to Crime Investigation, aside from cannibalism and murders, Dahmer also engaged in experiments to try to subjugate his victims. One of his victims was Errol Lindsey. Thinking the teenager would turn into a docile zombie, Dahmer drilled a hole into his skull and poured hydrochloric acid.

Lindsey survived the act and woke up complaining of a headache before Dahmer strangled him. Another teen victim, Konerak Sinthasomphone, also survived having acid put into his skull. Sinthasomphone even managed to leave the apartment when Dahmer had gone to buy more alcohol. 

Three women called the police after they found Sinthasomphone on a street corner. However, Dahmer convinced the officers that the teen was his adult boyfriend, and they simply had a drunken lover's quarrel.

Sinthasomphone was also strangled to death soon after the police officers left. It seemed that the serial killer was almost caught red-handed but got away with it.

Dahmer also brought a human head to a chocolate factory, where he worked. He stored one of his victim's mummified heads in his personal locker. In one of his interviews, he said that's how "strong his compulsion was" and how "bizarre his desire was," adding that he wanted to "keep something of the person with me."

Dahmer was also obsessed with "Star Wars" and "The Exorcist III" movies. He reportedly psyched himself up to kill by watching certain films. Dahmer even went as far as wearing yellow contact lenses to resemble the villain Emperor Palpatine in the "Star Wars" film series.

Dahmer was also obsessively attached to "The Exorcist III," which focuses on serial killers and demon possession. Tracy Edwards, who managed to escape, recalled seeing "The Exorcist III" playing in the background when Dahmer lured him into his apartment.

The Milwaukee serial killer had also planned to turn his victims into an altar. Dahmer told investigators when he was arrested that he was planning to create an altar in his apartment using the remains of his victims.

He even made a detailed sketch of the supposed altar that would have consisted of a black table decorated with skulls and skeletons. Dahmer said this would be a place where he could cleanse his thoughts and feed his obsession.

Jeffrey Dahmer was bludgeoned to death by a fellow inmate on November 28, 1994. He was 34. 

About Jeffrey Dahmer's Controversial Arresting Officer

Jeffrey Dahmer's arresting officer was John Balcerzak, who went to the serial killer's apartment with his partner after Tracy Edwards came forward about his experience, according to Women's Health. However, Balcerzak was fired from the police force after catching Dahmer.

Dahmer's neighbor, Glenda Cleveland, called the police several times, reporting Dahmer's suspicious behavior. On one occasion, Balcerzak and his partner responded to a call to find Konerak Sinthasomphone with three women. 

The women asked the police officers to take the 14-year-old boy to a safe space. However, Balcerzak and his partner had led the teenager back to Dahmer's place.

Both officers were found guilty of gross negligence and were fired in May 1991. However, Balcerzak maintained that they did the "appropriate thing" and "the best that we could" based on the information they had at the time.

In 1994, a judge ruled that Balcerzak and his partner should be reinstated into the police force and should receive back pay of $55,000. The judge noted that firing them was too harsh of a punishment.

John Balcerzak retired in 2017. He still lives in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and reportedly owns a tavern.

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Written by: Mary Webber

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