A Father’s Story
Lionel Dahmer
A book-length account for readers who want more detail.
1978–1991 · Wisconsin & Ohio
Jeffrey Dahmer
Multiple & serial murders
Photo credit
Revere Senior High School, Reverie yearbook, 1978 / Wikimedia Commons · Public domain (U.S.). Cropped/resized.Photographs are cropped to fit. Photo dates and original images are available through the source credits.
Jeffrey Dahmer murdered 17 men and boys between 1978 and 1991. When Tracy Edwards escaped his Milwaukee apartment, police discovered evidence of the killings. Reporting and documentaries have also examined missed opportunities to intervene and the experiences of victims’ families.
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The Story
When1978–1991
WhereWisconsin & Ohio
In this collection39 resources
Start here.
Choose a book, screen story or audio episode from this case’s collection.
Dahmer (2002)
IMDb · Screen title
A dramatized interpretation; compare it with the reporting.
The Guilty Files — Jeffrey Dahmer: Uncovered
iheart.com
An audio option for exploring this case while listening.
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Where are they now?
No reviewed items have been added to this section yet.
Nicknames & media names
No reviewed items have been added to this section yet.
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Family Tree
The family relationships behind the story, gathered in one place.
Selected relationships only—not a complete genealogy. A family connection does not imply involvement in a crime.
FAMILY SNAPSHOT
Parents
- Lionel Dahmer
- Joyce Flint
Jeffrey Dahmer
About These Family Trees
These original diagrams summarize relationships reported by the linked sources. Community genealogy sites can contain errors and are not proof of identity or parentage. Full trees or record images may require an account. We omit speculative relationships, private contact details and unrelated living descendants.
Sources reviewed September 15, 2026. Suggest a sourced correction.
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Blogs & Essays
Read our articles here and explore outside perspectives, credited to their writers and publications. See this case in the Journal →
From the journal
No reviewed items have been added to this section yet.
Blogs & essays
1 itemsAbout these sources
Outside essays and reading guides reflect their authors’ perspectives. Compare claims with reported and primary sources.
Control Out of Control · Blog / essay
Control out of Control - A Jeffrey Dahmer research blog
An independent blog collecting and discussing material about Jeffrey Dahmer. Its interpretations are the author’s views; compare them with original records and reporting.
Outside CommentaryAccess Varies · Check Source
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Books
CONTINUE YOUR READING
Search this case on Amazon · paid linkSearch results may include unrelated titles. Check the author, edition, and case connection before purchasing.
Explore Reading & Streaming Options · Our case guides are free.
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Books
3 itemsLionel Dahmer
A Father’s Story
Book-length account or personal perspective. This link provides bibliographic details; compare the author’s account with reporting and records.
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Paperback · Check current price and availability on Amazon.
Joyce Carol Oates · Fictional inspiration
Zombie — a novel
A fictional narrative about Quentin P., not a factual account of Jeffrey Dahmer. The New Yorker identifies Oates’s work as inspired in part by Dahmer; the linked book record supplies publication and edition details. Contains disturbing fictional violence.
Fiction / DramatizationAccess Varies · Check Source
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Derf Backderf
My Friend Dahmer: A Graphic Novel Memoir
Backderf’s graphic memoir recalls attending high school with Jeffrey Dahmer. It focuses on adolescence and the author’s perspective, and became the source for the film My Friend Dahmer. Graphic nonfiction with mature themes.
BookAccess Varies · Check Source
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Movies & TV
Movies
1 itemsAbout these sources
Watch links, previews and title listings are identified below. Rentals or subscriptions may be required.
IMDb · Screen title
Dahmer (2002)
Scripted dramatization. IMDb title reference connected to the Jeffrey Dahmer case. Listed release: 2002. Cast, credits, and title information; viewing availability is separate. Actors, dialogue and reconstructed scenes should not be treated as documentary evidence.
Fiction / DramatizationTitle Details · Not Playback
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View on Amazon · paid linkCredits & title details on IMDb
DVD · Ed Gein / Gacy / Dahmer Collection · Check current price and availability on Amazon.
TV & documentaries
2 itemsAbout these sources
Episodes, documentaries and title listings. Season and episode numbers follow the linked catalog and can differ by service. Air dates are separate from crime dates. Playback availability varies by service and region.
Netflix
Conversations with a Killer: The Jeffrey Dahmer Tapes
Nonfiction screen coverage of this case. The linked page identifies the program or episode; playback, subscriptions, and regional availability vary.
Screen TitleAccess Varies · Check Source
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Search Amazon · paid linkView on Netflix
Title search; Amazon availability is not confirmed. Check the edition, format, and viewing region.
Netflix · 2022 · scripted series
DAHMER – Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story
The dramatized series starring Evan Peters, separate from Conversations with a Killer: The Jeffrey Dahmer Tapes. Netflix’s production guide establishes the adaptation and cast; scenes and dialogue should not be treated as documentary evidence. Contains disturbing violence.
Fiction / DramatizationFree Production Guide · Not Playback
Last Checked: · Access may changeReport a Link (Email)
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Audiobooks
Listen to a book connected to this story. Each edition below is matched to its author and audiobook source.
Audiobook
A Father's Story
Narrated by Scott R. Pollak
Check the current price, edition and membership terms on Amazon.
Edition checked 2026-10-12
Check Audio Formats For 2 Other Books
These books are in this case’s collection. An audiobook version has not been verified for the listings below.
Zombie — a novel
Search Audiobook Editions · paid linkJoyce Carol Oates · Fictional inspiration
My Friend Dahmer: A Graphic Novel Memoir
Search Audiobook Editions · paid linkDerf Backderf
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Fiction Work
Fiction Work
Browse all →Scripted stories and fictional inspirations. Scenes, characters, and dialogue can differ from the record.
IMDb · Screen title
Dahmer (2002)
Scripted dramatization. IMDb title reference connected to the Jeffrey Dahmer case. Listed release: 2002. Cast, credits, and title information; viewing availability is separate. Actors, dialogue and reconstructed scenes should not be treated as documentary evidence.
Fiction / DramatizationTitle Details · Not Playback
Link Check PendingReport a Link (Email)
View on Amazon · paid linkCredits & title details on IMDb
DVD · Ed Gein / Gacy / Dahmer Collection · Check current price and availability on Amazon.
Joyce Carol Oates · Fictional inspiration
Zombie — a novel
A fictional narrative about Quentin P., not a factual account of Jeffrey Dahmer. The New Yorker identifies Oates’s work as inspired in part by Dahmer; the linked book record supplies publication and edition details. Contains disturbing fictional violence.
Fiction / DramatizationAccess Varies · Check Source
Link Check PendingReport a Link (Email)
View on Amazon · paid linkExplore this book
Paperback · Check current price and availability on Amazon.
Netflix · 2022 · scripted series
DAHMER – Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story
The dramatized series starring Evan Peters, separate from Conversations with a Killer: The Jeffrey Dahmer Tapes. Netflix’s production guide establishes the adaptation and cast; scenes and dialogue should not be treated as documentary evidence. Contains disturbing violence.
Fiction / DramatizationFree Production Guide · Not Playback
Last Checked: · Access may changeReport a Link (Email)
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Podcasts
Podcasts
15 itemsAbout these sources
Audio episodes and oral histories. Personal recollections are attributed perspectives; some services require sign-in.
iheart.com
The Guilty Files — Jeffrey Dahmer: Uncovered
Direct episode page for this case or its screen adaptation. Open it for listening options and the publisher’s episode notes.
PodcastAccess Varies · Check Source
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The Casual Criminalist
Jeffrey Dahmer: The True and Unabridged Story of the Milwaukee Monster
Podcast coverage of the Jeffrey Dahmer case. Released April 7, 2023. About 223 minutes.
PodcastAccess Varies · Check Source
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True Crime All The Time
Jeffrey Dahmer
Podcast coverage of the Jeffrey Dahmer case. Released December 11, 2017. About 80 minutes.
PodcastAccess Varies · Check Source
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Killer Psyche
Jeffrey Dahmer - The Milwaukee Monster
Podcast coverage of the Jeffrey Dahmer case. Released July 21, 2026. About 55 minutes.
PodcastAccess Varies · Check Source
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Rotten Mango
#16- The Twisted Life of Jeffrey Dahmer *He Wanted to Create Living Zombies
Podcast coverage of the Jeffrey Dahmer case. Released September 23, 2020. About 105 minutes.
PodcastAccess Varies · Check Source
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Lights Out
Jeffrey Dahmer: The Milwaukee Cannibal
Podcast coverage of the Jeffrey Dahmer case. Released June 19, 2020. About 95 minutes.
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Show 9 more podcasts
Last Podcast On The Left
Episode 122: Dahmer Part I: Infinity Land
Podcast coverage of the Jeffrey Dahmer case. Released February 17, 2015. About 60 minutes.
PodcastAccess Varies · Check Source
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Last Podcast On The Left
Episode 124: Dahmer Part III: Paint It White
Podcast coverage of the Jeffrey Dahmer case. Released February 17, 2015. About 65 minutes.
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Serial Killers: Real Life Documentaries
Jeffrey Dahmer - Serial Killer Documentary
Podcast coverage of the Jeffrey Dahmer case. Released December 15, 2025. About 50 minutes.
PodcastAccess Varies · Check Source
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Serial Killers & Murderous Minds
Jeffrey Dahmer Pt. 1
Podcast coverage of the Jeffrey Dahmer case. Released October 7, 2024. About 43 minutes.
PodcastAccess Varies · Check Source
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Killer Stories with Harvey Guillén
Jeffrey Dahmer Special Pt. 1
Podcast coverage of the Jeffrey Dahmer case. Released December 23, 2019. About 42 minutes.
PodcastAccess Varies · Check Source
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Murder In America
EP. 23 WISCONSIN - Jeffrey Dahmer, The Milwaukee Cannibal (PT. 1)
Podcast coverage of the Jeffrey Dahmer case. Released July 11, 2021. About 56 minutes.
PodcastAccess Varies · Check Source
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Murder, Mystery & Makeup
Jeffrey Dahmer. Inside His Messed Up Mind & How He Almost Got Away.
Podcast coverage of the Jeffrey Dahmer case. Released October 31, 2021. About 60 minutes.
PodcastAccess Varies · Check Source
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Serial Killers & Murderous Minds
Jeffrey Dahmer Pt. 2
Podcast coverage of the Jeffrey Dahmer case. Released October 7, 2024. About 43 minutes.
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Murder In America
EP. 24 WISCONSIN - Jeffrey Dahmer, The Milwaukee Cannibal (PT. 2)
Podcast coverage of the Jeffrey Dahmer case. Released July 18, 2021. About 61 minutes.
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Social Media
BRING YOUR PERSPECTIVE
Where would you start?
Choose your reading route, then share a question with your community.
Your choice stays on this page. No vote is submitted or counted.
Talk about sources and storytelling with care for the people affected. A documentary, a book and a court record serve different purposes.
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News & Reading
More Reading & Audio
4 sourcesExplore book records, previews, library audiobooks and selected documents. Access labels distinguish free material from library loans and paid subscriptions.
Google Books · Magazine Archive · Preview / Limited Pages
Jet — December 19, 1994
Coverage of Jeffrey Dahmer’s victims, listed on page 14. Explore the magazine viewer; available pages may vary.
Explore Preview ↗Last Checked: · Access may changeReport a Link (Email)
Open Library · Catalog / Availability
Jeffrey Dahmer by Joel Norris
Bibliographic record for related reading. Check the edition page for previews, lending and other access options; full text has not been confirmed.
View Catalog & Access Options ↗Last Checked: · Access may changeReport a Link (Email)
Google Books · Catalog / Availability
A Father’s Story
Lionel Dahmer. Related reading for Jeffrey Dahmer. Book information and any pages made available by Google Books; this is not a promise of full-text access.
View Catalog & Access Options ↗Last Checked: · Access may changeReport a Link (Email)
Everand · Subscription Access
A Father’s Story — Ebook
Lionel Dahmer. Related reading for Jeffrey Dahmer. Check the current subscription terms and available sample; trial offers are not permanent free access.
View Subscription Options ↗Last Checked: · Access may changeReport a Link (Email)
Reading Access Notes
Search reviewed 2026-09-16. Sources searched: Google Books, Internet Archive, Open Library, Library of Congress, Smithsonian Magazine, The Atavist Magazine, Google Books (case/title search), Scribd, Everand, OverDrive and hoopla (combined title search). Search indexing is incomplete; this is not an exhaustive list of the web. Access can change by edition, country and library membership. Library loans may require sign-in or a wait. Everand titles may need a paid subscription; a trial is not permanent free access. Scribd documents are third-party uploads, with uploader details noted where checked. We link to source pages and write our own descriptions rather than reproducing copyrighted books.
A separate Texas Monthly search was blocked by the publisher’s automated-access rules and could not be verified.
News & reporting
1 itemsLos Angeles Times
Reporting on Jeffrey Dahmer
Linked reporting or commentary. Read the source date for its historical context; access may require a subscription.
JournalismAccess Varies · Check Source
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Newspaper clippings
2 itemsFeatured newspaper clipping
Read our original summary below. The archive link opens the newspaper’s own clipping viewer.
Arizona Republic · 1991-08-19 · Page 6
A newspaper profile examines Dahmer’s past
A continued feature reviews accounts of Dahmer’s childhood and earlier warning signs.
Historical profile published before trial; interpretations are not clinical findings.
Newspaper ReportingAccess Varies · Check Source
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Read the original at Newspapers.com. Access and subscription requirements are set by the archive.
Open full clipping at Newspapers.comMore from the newspaper archive
Continue with these dated reports on Newspapers.com.
Statesman Journal · 1992-01-28 · Page 3
Jury selection begins in Dahmer’s trial
A report explains jury selection for the proceeding over Dahmer’s mental responsibility.
Historical court reporting; contains graphic references.
Read this article on Newspapers.comKeep following the newspaper trail.
Search original reporting, follow the trial, and compare how newspapers covered the case over time.
Explore more on Newspapers.comNewspapers.com controls access to its archive. A subscription may be required; existing subscribers can sign in.
Internet Archive
3 itemsAbout these sources
Library records and preserved media. A catalog listing does not guarantee full reading or playback.
Internet Archive · TV News Archive
American Morning : CNN : November 30, 2011 6:00am-9:00am EST
The archive indexes this broadcast under Jeffrey Dahmer. It may contain several stories; use any available captions or previews to locate the relevant segment. Full playback may be restricted.
Archive ResourceAccess Varies · Check Source
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Internet Archive · TV News Archive
The Confessions of a Serial Killer : MSNBCW : December 11, 2011 6:00pm-8:00pm PST
The archive indexes this broadcast under Jeffrey Dahmer. It may contain several stories; use any available captions or previews to locate the relevant segment. Full playback may be restricted.
Archive ResourceAccess Varies · Check Source
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Internet Archive · TV News Archive
WGN News at Nine : WGN : March 2, 2012 9:00pm-10:00pm CST
The archive indexes this broadcast under Jeffrey Dahmer. It may contain several stories; use any available captions or previews to locate the relevant segment. Full playback may be restricted.
Archive ResourceAccess Varies · Check Source
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Court & Files
Court records & documents
1 itemsAbout these sources
Documents are labeled by type and scope. Allegations in filings are not findings of guilt. This collection is not the complete case file.
Criminal complaintArchive copy
State v. Dahmer — amended criminal complaint
A preserved copy of the amended complaint charging Jeffrey Dahmer. It sets out individual counts and the allegations supporting them; a charging complaint is not a verdict.
- Court / agency
- Milwaukee County Circuit Court, Wisconsin
- Document date
- 1991
- Case / citation
- F-91-2542
- Hosted by
- Lee Lofland document archive
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Roads Traveled
Roads Traveled
Open case map →Wisconsin & Ohio. The map provides regional context; individually verified historical places are listed below.
Where this story happened
Wisconsin & Ohio
Highlighted states show regional context, not exact addresses. Ontario and regions outside the contiguous U.S. are listed by name.
Explore the interactive case atlas →Boundaries: Natural Earth · public domain
Location research & source notes
Map sources checked September 14, 2026. 7 individual Odd Stops location pages matched this case.
See this case’s source review
- Odd Stops
- Location pages found · 7 location pages. Read the location summaries in our place guides; photographs appear where reuse rights are verified.
- MurderData
- No verified match found.
- ArcGIS essay
- Profile in 2021 essay. Read the independent essay ↗
- Reddit map
- Reviewed as a general resource. Its coordinates and victim counts were not adopted as case evidence.
“No verified match” describes the accessible material found in this review, not proof that a source has never covered the case. MAP’s anonymous records were not individually matched to people.
See the full case checklist →Demolished building · historical site
Former Oxford Apartments site
Historical address: 924 North 25th Street, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Dahmer lived in Apartment 213 from 1990 until his 1991 arrest. The Oxford Apartments were demolished on November 16, 1992.
Historical reference · no visitor access verified
The original building is gone. Odd Stops identifies an empty fenced lot. Historical context only; no museum or visitor access was verified.
View the exterior imagery on Odd Stops. No photograph with verified reuse permission has been added here.
Explore This Place →Sources reviewed September 14, 2026. Check access information before traveling.
Operating hotel · historical connection
Ambassador Hotel
2308 West Wisconsin Avenue, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Dahmer said he killed Steven Tuomi at this Milwaukee hotel in 1987. This connection is based on his account; it should not be read as a claim that Tuomi’s remains were recovered here.
Planning a visit
Explore This Place →An operating hotel with rooms and dining venues. Use the official site for reservations and ordinary guest information; no crime-related tour or access to a particular historical room was verified.
Sources reviewed September 14, 2026. Check access information before traveling.
Dahmer's grandmother's former home
Private property2357 South 57th Street, West Allis, Wisconsin
Dahmer lived with his grandmother here during the 1980s. The house became one of the locations examined in the investigation.
Historical reference only. No tour or public entry has been verified; respect residents and do not contact occupants.
Explore This Place →Dahmer's childhood home
Private property4480 West Bath Road, Bath Township, Ohio
Dahmer grew up here and killed Steven Hicks at the property in June 1978.
Historical reference only. No tour or public entry has been verified; respect residents and do not contact occupants.
Explore This Place →Former Club 219 site
Business · historical connection219 South Second Street, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
This former nightclub is discussed as a place where Dahmer met victims. Its historical role does not describe any present business.
Current opening hours and historical-site access are not verified here. A business connection does not mean tours or special access are available.
Explore This Place →Former Phoenix bar site
Private property235 South Second Street, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
The former bar is linked to encounters in Dahmer's case. Odd Stops identifies later residential use of the former entrance.
Historical reference only. No tour or public entry has been verified; respect residents and do not contact occupants.
Explore This Place →La Cage nightclub location
Business · historical connection801 South Second Street, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Dahmer met Anthony Sears at this nightclub in 1989. The listing supplies historical context for that encounter.
Current opening hours and historical-site access are not verified here. A business connection does not mean tours or special access are available.
Explore This Place →EXPLORE THE CASE
Positive Outcome
Positive Outcome
0 itemsAbout these sources
Documented laws, advocacy and reforms. Listing a change does not claim it is effective or universally supported.
No case-specific reform has been verified for this collection yet.
Social Media
10 itemsAbout these sources
Case-specific posts, videos and communities. Community opinions are separate from verified reporting. Platforms may require sign-in.
Absolute Crime
Jeffrey Dahmer: Behind The Crimes Of A Cannibal Monster
Video from Absolute Crime covering the Jeffrey Dahmer case. Length: 43:07.
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The Casual Criminalist
Jeffrey Dahmer: The True and Unabridged Story of the Milwaukee Monster
Video from The Casual Criminalist covering the Jeffrey Dahmer case. Length: 3:40:06.
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BuzzFeed Unsolved Network
Criminal Psychologist Explains The Twisted Mind Of Jeffrey Dahmer
Video from BuzzFeed Unsolved Network covering the Jeffrey Dahmer case. Length: 22:14.
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FilmRise True Crime
World's Most Evil Killers - Season 1, Episode 14 - Jeffrey Dahmer - Full Episode
Full episode or film as labeled by the publisher from FilmRise True Crime covering the Jeffrey Dahmer case. Length: 43:22.
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Inside Edition
Inside the Mind of Jeffrey Dahmer: Serial Killer’s Chilling Jailhouse Interview
Interview or news segment from Inside Edition covering the Jeffrey Dahmer case. Length: 17:12.
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Investigation Discovery
Mind of a Monster: Jeffrey Dahmer | S4 Ep.1: First Kill | ID
Video from Investigation Discovery covering the Jeffrey Dahmer case. Length: 35:58.
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Show 4 more social media
Investigation Discovery
BINGE Jeffrey Dahmer - Full Episodes | Mind of a Monster | ID
Full episode or film as labeled by the publisher from Investigation Discovery covering the Jeffrey Dahmer case. Length: 3:34:54.
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Investigation Discovery
Mind of a Monster: Jeffrey Dahmer | S4 Ep.2: A Serial Killer Is Born | ID
Video from Investigation Discovery covering the Jeffrey Dahmer case. Length: 35:33.
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CNN
'How it Really Happened:' Jeffrey Dahmer didn't want victims to die
Video from CNN covering the Jeffrey Dahmer case. Length: 2:06.
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Real Crime
Dahmer: The Blood Curling Story Of The Milwaukee Cannibal | World’s Most Evil Killers | Real Crime
Video from Real Crime covering the Jeffrey Dahmer case. Length: 42:50.
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