November 22, 2022

Netflix has recently released its third television show about Jeffery Dahmer and its seventh movie about a serial killer-most of which are about Dahmer. Clearly our culture is fascinated with this criminal, but the jury is still out on why he committed his disturbing crimes.

Dahmer was born on May 21, 1960, in Milkwaukee, Wisconsin, and his family later moved to Ohio. His parents were in a horrible relationship: His mother, Joyce Dahmer, was excessively medicated and Lionel Dahmer, his father, was maritally unfaithful. To get closer to his son, Lionel would take Jeffrey on trips to see different examples of roadkill, including cats, rabbits and raccoons. Lionel would help Jeffrey dissect and taxidermy the animals.

Joyce took many medications while she was pregnant, including seizure medications and painkillers. Jeffrey had a double hernia surgery when he was four which turned him from a happy, energetic child to one who was notably subdued.

How and why did Dahmer turn out the way he did? I discussed this question with students and faculty members who have heard of this case.

“I believe his childhood was very rough,” senior Calvin Cunat said. “But that doesn’t excuse what he did.”

“I feel like if [Lionel] hadn’t taken [Jeffrey] to cut up animals he wouldn’t have known how to [hurt] people,” senior Layla Nelson said.

Faculty members had their own unique perspectives.

“Nature is who you are—that is who you are born to be,” Principal Eric Smith said. “Nurture is how you can be taught and instructed to do good.”

“Since Jeffrey was so exposed to the [dead] animals, it eventually [became] boring,” art teacher Antoine Pastor said.

I believe that many of the events that happened in Jeffrey Dahmer’s life were caused by traumas both large and small, but all resulting in loneliness.

Both of Dahmer’s parents are at fault for the outcome of his life: his father’s cheating on his mother and his mother being suicidal and taking many pills while pregnant with him, not to mention leaving him alone at the young age of 17.

One thing is clear: seemingly minor things in someone’s early life can have massive effects later on.