How Old Was Jeffrey Dahmer When He Went To Jail?

May 2024 · 3 minute read

Jeffrey Dahmer was 27 years old when he was arrested and jailed for the murder of Stephen Hicks. Hicks was the first of 17 known victims that Dahmer would ultimately confess to the killing. 

Dahmer’s crimes began in 1978 when he lured a hitchhiker named Steven Tuomi to his Milwaukee apartment and bludgeoned him to death with a barbell. 

He then sexually assaulted and dismembered the body before disposing of it in a dumpster. In 1987, Dahmer met another hitchhiker named David Thomas; he strangled Thomas before dismembering and raping his corpse.

These murders, among others, would ultimately land Dahmer in prison for life.

Why Was Jeffrey Dahmer At First Arrested?

Although Jeffrey Dahmer’s gruesome crimes would eventually make him one of the most infamous serial killers in history, his first brush with the law was relatively minor. In 1978, Dahmer was arrested for public intoxication at the age of 18. 

He spent 10 days in jail before being released on probation. Dahmer would go on to be arrested several more times for various offenses, including disorderly conduct and sexual exploitation of a child. However, it wasn’t until 1991 that he was finally convicted of murder and sentenced to life in prison.

How Was Life in Prison for Jeffrey Dahmer?

Jeffrey Dahmer was an American serial killer who was sentenced to life in prison in 1992. During his time in prison, Dahmer was kept in solitary confinement for 23 hours a day. 

He was only allowed out of his cell for one hour each day, during which time he was allowed to shower, use the restroom, and exercise in a small enclosure. 

Dahmer was also not allowed to have any personal items in his cell, and he was only given a mattress and a blanket. While in prison, Dahmer was attacked by another inmate and required 100 stitches. 

He also attempted to escape from prison twice. In 1994, Dahmer was transferred to a different prison where he eventually died after being stabbed by another inmate.

Why Did Jeffrey Dahmer Get Involved In Such Crimes at Such a Young Age?

Although Dahmer was not convicted of his first murder until he was 34 years old, he began committing horrific acts at a young age. In 1978, when Dahmer was just 18, he raped and nearly killed a hitchhiker named Stephen Hicks. 

Hicks managed to escape and later identified Dahmer to the police, but Dahmer was not charged with any crime. 

It is believed that this early act of violence had a profound effect on Dahmer, setting him on a path of increasingly violent behavior. Over the next 13 years, Dahmer would commit rape, murder, necrophilia, and cannibalism. 

Many experts believe that his uncontrolled anger and craving for power led him to commit these atrocious crimes. While it is impossible to know for certain what drove Dahmer to such dark depths, his early history of violence provides some insight into the mind of this disturbed individual.

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