Editing Jeffrey Dahmer (section)

==Imprisonment==
[[File:Columbia Correctional Institution Wisconsin with guard tower.jpg|thumb|The [[Columbia Correctional Institution (Wisconsin)|Columbia Correctional Institution]]. Dahmer was imprisoned at this facility until his death in 1994.]]

Upon sentencing, Dahmer was transferred to the Columbia Correctional Institution.{{sfn|Campbell|p=36}} For the first year of his incarceration, Dahmer was placed in [[solitary confinement]] due to concerns for his physical safety should he come into contact with fellow inmates. He received ample correspondence from individuals across the world, with several individuals donating money which he spent on items such as cassette recordings, stationery, cigarettes, and magazines.<ref name=":2">{{Cite news |date=March 6, 1994 |title=Serial Killer Dahmer Collects $12,000 from Pen Pals |url=https://apnews.com/article/ff1b41788b5c4b3452ae0ec7d96c06f3 |access-date=November 7, 2022 |work=[[Associated Press]] |language=en |archive-date=November 7, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221107082800/https://apnews.com/article/ff1b41788b5c4b3452ae0ec7d96c06f3 |url-status=live }}</ref> Upon Dahmer's request, after one year in solitary confinement, he was transferred to a less secure unit,{{sfn|Campbell|p=37}} where he was assigned a two-hour daily work detail cleaning the toilet block.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://abc7chicago.com/news/jeffrey-dahmers-killer-explains-why-he-did-it/688971|title=Jeffrey Dahmer's Killer Explains Why He Did It|access-date=July 21, 2017|newspaper=ABC7 Chicago|date=April 30, 2015|archive-date=March 13, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180313031638/http://abc7chicago.com/news/jeffrey-dahmers-killer-explains-why-he-did-it/688971|url-status=live}}</ref> This work detail later expanded to include cleaning the prison gymnasium.{{sfn|Toushin|2006|p=499}}

Shortly after completing his lengthy confessions in 1991, Dahmer had requested to Detective Murphy that he be given a copy of the [[Bible]].{{sfn|Masters|1993|p=215}} This request was granted and Dahmer gradually devoted himself to [[Christianity]] and became a [[born again (Christianity)|born-again Christian]]. On his father's urging, he also read [[creationist]] books from the [[Institute for Creation Research]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gnf1j4hRbjU| archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211028/gnf1j4hRbjU| archive-date=October 28, 2021|title=Full King Interview Dahmer Parents Lionel and Shari|date=June 28, 2014|via=YouTube}}{{cbignore}}</ref> In May 1994, Dahmer was [[baptism|baptized]] by [[Roy Ratcliff]], a minister in the [[Churches of Christ|Church of Christ]] and a graduate of [[Oklahoma Christian University]] whom he had met on April 20.<ref name="Baptism">{{cite news |last1=Drexler |first1=Michael |last2=Sangiacomo |first2=Michaela |title=Dahmer's Last Obsession |date=December 15, 1995 |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/111339339/the-jackson-sun/ |newspaper=[[The Jackson Sun]] |access-date=November 20, 2022 |archive-date=November 20, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221120094532/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/111339339/the-jackson-sun/ |url-status=live }}</ref> This service was conducted in the prison whirlpool.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=JYZhAAAAIBAJ&pg=4821,6803994 |title=Dahmer Found Religion, Played Pranks in Prison |work=[[The Beaver County Times]] |agency=Associated Press |date=November 28, 1994 |access-date=December 5, 2013 |via=Google News |archive-date=January 22, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210122095910/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=JYZhAAAAIBAJ&pg=4821%2C6803994 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Bardsley-22"/>

Following Dahmer's baptism, Ratcliff visited him every week.<ref name="Baptism" /> The two regularly discussed the prospect of death, and Ratcliff later divulged that, in the months prior to his murder, Dahmer had questioned whether he was [[sin]]ning against God by continuing to live.<ref name="peoplemag1994">{{cite magazine|first=Elizabeth|last=Gleick|url=https://people.com/archive/cover-story-the-final-victim-vol-42-no-24|title=The Final Victim|magazine=[[People (magazine)|People]]|volume=42|issue=24|date=December 12, 1994|access-date=July 4, 2014|archive-date=March 12, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170312082603/http://people.com/archive/cover-story-the-final-victim-vol-42-no-24|url-status=live}}</ref> Referring to his crimes in a 1994 interview with [[Stone Phillips]] on ''[[Dateline NBC]]'', Dahmer had stated: "If a person doesn't think that there is a God to be accountable to, then what's the point of trying to modify your behavior to keep it within acceptable ranges? That's how I thought anyway."{{sfn|Ratcliff|Adams|2006|p=57}}

On July 3, 1994, a fellow inmate, Osvaldo Durruthy, attempted to slash Dahmer's throat with a razor embedded in a toothbrush as Dahmer sat in the prison chapel after the weekly church service was concluded.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.umojamagazine.com/article/ceo-of-n-motion-medical-transportation|title=Durruthy: The Road to Success was Far from Easy|work=Umoja Magazine|date=April 3, 2020|access-date=August 25, 2021|archive-date=August 25, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210825162853/https://www.umojamagazine.com/article/ceo-of-n-motion-medical-transportation|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.deseret.com/1994/11/29/19145264/wisconsin-inmate-held-in-slaying-of-dahmer |title=Wisconsin Inmate Held in Slaying of Dahmer |newspaper=[[Deseret News]] |publisher=[[Deseret News Publishing Company]] |location=Salt Lake City, Utah |agency=[[Associated Press]] |date=November 29, 1994 |access-date=July 4, 2014 |archive-date=October 1, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191001043321/https://www.deseret.com/1994/11/29/19145264/wisconsin-inmate-held-in-slaying-of-dahmer |url-status=live}}</ref> Dahmer received superficial wounds and was not seriously hurt in this incident.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/127257752|title=Dahmer Against Protection|newspaper=[[The Canberra Times]]|date=December 1, 1994|access-date=October 19, 2022|archive-date=October 19, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221019202353/https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/127257752|url-status=live}}</ref> According to Dahmer's family, he had long been ready to die, and accepted any punishment which he might endure in prison. In addition to his father and stepmother maintaining regular contact, Dahmer's mother, Joyce, also maintained regular contact with her son. Prior to his arrest, the two had not seen each other since Christmas 1983.{{sfn|Masters|1993|p=87}} Joyce related that in her weekly phone calls, whenever she expressed concerns for her son's physical well-being, Dahmer responded with comments to the effect of: "It doesn't matter, Mom. I don't care if something happens to me."<ref name="peoplemag1994"/>

===Death===
On the morning of November 28, 1994, Dahmer left his cell to conduct his assigned work detail. Accompanying him were two fellow inmates, [[Jesse Anderson]] and [[Christopher Scarver]]. The trio were left unsupervised in the showers of the prison gym for approximately 20 minutes. At approximately 8:10&nbsp;a.m.<ref name="nytimes Dahmer death">{{cite news |first=Don |last=Terry |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1994/11/29/us/jeffrey-dahmer-multiple-killer-is-bludgeoned-to-death-in-prison.html |title=Jeffrey Dahmer, Multiple Killer, Is Bludgeoned to Death in Prison |newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|date=November 29, 1994 |access-date=July 4, 2014 |archive-date=August 21, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140821055820/http://www.nytimes.com/1994/11/29/us/jeffrey-dahmer-multiple-killer-is-bludgeoned-to-death-in-prison.html |url-status=live}}</ref> Dahmer was discovered on the floor of the bathrooms of the gym suffering from extreme head wounds;<ref name="nytimes Inmate Bludgeoned">{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1994/12/01/us/inmate-bludgeoned-with-jeffrey-dahmer-on-work-detail-dies.html |title=Inmate Bludgeoned with Dahmer on Work Detail Dies |newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|date=December 1, 1994 |access-date=August 31, 2020 |archive-date=January 25, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140125123751/http://www.nytimes.com/1994/12/01/us/inmate-bludgeoned-with-jeffrey-dahmer-on-work-detail-dies.html |url-status=live}}</ref> he had been severely bludgeoned about the head and face with a {{convert|20|inch|cm|adj=on|abbr=off|sp=us}} metal bar.<ref name="nytimes Dahmer death" /> His head had also been repeatedly struck against the wall in the assault.{{sfn|Campbell|p=37}} Although Dahmer was still alive and was rushed to a nearby hospital, he was pronounced dead one hour later. Anderson had been beaten with the same instrument; he died from his wounds two days later.<ref name="peoplemag1994" /><ref>{{cite magazine |url=http://content.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,2606,00.html |title=Dahmer Killer Charged |magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time]] |publisher=[[Meredith Corporation]]|date=December 15, 1994 |access-date=October 1, 2019 |archive-date=October 1, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191001043321/http://content.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,2606,00.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

Scarver, who was serving a life sentence for a murder committed in 1990, informed authorities he had first attacked Dahmer with the metal bar as Dahmer was cleaning a staff locker room, before attacking Anderson as Anderson cleaned an inmate locker room. According to Scarver, Dahmer did not yell or make any noise as he was attacked. Immediately after attacking both men, Scarver, who was thought to be [[schizophrenia|schizophrenic]], returned to his cell and informed a prison guard: "God told me to do it. Jesse Anderson and Jeffrey Dahmer are dead."{{sfn|Campbell|p=37}}{{sfn|Aggrawal|2016|p=129}}<ref name="Star-News Dec. 16, 1994">{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1454&dat=19941216&id=yOJOAAAAIBAJ&pg=7077,21690 |title=Inmate: Dahmer Killed for God |newspaper=[[Star-News]] |publisher=[[GateHouse Media]] |location=Wilmington, North Carolina |date=December 16, 1994 |access-date=April 29, 2018 |agency=Associated Press |archive-date=January 22, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210122111249/https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1454&dat=19941216&id=yOJOAAAAIBAJ&pg=7077%2C21690 |url-status=live}}</ref> Scarver was adamant he had not planned the attacks in advance,<ref>{{cite news|first=Michael C.|last=Buelow|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1876&dat=19941216&id=q7EeAAAAIBAJ&pg=6939,15326|title=Bar From Weight Room Used to Kill Dahmer|work=[[Spartanburg Herald-Journal|Herald Journal]]|publisher=[[Adams Publishing Group]]|location=Logan, Utah|date=December 16, 1994|access-date=April 29, 2018|via=[[Google News]]|archive-date=January 22, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210122111625/https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1876&dat=19941216&id=q7EeAAAAIBAJ&pg=6939%2C15326|url-status=live}}</ref> although he later divulged to investigators he had concealed the 20-inch iron bar used to kill both men in his clothing shortly before the killings.<ref name="Star-News Dec. 16, 1994" />{{refn|group=n|Prior to murdering Dahmer and Anderson, Scarver had repeatedly expressed extreme racism towards white people. As the majority of Dahmer's victims were black and Anderson had attempted to frame two black men for his wife's murder, a possibility exists the attacks on both men were racially motivated.<ref name="nytimes Dahmer death" /><ref name="nytimes Inmate Bludgeoned"/>}} According to Scarver, Dahmer's final words were: "I don't care if I live or die. Go ahead and kill me."<ref>{{Cite news |date=January 30, 2024 |title=The Bone-chilling Last Words of Famous Serial Killers |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/etimes/trending/the-bone-chilling-last-words-of-famous-serial-killers/photostory/107267451.cms?picid=107267456 |access-date=April 25, 2025 |newspaper=[[The Times of India]] |issn=0971-8257}}</ref>

Upon learning of his death, Dahmer's mother Joyce responded angrily to the media: "Now is everybody happy? Now that he's bludgeoned to death, is that good enough for everyone?"<ref>{{cite news |first=William |last=Janz |url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=MWSB&p_theme=mwsb&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EB8289CA7DF7852&p_field_direct-0=document_id |title='It Doesn't Matter, Mom,' Dahmer Said |newspaper=[[Milwaukee Journal]] |publisher=[[Gannett Company]] |location=Milwaukee, Wisconsin |date=November 29, 1994 |access-date=December 5, 2013 |archive-date=July 14, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714221422/http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=MWSB&p_theme=mwsb&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EB8289CA7DF7852&p_field_direct-0=document_id |url-status=live}}</ref> The response of the families of Dahmer's victims was mixed: some celebrated the news, while others were saddened. Catherine Lacy, the mother of victim Oliver Lacy, remarked: "The hurt is worse now, because he's not suffering like we are."<ref name="Response" /> The district attorney who prosecuted Dahmer cautioned against turning Scarver into a [[folk hero]], saying that Dahmer's death was still murder.<ref name="peoplemag1994" /> On May 15, 1995, Scarver was sentenced to two additional terms of life imprisonment for the murders of Dahmer and Anderson.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=v0IPAAAAIBAJ&pg=6589,559762 |title=Jeffrey Dahmer's Killer Gets 2 Life Sentences |work=[[Daily News (Kingsport)|Daily News]] |publisher=Sandusky Newspaper Group |location=Kingsport, Tennessee |agency=[[Reuters]] |date=May 17, 1995 |volume=24 |issue=70 |page=11 |access-date=December 5, 2013 |archive-date=January 22, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210122112049/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=v0IPAAAAIBAJ&pg=6589%2C559762 |url-status=live}}</ref>

Dahmer had stated in his will that he wished for no services to be conducted and that he wished to be [[cremation|cremated]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1995/09/18/us/body-of-wisconsin-serial-killer-is-cremated.html |title=Body of Wisconsin Serial Killer Is Cremated |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |agency=Associated Press |date=September 18, 1995 |access-date=December 5, 2013 |archive-date=November 13, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131113014408/http://www.nytimes.com/1995/09/18/us/body-of-wisconsin-serial-killer-is-cremated.html |url-status=live}}</ref> In September 1995, Dahmer's body was cremated, and his ashes divided between his parents.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=DBBIAAAAIBAJ&pg=4044,2046324 |title=Dahmer Cremated |newspaper=[[The Vindicator]] |location=Youngstown, Ohio |page=A3 |date=September 18, 1995 |access-date=December 5, 2013 |archive-date=January 22, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210122112212/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=DBBIAAAAIBAJ&pg=4044%2C2046324 |url-status=live}}</ref> Owing to a disagreement between his parents as to whether Dahmer's brain should be retained for medical research, this organ was initially retained, but later cremated in December 1995.<ref>{{cite news|last=Theimer|first=Sharon|url=https://apnews.com/article/d83c1f74cfff4715af1d5e9d80e7ce56|title=Dahmer's Remains Cremated, Except for Brain|date=September 17, 1995|publisher=Associated Press|access-date=November 11, 2022|archive-date=November 11, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221111004517/https://apnews.com/article/d83c1f74cfff4715af1d5e9d80e7ce56|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Shennan |first=Rhona |date=October 14, 2022 |title=Jeffrey Dahmer Autopsy: What Happened to Serial Killer's Brain After Death, Was it Studied by Scientists? |url=https://www.nationalworld.com/news/people/jeffrey-dahmer-autopsy-what-happened-serial-killer-brain-death-3875271 |access-date=February 7, 2023 |website=National World |archive-date=February 7, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230207202728/https://www.nationalworld.com/news/people/jeffrey-dahmer-autopsy-what-happened-serial-killer-brain-death-3875271 |url-status=live}}</ref>

===Aftermath===
On August 5, 1991, as the nature and scale of Dahmer's crimes initially came to light, a [[candlelight vigil]] to celebrate and heal the Milwaukee community<ref>{{cite news|last1=Sherrill|first1=Martha|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/1991/08/07/city-in-the-grip-of-fear-fascination/1cc4b7a6-3b55-4b67-b1a8-99d4b5920fa8|title=City in The Grip of Fear|access-date=November 13, 2017|newspaper=Washington Post|date=August 7, 1991|archive-date=November 14, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171114093301/https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/1991/08/07/city-in-the-grip-of-fear-fascination/1cc4b7a6-3b55-4b67-b1a8-99d4b5920fa8|url-status=live}}</ref> was attended by more than 400 people. Present at the vigil were community leaders, gay rights activists, and family members of several of Dahmer's victims. Organizers stated the purpose of the vigil was to enable Milwaukeeans to "share their feelings of pain and anger over what happened".{{sfn|Campbell|p=32}}

Dahmer's murders were committed at a time of heightened racial tension in Milwaukee. A professor of community studies at the [[University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee]], Walter Farrell, later stated [[Racism in the United States|race relations]] in the city had been "in a state of disrepair for nearly a decade" at the time of Dahmer's arrest.{{refn|group=n|A 1989 study conducted at the [[University of Chicago]] had listed Milwaukee as one of five "[[Racial segregation in the United States|hypersegregated]]" cities in the United States.<ref name="1989Study" />}} In an August 1991 interview given to the ''[[The Christian Science Monitor|Christian Science Monitor]]'', Farrell stated that news of the murders, as well as the conduct of Milwaukee police officers John Balcerzak and Joseph Gabrish with regards to victim Konerak Sinthasomphone, exacerbated and highlighted racial tensions within the city.<ref name="1989Study">{{Cite news |last=Walters |first=Laurel Shaper |title=Dahmer Case Unleashes Black Anger in Milwaukee |work=[[Christian Science Monitor]] |url=https://www.csmonitor.com/1991/0816/16041.html |date=August 16, 1991 |access-date=August 8, 2022 |issn=0882-7729 |archive-date=October 5, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221005031957/https://www.csmonitor.com/1991/0816/16041.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

Milwaukee's gay scene was generally [[Underground culture|underground]] and transient in nature at the time of Dahmer's murders, with many sexually active gay men using aliases.<ref name=":0" /> Many in the city's gay community were nervous of the intentions of others after the extent of Dahmer's murders became known, although the fear and distrust generated by Dahmer's crimes was short-lived. As the 1990s progressed, the usage of aliases became less common among members of Milwaukee's gay community.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Powers |first=Joy |title=How Did Jeffrey Dahmer Harm Milwaukee's Gay Community? |url=https://www.wuwm.com/regional/2020-06-26/how-did-jeffrey-dahmer-harm-milwaukees-gay-community |date=June 26, 2020 |access-date=August 8, 2022 |website=[[WUWM]] |archive-date=August 15, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220815072054/https://www.wuwm.com/regional/2020-06-26/how-did-jeffrey-dahmer-harm-milwaukees-gay-community |url-status=live }}</ref>

The Oxford Apartments at 924 North 25th Street, where Dahmer had killed twelve of his victims, were demolished in November 1992.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=4BcpAAAAIBAJ&pg=4771,3648855 |work=The Bulletin |title=Dahmer Apartment Demolition Begins |agency=[[Associated Press]] |date=November 17, 1992 |access-date=December 5, 2013 |archive-date=January 22, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210122112359/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=4BcpAAAAIBAJ&pg=4771%2C3648855 |url-status=live}}</ref> The site is now a vacant lot. Alternate plans to convert the site into either a memorial garden, a playground, or to reconstruct new housing have failed to materialize.

Dahmer's [[estate (law)|estate]] was awarded to the families of eleven of his victims who had sued for damages. In 1996, Thomas Jacobson, a lawyer representing eight of the families, announced a planned auction of Dahmer's estate. Although victims' relatives stated the motivation was not greed, the announcement sparked controversy.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://edition.cnn.com/US/9605/08/dahmer.auction/index.html|title=Serial killer's Property Set to Go on The Auction Block|website=[[CNN]]|date=May 8, 1996|access-date=November 24, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121014081959/http://edition.cnn.com/US/9605/08/dahmer.auction/index.html |archive-date=October 14, 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|first=Dirk|last=Johnson|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1996/05/20/us/bid-to-auction-killer-s-tools-provokes-disgust.html|title=Bid to Auction Killer's Tools Provokes Disgust|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|date=May 20, 1996|access-date=November 24, 2018|archive-date=November 11, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121111120225/http://www.nytimes.com/1996/05/20/us/bid-to-auction-killer-s-tools-provokes-disgust.html|url-status=live}}</ref> A civic group, Milwaukee Civic Pride, was quickly established in an effort to raise the funds to purchase and destroy many of Dahmer's possessions.{{refn|group=n|Several of Dahmer's possessions unrelated to his crimes such as items of furniture were retrieved by his father shortly after Dahmer's sentencing.{{sfn|Dahmer|1994|p=249}}}} The group pledged $407,225, including a $100,000 gift by Milwaukee real estate developer Joseph Zilber, for purchase of Dahmer's estate; five of the eight families represented by Jacobson agreed to the terms, and Dahmer's possessions were subsequently destroyed and buried in an undisclosed [[Illinois]] landfill.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=ANQ_AAAAIBAJ&pg=3406%2C5717283|title=Dahmer Belongings Destroyed|newspaper=[[Lawrence Journal-World]]|date=June 28, 1996|access-date=November 24, 2018|via=[[Google News]]|archive-date=November 22, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211122075634/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=ANQ_AAAAIBAJ&pg=3406%2C5717283|url-status=live}}</ref>

In 1994, Lionel published a book, ''[[A Father's Story]]'', and donated a portion of the proceeds from his book to the victims' families. Most of the families showed support for Lionel and Shari, although three families subsequently sued Lionel: two for using their names in the book without obtaining prior consent,<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/os-xpm-1994-03-05-9403050289-story.html |title=Families of 2 Victims Sue Dahmer's Father over Book |access-date=July 21, 2017 |newspaper=Orlando Sentinel |date=March 5, 1994 |archive-date=October 1, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191001043319/https://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/os-xpm-1994-03-05-9403050289-story.html |url-status=live}}</ref> and a third family—that of Steven Hicks—filing a [[wrongful death claim|wrongful death]] suit against Lionel, Shari, and former wife Joyce, citing parental negligence as the cause for the claim.<ref name="ap">{{cite news|url=https://apnews.com/82475da834f55a15464e613c8f20683b|title=Victim's Mother Seeks $50 Million from Dahmers|date=August 29, 1992|publisher=Associated Press|access-date=October 1, 2019|archive-date=October 1, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191001043319/https://apnews.com/82475da834f55a15464e613c8f20683b|url-status=live}}</ref>

Lionel Dahmer lived with his second wife, Shari, until her death in January 2023.<ref>{{cite news|last=Land|first=Olivia|url=https://nypost.com/2023/01/17/jeffrey-dahmers-stepmother-shari-dead-at-81/|title=Jeffrey Dahmer's Stepmother Shari Dead at 81|date=January 17, 2023|publisher=The New York Post|access-date=January 26, 2023|archive-date=January 26, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230126020058/https://nypost.com/2023/01/17/jeffrey-dahmers-stepmother-shari-dead-at-81/|url-status=live}}</ref> He died of natural causes on December 5, 2023.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Traub |first=Alex |date=December 12, 2023 |title=Lionel Dahmer, Who Agonized About Raising a Serial Killer, Dies at 87 |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2023/12/12/us/lionel-dahmer-dead.html |access-date=December 16, 2023 |archive-date=December 16, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231216011427/https://www.nytimes.com/2023/12/12/us/lionel-dahmer-dead.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Both refused to change their surname and professed their love of Dahmer in spite of his crimes.<ref>{{cite news |last=Price |first=Mark J. |date=December 5, 2023 |title=Jeffrey Dahmer's Father, Lionel, Dies at 87 in Medina County |publisher=Akron Beacon Journal |url=https://eu.beaconjournal.com/story/news/2023/12/05/jeffrey-dahmer-father-lionel-dahmer-dies-at-87-in-medina-county-hospice/71818993007/ |access-date=December 7, 2023 |archive-date=December 6, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231206041721/https://eu.beaconjournal.com/story/news/2023/12/05/jeffrey-dahmer-father-lionel-dahmer-dies-at-87-in-medina-county-hospice/71818993007/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

Joyce Flint died of cancer on November 27, 2000. Prior to her death, she had attempted suicide on at least one occasion.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2000-dec-06-me-61803-story.html|title=Joyce Flint; Serial Killer Jeffrey Dahmer's Mother|access-date=May 20, 2017|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|date=December 6, 2000|archive-date=October 1, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191001043322/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2000-dec-06-me-61803-story.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Dahmer's younger brother, David, changed his surname and lives in anonymity.{{sfn|Campbell|p=14}}