The story of Jeffrey Dahmer has fascinated true-crime aficionados for decades and now, the grim deeds of the serial killer are coming back into the limelight due to the latest series from Netflix.
Dahmer – Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story recounts the infamous deeds of the Milwaukee cannibal and also explores parts of his childhood and the relationship he had with his parents.
But who are Jeffrey Dahmer’s parents and what eventually happened to them?
Who are Jeffrey Dahmer’s parents?
Jeffrey’s parents are Lionel and Joyce Dahmer.
After getting married, the couple welcomed Jeffrey as their first child on May 21, 1960, and would later have a second son, David, in December 1966.
Jeffrey’s father, Lionel, was a chemistry student during the early years of Jeffrey’s life and was away from home for large periods of time while studying for a PhD. After earning his doctorate, the Dahmers moved to Ohio where Lionel started work as a research chemist.
When Lionel was at home, he taught Jeffrey how to preserve animal bones, believing his son was taking in the scientific aspect of studying the animals.
Joyce, meanwhile, worked as a teletype machine instructor during Jeffrey’s childhood. She is reported to have suffered several mental health issues including depression and is known to have attempted suicide.
In 1978, after it came to light Joyce had engaged in an affair a year earlier, she and Lionel divorced when Jeffrey was 18.
What happened to Lionel Dahmer?
As of 2022, Lionel Dahmer is still alive and is currently 86 years old.
After divorcing Joyce, Lionel went on to marry for a second time when he wed Shari Jordan, who subsequently became Jeffrey and David’s stepmother.
In 1994, Lionel published a book entitled A Father’s Story in which he chronicled his thoughts about Jeffrey’s deeds and donated a portion of the proceeds to the families of Jeffrey’s victims.
Lionel, who is now retired, lives in Ohio with second wife Shari and has kept out of the public eye since 2020.
What happened to Joyce Dahmer?
Joyce, who went by her maiden name Flint after the divorce, died at the age of 64 on November 27, 2000, after battling breast cancer.
After divorcing Lionel, she moved with their son David to Fresno, California, where she found work in several jobs, notably working as manager of a retirement home in the 1980s.
In 1991, Joyce changed professions and went on to manage the Central Valley Aids Team, helping to combat the spread of HIV and Aids.
Dahmer – Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story is available to stream now on Netflix after releasing on Wednesday, September 21, 2022.
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