Seventeen Lost

Mona Muca

Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story has become Netflix’s second most popular English language series, with over 701.37 million hours viewed.

Despite the show’s success, it has caused a lot of controversy amongst its audience. The producers of the show didn’t have permission from the victims’ families to use their stories or to create the television show. Rita Isbell, who was the sister of Errol Lindsey (one of Dahmer’s victims) stated that Netflix never reached out to her about the show. According to its producer, Ryan Murphy, the purpose of filming the series was to tell the tragic fates of the men who were mercilessly killed by Dahmer. However, the show focuses more on Dahmer and his life rather than the victims.

Dahmer’s first murder took place only three weeks after his high school graduation. On June 18th, 1979, Steven Hicks became the serial killer’s first victim. After Hicks’ disturbing death, Dahmer continued his killings from 1987 to 1991. He would often lure men into his apartment. Dahmer commonly committed acts of necrophilia and cannibalism with his victims’ lifeless bodies. Additionally, he would take polaroids of the victims’ corpses.

Dahmer’s atrocities did not go unnoticed. Glenda Cleveland was a concerned neighbor who contacted the police to inform them about the suspicions she had. Although she reached out to police several times, her concerns were disregarded. Nicole Childress—Cleveland’s niece—called the police when she witnessed Konerak Sinthasomphone on the street, naked and severely injured. Sinthasomphone was only fourteen at the time. After responding to the call, the police were fooled by Dahmer. Dahmer told them that the young child was his nineteen-year-old boyfriend who was drunk. The police did not run a background check on him. After this happened, Cleveland decided to take matters into her own hands. She continued alerting the authorities more and more.

Sinthasomphone was eventually reported missing. Cleveland continued to call the police, and even tried to contact the FBI. Unfortunately, she was ignored. The fourteen-year-old was murdered by Dahmer.

Up until Dahmer’s arrest on July 22nd, 1991, along with Konerak Sinthasomphone, Matt Turner, Jeremiah Weinberger, Oliver Lacy, and Joseph Bradehoft were brutally killed and mutilated by Dahmer. Seventeen young men who had their entire futures ahead of them tragically died at the hands of a psychotic killer.

The victims’ families have dealt with extreme trauma and are still grieving. Many of the victim’s families have come forward and said that the Dahmer show has forced them to relive the worst event of their lives. As we recall the murders Jeffery Dahmer committed throughout the 20th century, it is important to remember the names of the people who were unfairly taken from their families.

June 18, 1978: Steven Hicks, 18

November 20, 1987: Steven Tuomi, 24

January 16, 1988: Jamie Doxtator, 14

March 24, 1988: Richard Guerrero, 25

March 25, 1989: Anthony Sears, 26

May 20, 1990: Raymond Smith, 33

June 1990: Edward W. Smith, 28

September 1990: Ernest Miller, 22

September 24, 1990: David C. Thomas, 23

February 18, 1991: Curtis Straughter, 18

April 7, 1991: Errol Lindsey, 19

May 24, 1991: Anthony "Tony" Hughes, 31

May 27, 1991: Konerak Sinthasomphone, 14

June 30, 1991: Matt Turner, 20

July 5, 1991: Jeremiah Weinberger, 23

July 15, 1991: Oliver Lacy, 23

July 19, 1991: Joseph Bradehoft, 25