Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Series on Netflix has led fans to storm the internet with searches like Is Lionel Dahmer still alive or not. Well, if you have not watched the series then let me inform you that the popular series portrays the life of Jeffrey Dahmer, one of the most dangerous serial killers in the US.
Here you must know that the series has also brought to light the members of the Dahmer family as well as the 17 victims of Dahmer. This list also includes Jeffrey’s father Lionel and his brother David. If you wish to learn more about the father of the serial killer, then you should go through this article.
Lionel and Jeffrey
Before proceeding further, we must inform you that in 1992, Jeffrey Dahmer faced conviction for the murder of 15 boys and men, a spree that occurred between 1978 and 1991. You might be stunned to learn that he also confessed to two additional killings.
Subsequently, Lionel, who held a profession as a chemist, openly acknowledged that there were discernible indicators of his son’s troubling behaviour. According to him, even in the early stages of his life, those signs were evident.
Now at the age of 86, Lionel has primarily maintained a low profile in the public sphere during recent years. Nevertheless, he has occasionally emerged for public engagements and authored a book detailing his perspective as the father of Jeffrey.
His Love For His Son
In his unwavering quest to shoulder responsibility for his son’s actions, Lionel expressed regret about Jeffrey’s upbringing. He recalled how Jeffrey would leave the house during arguments between Lionel and Joyce. Moreover, the father also lamented not having a more ideal family atmosphere.
This might be saddening to know that despite everything, his love for his children remained steadfast. When asked about his perspective on his son, Lionel expressed a hopeful but somewhat naive view.
If we believe him, seeing an innocent and vulnerable child he wished he could still help. A decade later, in a conversation with Larry King, Lionel succinctly stated that he deeply loved his son.
The 1989 Conviction
Here you must know that in 1989, Dahmer was convicted of second-degree sexual assault. As a result, he served a one-year sentence at a work release camp, being released in 1990. However, interestingly, Lionel wrote a letter to Judge William Gardner.
In it, he expressed his concerns about his son’s need for mental health treatment. You might be stunned to learn here that he even requested that his son should remain incarcerated.
However, Jeffrey was released two months earlier than expected. After his release, Dahmer went on to murder Konerak Sinthasomphone, a 14-year-old, who was brother of a young man he had previously been convicted of molesting.
The 1992 Conviction Brought Them Closer
In an interesting turn of events, Dahmer was arrested on over a dozen murder charges in July 1991. This led to his 1992 conviction on 15 counts of murder and a sentence of 15 consecutive life terms.
In a 1994 interview on the Oprah Winfrey Show, Lionel disclosed that he maintained a close relationship with his son while he was in prison. In fact, he visited him monthly and also spoke to him weekly. Lionel further affirmed his unwavering love for his son, stating, that they got really close after his arrest.
Lionel appeared on Winfrey’s show to promote his memoir, “A Father’s Story.” The aim of this show was to raise awareness about recognizing warning signs in children and creating treatment options for those facing similar struggles as his son.
Lionel’s Last Interview
Lionel made a brief appearance in the 2020 documentary “Jeffrey Dahmer: Mind of a Monster”. However, he has generally kept a low profile. In the documentary, he expressed his deep sadness upon learning of Dahmer’s murder in prison in 1994.
He agreed that there were disagreements between Lionel and his first wife, Joyce Flint. Lionel wanted Dahmer’s brain cremated, while Flint wanted it examined by medical professionals. A judge ruled for cremation in 1995.
Lionel also mentioned his decision to keep the Dahmer name, unlike his younger son, David. He’s proud of the name’s ancestry but occasionally used a different name when dining out to avoid attention.
Lionel Dahmer Today
If you are looking on the internet for searches like How did Lionel Dahmer die then you must know that he is still living. Based on the Ohio Resident Database, the 86-year-old Lionel is presently alive. He resides with his wife, Shari Jordan, whom he wed in 1978, in Seville.
Moreover, he has been a registered voter in Medina County since August 2004. While Lionel has made occasional appearances on television shows and interviews in the past two decades, he typically leads a reclusive life, staying out of the public eye.
Lionel Dahmer Book
You might not know that Lionel has authored a book, recollecting the way he saw his son. The name of the book is A Father’s Story. The narrative of the book unfolds chronologically, spanning from Jeffrey’s birth to his arrest and imprisonment.
He embarks on a quest to comprehend the motivations behind his son’s heinous crimes, including murder, necrophilia, and cannibalism. He meticulously examines every potential factor that might have contributed to his son’s descent into psychosis, commencing with a critical self-evaluation.
Dahmer acknowledges his own shortcomings as a father, recognizing his emotional distance from his son. In his introspection, he speculates that his own youthful shyness, fascination with explosives, and anxieties related to abandonment may have coalesced into a deeply troubling genetic inheritance.
Also read: Who is David Dahmer? The Hidden Story Behind The Brother of Serial Killer, Jeffrey Dahmer
