In the annals of American crime, Jeffrey Dahmer stands as one of the most notorious serial killers. His gruesome murders of 17 young men and boys shocked the nation and left a lasting legacy of pain and sorrow. But in the end, it was another inmate, Christopher Scarver, who brought Dahmer's reign of terror to an abrupt end.
Scarver, a 32-year-old inmate at the Columbia Correctional Institution in Wisconsin, had his own troubled past. He was convicted of murder in 1992 after fatally shooting a prison guard. While serving his sentence, Scarver developed a reputation as a loner with a volatile temper. He was often involved in altercations with other inmates and had a history of mental illness.
On November 28, 1994, Scarver was assigned to work detail with Dahmer and another inmate, Jesse Anderson. While the three men were cleaning the prison gymnasium, Scarver suddenly attacked Dahmer, bludgeoning him to death with a metal bar. Anderson was also killed in the assault.
the man who killed jeffrey dahmer
Christopher Scarver, a troubled inmate, ended Jeffrey Dahmer's reign of terror.
- Inmate at Columbia Correctional Institution
- Convicted of murder in 1992
- Reputation as a loner with volatile temper
- History of mental illness
- Assigned to work detail with Dahmer
- Attacked and killed Dahmer with metal bar
- Also killed Jesse Anderson in the assault
- Scarver's motive remains unclear
Scarver's actions brought a sense of closure to the families of Dahmer's victims, but they also raised questions about the state of mental health care in prisons.
Inmate at Columbia Correctional Institution
Christopher Scarver, the man who killed Jeffrey Dahmer, was an inmate at the Columbia Correctional Institution in Wisconsin.
- Convicted of murder: Scarver was convicted of murder in 1992 after fatally shooting a prison guard.
- Volatile temper: Scarver had a reputation as a loner with a volatile temper. He was often involved in altercations with other inmates.
- History of mental illness: Scarver had a history of mental illness. He was diagnosed with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.
- Assigned to work detail: On November 28, 1994, Scarver was assigned to work detail with Dahmer and another inmate, Jesse Anderson.
It was during this work detail that Scarver attacked and killed Dahmer and Anderson. Scarver's motive for the attack remains unclear, but some experts believe that he may have been motivated by Dahmer's crimes or by his own mental illness.
Convicted of murder in 1992
In 1992, Christopher Scarver was convicted of murder for fatally shooting a prison guard named Steve Lohman.
- Victim: Steve Lohman was a 28-year-old prison guard at the Waupun Correctional Institution in Wisconsin.
- Incident: On November 24, 1992, Scarver was being escorted by Lohman and another guard to a segregation unit. Scarver suddenly attacked Lohman, stabbing him multiple times in the head and neck with a sharpened metal object.
- Motive: Scarver's motive for the attack is unclear. Some experts believe that he may have been motivated by racial tensions between inmates and guards at the prison. Others believe that he may have been suffering from a mental illness at the time of the attack.
- Trial and conviction: Scarver was convicted of first-degree murder in 1992 and sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
Scarver's conviction for murder in 1992 is significant because it provides insight into his violent past and his potential for violence. It also raises questions about the state of mental health care in prisons and the role that mental illness may have played in Scarver's crimes.
Reputation as a loner with volatile temper
Christopher Scarver, the man who killed Jeffrey Dahmer, had a reputation as a loner with a volatile temper.
- Loner: Scarver was often described as a loner who kept to himself. He was not known to have many friends or close relationships with other inmates.
- Volatile temper: Scarver was also known for his volatile temper. He was often involved in altercations with other inmates and had a history of violence.
- History of violence: Prior to killing Dahmer, Scarver had been involved in several violent incidents in prison. In one incident, he attacked another inmate with a razor blade. In another incident, he threw a cup of boiling water at a guard.
- Unpredictable behavior: Scarver's unpredictable behavior and history of violence made him a dangerous inmate. He was often placed in solitary confinement or transferred to different prisons in an attempt to manage his behavior.
Scarver's reputation as a loner with a volatile temper is significant because it provides insight into his personality and his potential for violence. It also raises questions about the role that mental illness may have played in his behavior.
History of mental illness
Christopher Scarver, the man who killed Jeffrey Dahmer, had a history of mental illness.
- Diagnosed with schizophrenia: Scarver was diagnosed with schizophrenia, a serious mental illness that can cause hallucinations, delusions, and disorganized thinking.
- Diagnosed with bipolar disorder: Scarver was also diagnosed with bipolar disorder, a mental illness that causes extreme mood swings, from mania to depression.
- History of treatment: Scarver received treatment for his mental illness, including medication and therapy. However, it is unclear how consistently he took his medication or participated in therapy.
- Mental illness and violence: Mental illness is not always associated with violence. However, people with untreated mental illness may be more likely to engage in violent behavior.
Scarver's history of mental illness is significant because it provides insight into his behavior and his potential for violence. It also raises questions about the role that mental illness may have played in his crimes and whether he received adequate treatment for his mental illness.
Assigned to work detail with Dahmer
On November 28, 1994, Christopher Scarver was assigned to work detail with Jeffrey Dahmer and another inmate, Jesse Anderson. The three men were tasked with cleaning the prison gymnasium.
It is unclear why Scarver was assigned to work with Dahmer and Anderson. Some reports suggest that it was a random assignment, while others suggest that Scarver may have requested to work with Dahmer.
Whatever the reason, the assignment proved to be fateful. While the three men were cleaning the gymnasium, Scarver suddenly attacked Dahmer and Anderson with a metal bar. Dahmer and Anderson were both killed in the attack.
Scarver's motive for the attack remains unclear. Some experts believe that he may have been motivated by Dahmer's crimes, while others believe that he may have been suffering from a mental illness at the time of the attack.
Scarver's assignment to work detail with Dahmer is significant because it led to the deaths of Dahmer and Anderson. It also raises questions about the safety of inmates in prison and the role that mental illness may have played in Scarver's crimes.