4 Shocking Facts About How Jeffrey Dahmer Died: The Prison Murder That Ended The Milwaukee Cannibal

Jeffrey Dahmer, the notorious "Milwaukee Cannibal," was one of the most infamous serial killers in American history, but his life of unimaginable depravity came to a sudden and violent end behind bars. As of December 2025, the definitive account of his death remains a chilling testament to the brutal realities of the prison system and the final, shocking act of vigilante justice that ended his reign of terror. He was not killed by suicide, natural causes, or a dramatic escape attempt, but was instead murdered by a fellow inmate in a gruesome attack that made headlines worldwide.

The man responsible for 17 documented murders between 1978 and 1991, Dahmer was serving 16 consecutive life sentences when he was killed. His death, which occurred almost exactly 30 years ago, continues to fascinate and horrify true crime enthusiasts. This article delves into the final moments of the serial killer, the identity of his murderer, and the disturbing motive that drove the attack at the Columbia Correctional Institution.

Jeffrey Dahmer: A Brief Biography of the Milwaukee Monster

Jeffrey Lionel Dahmer, often referred to as the "Milwaukee Monster" or "Milwaukee Cannibal," was a figure whose crimes transcended normal comprehension. His biography is a timeline of escalating depravity that culminated in one of the most sensational criminal trials of the 20th century.

• The Enduring Legacy Of Haylor 5 Shocking Facts About Harry Styles And Taylor Swifts Relationship 10 Years Later Sf662

• Full Name: Jeffrey Lionel Dahmer
• Born: May 21, 1960, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin
• Died: November 28, 1994, in Portage, Wisconsin
• Victims: 17 young men and boys, murdered between 1978 and 1991.
• Crimes Included: Murder, dismemberment, necrophilia, and cannibalism.
• Arrest: July 22, 1991, after a victim, Tracy Edwards, escaped and led police to Dahmer's apartment.
• Sentence: 16 consecutive life sentences (941 years) in 1992.
• Place of Death: Columbia Correctional Institution (CCI), Portage, Wisconsin.

The Final Day: Dahmer's Last Moments in Columbia Correctional

Dahmer's life in prison was marked by isolation and constant danger. He was initially placed in protective custody but later requested to be moved to the general population, a decision many viewed as reckless. By November 1994, he was assigned to a work detail that involved cleaning the prison gymnasium.

On the morning of November 28, 1994, Dahmer, along with two other inmates—Jesse Anderson and Christopher Scarver—were left unsupervised for about 20 minutes while cleaning the gymnasium bathroom. All three men were convicted murderers. Jesse Anderson was serving a life sentence for the murder of his wife, a crime he tried to blame on two Black men in a hate-crime hoax.

It was in this window of time that the unthinkable happened. Scarver, armed with a metal bar from the prison's weight room, attacked Dahmer first, delivering two fatal blows to his head. He then proceeded to brutally attack Jesse Anderson as well, leaving both men for dead.

• The Chilling True Story 5 Key Facts About Richard Evonitz The Serial Killer Who Kidnapped Kara Robinson Chamberlain Xpjje

Christopher Scarver: The Man Who Killed the Cannibal

The man who ended the life of the "Milwaukee Cannibal" was Christopher Scarver, a fellow inmate with his own history of violence. Scarver was serving a life sentence for the 1990 murder of his boss, a man named Steven Lohman, during a robbery.

After the attack, Scarver simply walked back to his cell and informed a correctional officer, "God told me to do it. Jesse Anderson and Jeffrey Dahmer are dead." Dahmer was found alive but critically injured. He was rushed to a local hospital but was pronounced dead an hour later due to severe head trauma.

Scarver received two additional life sentences for the murders of Dahmer and Anderson. His actions, while shocking, led to intense public debate about the nature of justice and the safety of notorious prisoners. The forensic experts and the subsequent autopsy report confirmed that Dahmer died from massive blunt force trauma to the skull.

• Shania Twains Bold Statement Why The Star Chose Nude Photoshoots At 57 Qf9cg

The Disturbing Motive: Why Scarver Ended Dahmer's Life

For two decades, Christopher Scarver remained silent about the exact motivation behind the attack. However, in recent years, he has spoken out, providing a disturbing insight into his actions. His motive was not a random act of violence, but a culmination of deep-seated disgust and fear toward the infamous killer.

Dahmer's Lack of Remorse

Scarver claimed that Dahmer showed no remorse for his horrific crimes. He felt that Dahmer continued to taunt and disturb other inmates, acting as if his deeds were a joke. Scarver stated that Dahmer would often fashion his prison food into shapes resembling human limbs, drizzle ketchup on them, and leave them in places where other inmates would find them. This gruesome, unsettling behavior was the final straw for Scarver.

A Newspaper Clipping

The killer also revealed that he had been carrying a newspaper clipping detailing Dahmer’s heinous crimes and the victims, many of whom were Black. Scarver, who is Black, felt a sense of moral responsibility and was disgusted by Dahmer's actions against minority communities. He confronted Dahmer, holding the newspaper clipping, and asked him about his crimes before delivering the fatal blows.

The murder of Jeffrey Dahmer by Christopher Scarver brought a sudden and violent end to the life of one of the world's most infamous serial killers. While the circumstances remain controversial, the event closed the final, dark chapter on the "Milwaukee Cannibal," ensuring he would never harm another victim. The case continues to be studied by criminologists and true crime fans as a rare instance of a serial killer meeting a violent end at the hands of one of his own.