The story of Jeffrey Dahmer’s victims represents more than just a tragic chapter in American criminal history. Each of the 17 lives lost between 1978 and 1991 tells a unique story of dreams, relationships, and unrealized potential.
While much media attention has focused on the perpetrator, this article aims to honor the memories of those whose lives were cut short, sharing their stories through the words of their families and loved ones.
The Early Years: First Victims and Missed Opportunities
Steven Hicks (1978)
Steven Hicks, an 18-year-old recent high school graduate, embodied compassion and sensitivity.
His father, Richard Hicks, shared a touching story that captured his son’s character – after successfully hunting a rabbit, Steven both celebrated his achievement and wept for the animal’s life. This duality showed his deep emotional capacity.
On June 18, 1978, while hitchhiking to a rock concert at Chippewa Lake Park in Ohio, Steven encountered Dahmer. His remains weren’t discovered until 1991, leaving his family in anguish for over a decade.
Steven Tuomi (1987)
Steven Tuomi worked as a short-order cook in Milwaukee, having grown up in Ontonagon in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. His artistic talents left lasting impressions on those who knew him.
Former classmate Priscilla Marley Chynoweth remembered his exceptional stained-glass work, noting his broad artistic capabilities.
His disappearance on Sept. 15, 1987, at the Ambassador Hotel marked a turning point. His father, Walter Tuomi, faced frustration when Milwaukee police initially dismissed concerns due to lack of evidence.
Jamie Doxtator (1988)
Jamie Doxtator, despite being only 14 years old, stood nearly six feet tall. His Native American heritage, combining Stockbridge and Oneida ancestry, was an important part of his identity.
A teenager who enjoyed simple pleasures like playing pool and riding his bike, Jamie maintained a close connection with his mother, Debbie Vega, who lived in Tampa, Florida. As the eldest of four children, he carried both responsibility and promise.
His mother later shared one of his favorite Biblical quotes: “Forgive them, for they know not what they do.” The poignant irony of these words would haunt her after his disappearance on Jan. 16, 1988. She found herself unable to embrace her son’s philosophy of forgiveness when faced with the deliberate nature of the crimes.
Richard Guerrero (1988)
Richard Guerrero’s story highlights the intersection of family devotion and systemic inequities. His sister, Janie Hagen, immediately sensed something was wrong when he disappeared in March 1988.
She knew her brother’s dedication to family – even during legal troubles, his first action was always to contact their mother.
The family’s pursuit of justice revealed troubling biases in law enforcement response. Hagen believed police dismissed their concerns because of their Hispanic heritage.
Their desperate search led them to hire a private investigator who ultimately defrauded them, causing Richard’s father to lose his life savings. At the trial, Hagen delivered a powerful statement in Spanish, calling Dahmer “diablo, el puro diablo” (the devil, the pure devil).
Anthony Sears (1989)
Anthony Sears represented ambition and potential. Managing a Baker’s Square restaurant in Milwaukee, he was climbing the career ladder and had recently earned a promotion.
His mother, Marilyn Sears, described a young man passionate about photography and modeling, saving money to leave Milwaukee for greater opportunities.
The tragic timing of his disappearance on March 25, 1989, meant he never made it to the Easter dinner where he planned to celebrate his promotion with family.
His mother’s account of waiting for his call, only to reach his answering machine repeatedly, captures the heartbreaking uncertainty families face when loved ones vanish.
Ricky Beeks (1990)
Known also by his alias Raymond Smith, Ricky Beeks disappeared on May 29, 1990. His story illustrates the complexity of many victims’ lives – he had recently been released from prison and was living with his half-sister, who had taken him in.
He maintained a connection with his 10-year-old daughter in Rockford, Illinois, representing one of many severed family bonds in this tragic series of crimes.
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Eddie Smith (1990)
Eddie Smith, known affectionately as “the Sheikh” due to his signature turban-like headwrap, disappeared in June 1990.
His sister Carolyn Smith received a disturbing call in March 1991, presumably from the perpetrator, informing her of her brother’s death. Eddie’s professional aspirations centered on modeling, a dream he never got to fulfill.
At the trial, his brother J.W. Smith gave voice to the family’s anguish, reading a statement from their mother, Josephine Helen: “Ed was raised in a Christian home where he learned how to be a loving, trusting, respectful human being. Eddie inherited all the blessings that a family structure had to offer. The greatest of those blessings was love.”
Ernest Miller (1990)
Ernest Miller’s life was poised for transformation when it was cut short on Sept. 2, 1990. A graduate of Milwaukee High School of the Arts at West Division, he was preparing to begin classes at an arts college in Chicago, pursuing his dream of becoming a professional dancer.
His aunt, Vivian Miller, spoke of his natural talent, recalling his performances in church and his early artistic development.
His uncle, Stanley Miller, delivered a powerful statement at the trial that captured the family’s pain: “There is no place in a civilized society for anyone who shows no regard for life. I’m not for the death penalty, but you are the perfect candidate.”
David Thomas (1990)
David Thomas left behind two-year-old Courtia Beanland when he vanished on Sept. 24, 1990. His ex-girlfriend, Chandra Beanland, described him as fun-loving but complex. In 1996, she spoke about the lasting impact of his loss: “I try to go on with my life, but I can’t let it go. Every man I meet, I think of David. He’s in my dreams.”
His mother, Inez Thomas, delivered one of the trial’s most heart-wrenching statements, speaking directly to the impact on David’s young daughter: “She sits at the window asking, ‘Where is Dada? When is Dada coming?’ And I think that is a sad thing for a child to see, to go through all of her life not to know her father.”
Curtis Straughter (1991)
Curtis Straughter, who sometimes went by the nicknames Demetra and Curta, showed remarkable courage in living authentically. At 15, he joined Gay Youth Milwaukee, demonstrating early self-awareness and community engagement.
Though he had left high school, he was working as a nursing assistant and had plans to obtain his high-school equivalency certificate and attend modeling school.
His mother, Dorothy Straughter, spoke powerfully at the trial about the ripple effects of loss: “You took my 17-year-old son away from me. You took my daughter’s only brother away from her. She’ll never have a chance to sing and dance with him again. You took my mother’s oldest grandchild from her, and for that I can never forgive you.”
Errol Lindsey (1991)
Errol Lindsey, the youngest of six children, had a promising future ahead when he disappeared on April 7, 1991. Working at a job making plaster figures, he maintained close family ties that made his disappearance particularly concerning.
His mother, Mildred Lindsey, described him as a devoted son: “He was a mama’s boy. He wouldn’t even go out with his friends without calling me to see what I was doing.”
His legacy lives on through his daughter, Tatiana Banks, who was unborn at the time of his death. Now 31 and a mother herself, she represents the generational impact of these crimes.
His sister, Rita Isbell, made headlines for her powerful courtroom confrontation, which was later depicted in the Netflix series “Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story.” Isbell later expressed concern about the series, stating she was never consulted about the portrayal of her emotional testimony.
Anthony Hughes (1991)
Anthony Hughes, who lost his hearing in infancy after a battle with pneumonia, had traveled from Madison to visit family in Milwaukee when he disappeared on May 24, 1991.
His mother, Shirley Hughes, became a prominent voice throughout the trial proceedings, teaching Bible classes while pursuing justice for her son.
At the trial, she shared a touching poem written by one of Tony’s friends, concluding with the sign language symbol for “I love you” – a gesture that encapsulated the deep bonds within the deaf community that Tony helped build. His story represents not only personal tragedy but the loss felt by an entire community.
Konerak Sinthasomphone (1991)
The story of Konerak Sinthasomphone reveals tragic systemic failures. His family, led by parents Somthone and Somdy Sinthasomphone, had emigrated from Laos in 1980 seeking safety after the Communist takeover.
Konerak, who arrived in America at age 3, was a freshman at Pulaski High School who loved playing soccer at Mitchell Park. The circumstances of his death on May 27, 1991, sparked particular outrage when it was revealed that police officers had returned him to Dahmer’s apartment despite concerned citizens’ interventions.
The officers failed to run a background check that would have revealed Dahmer’s prior conviction for molesting Konerak’s own brother – a horrifying coincidence that amplified the tragedy.
Matt Turner (1991)
Matt Turner, a 20-year-old from Flint, Michigan, embodied youthful aspirations in Chicago’s vibrant community. After leaving home, he found support at the Teen Living Program, where director Debbie Hinde remembered him as “bright and articulate.”
His disappearance on June 30, 1991, occurred after attending a Gay Pride parade, where he encountered Dahmer at a bus station. Known sometimes as Donald Montrell, Turner’s story reflects the vulnerability of young people seeking acceptance and opportunity in urban centers.
His case highlighted the need for better support systems for at-risk youth, as noted in contemporary media coverage by the Milwaukee Journal.
Jeremiah Weinberger (1991)
Jeremiah Weinberger, a 23-year-old of Puerto Rican heritage, worked as a customer service representative at a Chicago video store. His roommate, Tim Gideon, described him as meticulous and artistic, saying “He always dressed nice and always worried about what he wore and how he looked.” His disappearance on July 6, 1991, prompted a community response, with flyers appearing throughout Chicago’s neighborhoods.
Weinberger’s journey to Milwaukee via Greyhound bus with Dahmer marked his final trip, a tragic end to a life characterized by attention to detail and professional dedication.
Oliver Lacy (1991)
Oliver Lacy, just 23 years old, carried profound personal symbolism in the cross he wore – a reminder of his late father. The youngest of three sons, he had recently relocated to Milwaukee from Chicago.
His mother, Catherine Lacy, described him as outspoken and determined. He left behind a two-year-old son, Emmanuel Lacy, and plans for marriage.
His athletic background at River Forest High School in Oak Park, Illinois, where he excelled in track, spoke to his disciplined nature. Lacy’s disappearance on July 12, 1991, made him the first victim identified in the final phase of the investigation.
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Joseph Bradehoft (1991)
Joseph Bradehoft became Dahmer’s final victim after disappearing on July 16, 1991. Recently arrived in Milwaukee from Minnesota, he stayed with his brother Donald Bradehoft while seeking employment.
A father of three children aged 2 to 7, he maintained his passion for sports and fishing despite life’s challenges.
His final moments near Marquette University’s campus, where he encountered Dahmer at a bus stop, marked the end of a series of crimes that would shake Milwaukee and the nation.
His brother’s powerful courtroom statement – “We lost the baby of the family” – encapsulated the enduring pain of families affected by these tragic events.
This comprehensive account of the victims’ stories, drawn from extensive reporting by JR Radcliffe and documented in Anne E. Schwartz’s book “Monster: The True Story of the Jeffrey Dahmer Murders,” serves as a testament to lives that mattered and the enduring impact of their loss on families and communities across America.
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