Joyce Dahmer – Life, Children, Struggles, the End!

Joyce Dahmer is known as a mother of a Serial Killer – Jeffrey Dahmer. How her son impacted her and what became of her in the end.

Joyce Dahmer was a mother of a shy, timid boy called Jeffrey Dahmer. He spent a normal life until he discovered his internal monster and went all out in becoming one. Joyce rose to attention due to her son but as her son was the center of attention in the media, Nobody got the real insight what had happened to her. To discover about her, Keep Scrolling!

Biography of Joyce Dahmer 

Very little is known about the initial life of Joyce Dahmer. She got prominent only after her son’s explicit crime came to light. As of her profession, according to her friends and family she was a kind person which can be seen in her humanitarian work. In 1991, she was hired as a case manager for Central Valley AIDs Team, later her colleagues said about her, “able to have a great deal of empathy for people with HIV.”  

As per Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, in an interview, Julio Mastro (executive director of the Living Room) vouched on Joyce by saying that she was, “enthusiastic, and she was compassionate, source –  LA Times. He also said while talking to Desert News, “Everybody loved her. She was just this wonderful person.”

Marital Life of Joyce Dahmer

Joyce Flint married Lionel Dahmer in 1959. Their marriage wasn’t very smooth as Joyce had difficulty in conceiving. As Lionel was occupied in completing his doctoral education in chemistry, he mostly used to be absent from home. Finally, when Dahmer had the good news of expecting her very first child – Jeffrey Dahmer. She wasn’t aware of what was coming! 

Brian Master’s “The Shrine of Jeffrey Dahmer” a biography written in 1993. It stated all the hiccups Dahmer had to face while she was expecting Jeffrey. It said Joyce suffered from muscle stiffness, bouts of vertigo and nausea. Later On, in Lionel Dahmer’s memoir called “A Father’s Story”, it confirmed the uptake of Phenobarbital & Morphine injections for the muscle stiffness. Jeffrey Dahmer came into this world on May 21, 1960 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. 

After her second child, she was diagnosed with postpartum psychosis. She also became disputatious with her husband and the neighbors. Joyce and Lionel divorced after a marriage of 19 years, after which David and her migrated to California.

Joyce Dahmer Mental Condition while Raising Children

She suffered from depression and hypochondria. In “A Father’s Story”, Lionel recalls after giving birth how she abstained from touching Jeffrey so that she doesn’t transfer any germs to him. She was on a potent sleeping meds, equanil & laxatives due to which she used to spend a lot of time in her bed, Sleeping. In 1970, when Jeffrey was 10 years of age, his mother spent an entire month in a psychiatric hospital.

Are Joyce & Lionel to Blame for Jeffrey’s Criminality?

Jeffrey Dahmer killed and mutilated 17 men during 1978 – 1991. In 1991, Jeffrey Dahmer was diagnosed with necrophilia, cannibalism leading him to become a serial killer, which will make him to be one of the archives for the History’s most malicious serial killer. To understand what could be the possible reasoning for him to become a criminal, we will have to rewind and follow the timeline of his life till his criminality was uncovered.

In 1978, Lionel & Joyce’s marriage had almost crumpled to the ground. While Jeffrey had a very happening household he was also unleashing very fateful facts about himself. Due to his developing interest in the same gender upon puberty, he found out of his homosexuality.

In his freshman year, he acquired an unfathomable dependence on alcohol. Due to which his grades dropped immensely during his high school years. One year in Jeffrey’s graduation, Lionel and Joyce tried to save their marriage via counseling but it won’t gave any fruitful results. After 2 months of his graduation, they both divorced charging each other with “gross neglect of duty and extreme cruelty”. After filing for the custody Joyce got the custody of David with alimony and took him to relatives in Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin with her. Jeffrey remained with Lionel and his step mother called Shari when he was almost 18.

Jeffrey Dahmer – A Serial Killer!

Following the divorce, that’s when he became what he is known for today – A Manslayer. Lionel Dahmer went to a hotel to stay, so Jeffrey was left alone in the house in Ohio. Following, he had his first victim on June 18, 1978 and this ruthlessness was carried out for 13 years making 17 victims to his name. On July 22, 1991, Jeffrey was finally arrested as his last victim to be called Tracy Edwards escaped. Afterwards, he was sent for trials. After this trial got public’s attention as a mother of a serial killer, it further took a huge toll on Joyce’s mental health. 

She used to talk to his son once every week. She also used to visit him in the prison. An instance she asked Jeffrey if he still had these compulsions which he replied with, “Yes, Mom, I’m so glad I’m locked up. I’d be afraid of what I’d do if I weren’t locked up.”

In November 1994, Jeffrey was killed by a fellow murderer called Christopher Scarver. He beat Jeffrey with a metal bar in the prison bathroom until he died. 

Dispute over Deceased Jeffrey’s Brain

As Jeffrey’s parents speculated that, he has turned out to be a serial killer because of the prescribed drugs Joyce Dahmer had taken during her gestation period. A forensic psychiatric, Carl Wahlstrom who appeared as an expert witness during Jeffrey’s trial mentioned what Jeffrey said about his parents, “He said he had very loving parents,” he said “[And] that blaming [his] parents for these issues was completely off the mark.” 

When Jeffrey died, Joyce wanted to give his brain for research to see for any biological factors contributing towards making him such a monster. But Lionel was against it and ultimately in a hearing he won as judge gave a verdict of cremating his brain as per Jeffrey’s last wish. Atlast, Jeffrey’s entire body was cremated. 

Joyce Dahmer Suicide Attempt

In March 1994, according to the United Press International, Joyce attempted suicide while living in Fresno. She left a suicide note saying, “It’s been a lonely life, especially today. Please cremate me. I love my sons, Jeff and David.” and a will according to which everything belonged to only David Dahmer. She took some meds and turned on her gas stove leaving the doors open. She fell on the floor of the kitchen subconscious with her face facing the floor. Luckily, Joyce was taken to the hospital in time and was saved. 

Demise of Joyce Dahmer

On November 27, 2000, Joyce Dahmer expired at an age of 64 years due to breast cancer, as per the Los Angeles Times.

Conclusion

Nobody should blame themselves from the family of Jeffrey Dahmer of his wrongdoings as he held himself credible for everything. As a mother Joyce Dahmer had to face a lot of backlash due to his son, which has not even ended with her life. 

Frequently Asked Question (FAQ)

Q1. Is Joyce Dahmer still alive?

 Ans. No, she passed away in 2000.

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