the dahmer case

Jeff Dahmer’s Alleged Victim “Eddie Smith” Was Actually Ernest Richard Smith

Here’s the man we’re told was “Eddie Smith” — a supposed victim of Jeff Dahmer, allegedly murdered in July 1990. His face has been plastered across true crime documentaries and breathless cable TV specials for three decades.

But there’s just one problem: this man was not named Eddie Smith. His real name was Ernest Richard Smith and he was very much alive after 1990 — alive long enough to eventually turn up dead in 1999 under circumstances that, to put it mildly, don’t fit the official script.

By the way, if you’re still clinging to the idea that Jeff Dahmer was a lone monster, the Evidence page will cure you of that. It’s the full archive — records, receipts, photos — all pointing to one inconvenient truth for the perps of this low-budget judicial puppet show : Jeff Dahmer was innocent. And if you think Jeff got a real trial, take a look at the Trial page. 

Ernest Richard Smith posing in a denim vest with a backdrop of celebrity photos and a stylized black panther graphic.

Here’s a photo of Ernest Richard Smith, taken in 1975, when he was 16 and attending John Marshall High School in Milwaukee.

Ernest Richard Smith in his 1975 John Marshall High School yearbook photo, Milwaukee

Ernest Richard Smith (middle) and two photos of alleged victim “Eddie Smith”:

Side-by-side comparison of Ernest Richard Smith and alleged Dahmer victim “Eddie Smith”

Ernest Richard Smith was Theresa Smith’s younger brother. Theresa also attended John Marshall High School in Milwaukee.

High school yearbook photo of Theresa Smith, sister of Ernest Richard Smith

There’s plenty of information in Ancestry.com about Ernest Richard Smith and the entire Smith family. Most of the men, including Ernest, served in the US military and are buried in national cemeteries. Note the death date: March 21, 1999.

Gravestone and burial record of Ernest Richard Smith, 1959–1999, U.S. Army veteran from Milwaukee

More photos of Ernest Richard Smith and alleged Jeff Dahmer victim ”Eddie Smith”:

Yearbook photo of Ernest Richard Smith, circled, labeled as “Smith, E.” in 1976 Hamilton High School class index
1976 Hamilton High School yearbook index listing “Smith, Ernest - 259” and “Smith, E - 259,” confirming they are the same person

Alleged Jeff Dahmer victim “Eddie Smith” (left) and Ernest Richard Smith in his high school yearbook photo (right)

Side-by-side photos of “Eddie Smith” (left) and Ernest Richard Smith (right) showing striking physical similarities

People familiar with this case know about “Carolyn Smith”, someone who was seated in the courtroom during Jeff Dahmer’s trial and who appeared on various talk shows claiming to be Eddie Smith’s sister:

Close-up of “Carolyn Smith,” a heavily made-up individual later identified as Ernest Richard Smith in drag
See the Evidence Jeff Dahmer Is Innocent

This is “Carolyn Smith,” describing her alleged brother, Eddie Smith. As for whether this is a woman or a man in a wig — I’ll let you be the judge.

Here’s “Carolyn” Smith in the courtroom with Theresa Smith. 

“Carolyn Smith” and Theresa Smith seated in courtroom during Jeff Dahmer trial

Ernest Richard Smith died in 1999 after attempting a surprise sex act on a sleeping man named Roy Barnes. Barnes did not appreciate the gesture and responded with what can only be described as fatal constructive feedback.

The name given in the news clipping below is “Carolyn Contessa Smith.” A bold character choice, to be sure. Yet neither she — nor any “Carolyn Smith” matching her description — has a paper trail in Ancestry.com or anywhere else outside the “Dahmer” stage play.

Newspaper article titled “Man gets 45-year prison sentence for killing Dahmer victim’s brother” featuring a quote from Carolyn Contessa Smith, who identifies as the sister of alleged victim Edward Smith.
SSDI entry for Ernest R. Smith, born May 23, 1959, died March 21, 1999, with Social Security Number 395-66-3590 issued in Wisconsin.

Ernest Richard Smith’s parents were Walter Smith and Josephine Helen Smith — both traceable, both real. Their children are clearly listed here: Henry, Mattie, Walter Jr., Michael, Ernest, Robert, and Theresa. You’ll notice what’s missing: no “Edward Warren Smith.” No “Carolyn Smith,” either. Like other members of the “Dahmer” cast, those names exist only in the script. Also worth noting: the Smiths were Roman Catholic — a rarity for African-American families in Milwaukee, and a curious detail given the Archdiocese of Milwaukee’s quiet cameo in this production.

Grave record of Walter Smith, listing his children including Ernest Richard Smith and Theresa A. Smith.
See How They Faked Jeff Dahmer's Trial
Grave record of Josephine Helen Smith, listing her children including Ernest Richard Smith and Theresa A. Smith.

There’s no trace of an “Edward Warren Smith” in the Social Security Death Index (SSDI) or anywhere else that would ground him in reality. But Ernest Richard Smith?  Twelve days before Jeff Dahmer’s trial, he had a felony robbery charge quietly dismissed. A Class E in Wisconsin isn’t a slap on the wrist. It carries up to 15 years behind bars and a $50,000 fine. But instead of facing trial, Ernest disappeared from the docket… and reappeared with a new name and a tragic backstory: a corpse. In the “Dahmer” production, some people didn’t just act — they bargained their way onto the stage.

Court record for Ernest Ricardo Smith (born May 23, 1959), showing a 1989 criminal case filed in Milwaukee County that was later closed with no disposition recorded.
Official court notice stating that the 1989 charge against Ernest Ricardo Smith was dismissed and carries no legal effect.
Text explaining that Class E felonies in Wisconsin are punishable by up to 15 years in prison, a $50,000 fine, or both.

It wasn’t a criminal proceeding. It was a casting call. The state had a show to run — and Ernest, staring down serious time, took the deal. The charge vanished, the script was handed out, and the cameras rolled.

Here’s the script Jeff Dahmer was handed for his “confession” about the fictional Edward Warren Smith.

Typed excerpt from Jeffrey Dahmer’s confession describing the murder of Eddie Smith, including physical description, timeline, and disposal of remains.

If this all sounds too absurd to be true, you haven’t read about Somsack and “Konerak” Sinthasomphone or seen Richard Guerrero’s 1960 Death Certificate yet. Go fix that.

faq

Who was “Eddie Smith” in the Dahmer case?

There was no Eddie Smith. The man shown in photos and court appearances was actually Ernest Richard Smith, a real person with family records, school yearbook photos, and a 1999 death record. Public documents confirm his identity.

How was “Eddie Smith” fabricated as a Jeffrey Dahmer victim?

Ernest Richard Smith had a felony charge dismissed just before Jeff Dahmer’s trial. Instead of facing prosecution, he became part of the narrative — staged as a “victim.” Photos and courtroom appearances were used to sell the story, but records prove Ernest was alive until 1999.