Jeff Dahmer’s Trial
22 July 1991 – The Search That Set the Story in Motion
What follows is the official account presented in court and reflected in contemporaneous media reports.
According to that narrative, on the night of July 22, 1991, a man named Tracy Edwards flagged down two Milwaukee police officers while walking the street with a handcuff still locked around one wrist. Edwards told the officers that Jeff Dahmer had handcuffed him inside apartment 213 at 924 N. 25th Street and threatened to kill him. The officers accompanied Edwards back to the apartment. According to their testimony, the purpose of the visit was to retrieve the handcuff key.
When they arrived, Jeff Dahmer was not placed in custody. The officers did not obtain a warrant prior to entering. According to their testimony, they entered the apartment in connection with Edwards’ request to retrieve the key.
During the visit, one of the officers opened a dresser drawer. Inside were Polaroid photographs later introduced as evidence depicting dismembered bodies.
Jeff Dahmer was arrested.
25 July 1991 - First Court Appearance
6 August 1991 – The Request to Release Physical Evidence
Fifteen days after Jeff Dahmer’s arrest, at his second court appearance, defense attorney Gerald Boyle addressed the handling of biological evidence in the case, including remains identified as belonging to alleged victims. He indicated that the defense did not seek further forensic testing and recommended that the materials be released to the families.
According to the transcript, Boyle stated:
“There is nothing there to test and he wishes to have those parts released and not be retained… I have no reason at this time to proffer why Dr. Jentzen has to retain anything further, and obviously therefore they can use her own discretion on returning whatever they wish to return to the members of the family.”
22 August 1991 – Waiver of the Preliminary Hearing
Approximately one month after his arrest, Jeff Dahmer returned to court for a preliminary hearing, a proceeding at which the prosecution must establish probable cause to proceed on the charges. At that appearance, he waived his right to the hearing.
10 September 1991 – A Procedural Plea
At his fourth court appearance, Jeff Dahmer entered a dual plea: not guilty, and not guilty by reason of mental disease or defect. Wisconsin law permits this form of pleading under Statute §971.06, allowing a defendant to contest the charges while also raising the issue of mental responsibility.
During the same hearing, defense attorney Gerald Boyle indicated that the case might ultimately proceed solely on the mental disease issue and that a change of plea could follow completion of discovery. He stated:
“There is a strong likelihood… this case may proceed only on not guilty by reason of mental disease… which will, in effect, mean perhaps a change of plea.”
13 January 1992 – Motion Hearing
On January 13, 1992, Jeff Dahmer’s case returned to court for a televised motion hearing in Milwaukee County. At that hearing, defense attorney Gerald Boyle withdrew two previously filed motions: a motion to suppress Jeff Dahmer’s confession and a motion to limit public statements to the media.
In addressing the suppression issue, Boyle argued that the confession was voluntary and admissible under the standards articulated in Brown v. Illinois (1975), which allows statements to be admitted if sufficiently attenuated from any prior illegality and determined to be voluntary. At the same time, the defense continued to pursue a mental disease defense concerning criminal responsibility at the time of the offenses.
The second withdrawn motion had sought to limit public commentary about the case. With its withdrawal, no restrictions were imposed on public discussion.
During the hearing, Jeff Dahmer entered pleas to 15 homicide counts while maintaining a plea of not guilty by reason of mental disease or defect. The judge confirmed that he had signed and initialed the plea forms, and defense counsel affirmed that he had done so.
27 January 1992 - Trial Commences
Jury selection began on January 27, 1992.
17 February 1992 - Verdict and Sentencing
On February 17, 1992, the jury found Jeff Dahmer legally sane at the time of the offenses. He was subsequently convicted on 15 counts of homicide and sentenced to multiple consecutive life terms.
Watch the Court TV recording of the sentencing hearing.
The Form of a Trial — But What Was Its Substance?
Hearings were held. Motions were argued. A jury deliberated. A verdict was entered.
It had the form of a trial.
But if the case presented to that jury had been constructed rather than discovered, what exactly did the proceeding certify?
Procedure validates what it is given. But it cannot guarantee the truth of what it validates.