Jeffrey Dahmer's Convictions Before His Murders Spark Online Discussion

Jeffrey Dahmer's crimes are explored in the new Netflix series, Dahmer - Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story, which has brought the killer back into the public eye.

Dahmer raped, murdered and dismembered 17 men and boys between 1978 and 1991, with some of his crimes involving necrophilia and cannibalism. He pled guilty but insane in 15 of the 17 murders. However, a jury found him legally sane and he was given 15 life sentences for a total of 957 years in prison.

Prior to his convictions for these killings the murderer had been picked up multiple times by police.

The revelation that Dahmer had several prior convictions has led viewers of the Netflix show to debate how the killer might have been stopped earlier had these been taken seriously.

Jeffrey Dahmer's Convictions Before His Murders Spark Online Discussion

Monster - The Jeffrey Dahmer Story is helmed by Ryan Murphy and it sees Evan Peters portray the notorious murderer. It explores Dahmer's crimes and the aftermath of his arrest. Dahmer died in prison in 1994 after being beaten to death by a fellow inmate.

Dahmer's first conviction came in September 1981 shortly after he was discharged from the army over his excessive drinking. He was arrested for drunk and disorderly conduct, fined $60 and received a suspended 10-day jail sentence. At the time of his first conviction, Dahmer had already committed his first murder.

In August 1982 Dahmer was arrested for indecent exposure at the Wisconsin State Fair Park, and he received a $50 fine.

Dahmer was arrested again for disorderly conduct in August 1986 after he had been accused of masturbating in front of two 12-year-old boys. At first Dahmer claimed he was urinating but then later admitted to the act. He was given a one-year probationary sentence.

He was arrested a fourth time in 1988 for sexual assault of a 13-year-old boy, per TIME. He was charged with second-degree sexual assault and enticing a child and was sentenced to 12 months in jail and 5 years on probation in 1989. He spent 10 months in prison before being released on bail.

The 13-year-old's brother Konerak Sinthasomphone was murdered by Dahmer at the age of 14 in 1991. According to court documents, he had initially escaped the killer but when police were alerted Dahmer claimed that Sinthasomphone was his 19-year-old boyfriend and was drunk. The authorities let Dahmer go and he killed Sinthasomphone in his apartment shortly thereafter.

Looking back at these convictions some viewers took to Twitter to debate the issue, with one user writing that it was "very tragic to think about how homophobia, racism and police negligence was the perfect recipe for Jeffrey Dahmer to get away with murder for so long."

Another user said in response: "The fact that Jeffrey Dahmer was sloppy as hell, had several prior convictions, multiple calls to police, multiple police interviews over and over again for YEARS. But because he was a white man and his victims were queer POCs, it was always *slap on the wrist* case closed. Wild."

One person wrote: "the number of times that Jeffrey Dahmer was arrested and still released. and the victim that he drugged but got away, Ron. he went to the police and they didn't believe him just bc he was Black, meanwhile Jeffrey Dahmer had a criminal record & numerous arrests. makes no sense!!"