It happened in the showers. Or near the gym. People still argue about the exact spot, but the outcome was the same: the "Milwaukee Cannibal" didn't die of old age. On the morning of November 28, 1994, the man who had horrified the world with stories of acid vats and refrigerator heads finally met his match.
His name was Christopher Scarver.
Most folks know Jeffrey Dahmer. He’s the guy who killed 17 boys and men. But the guy who actually ended him? That story is way more complicated than just a random prison fight. It involves a 20-inch metal bar, a heavy dose of religious delusion, and a whole lot of questions about why the guards left them alone in the first place.
Why Christopher Scarver Did It
Scarver wasn't some hero. He was already serving a life sentence for murdering his boss back in 1990. When he got to Columbia Correctional Institution in Wisconsin, he didn't like what he saw.
Imagine being stuck in a cage with a guy who makes "body parts" out of his prison food just to mess with people. That’s what Dahmer did. He’d use ketchup to make his mashed potatoes look like bloody limbs. Honestly, it sounds like he was begging for trouble. Scarver eventually snapped.
The Breaking Point
Scarver told the New York Post years later that Dahmer was "disrespectful." He’d poke people and taunt them. Scarver, who struggled with mental health and claimed to be the "Chosen One," felt he had a divine mission.
He didn't just kill Dahmer. He also went after Jesse Anderson, another high-profile inmate who had murdered his wife and tried to blame it on two Black men. Scarver, a Black man himself, was disgusted by Anderson's racism and Dahmer's crimes against minority communities.
- Scarver cornered Dahmer in the gym locker room.
- He confronted him about his crimes.
- He bludgeoned him with a metal bar from the weight room.
- He walked over to the showers and did the same to Anderson.
Dahmer died on the way to the hospital. He was 34 years old.
Jeffrey Dahmer Who Killed Him: Was It a Setup?
There is a huge conspiracy theory—that’s actually backed by some logic—suggesting the prison guards wanted this to happen.
Think about it. Dahmer was a nightmare to protect. He’d already been attacked once before during a chapel service. The prison was constantly under fire for how much it cost to keep him safe. On that November morning, the guards left three violent murderers—Dahmer, Scarver, and Anderson—completely unsupervised for about 20 minutes while they were on cleaning duty.
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Scarver himself thinks it was a setup. He said the guards hated Dahmer as much as the inmates did. "They had something to do with what took place," Scarver once remarked. While the prison officially denies this, the timing is definitely... convenient.
The Weapon
The weapon wasn't a "broom handle" as some early reports claimed. It was a heavy metal bar from a piece of exercise equipment. Scarver had hidden it in his clothes. It took several strikes to the head to finish the job. When the guards finally showed up, Scarver didn't even try to run. He just told them, "God told me to do it."
The Legal and Social Aftermath
After the killings, Scarver got two more life sentences. He spent roughly 16 years in solitary confinement. He’s still alive today, mostly writing poetry and keeping to himself in a federal facility.
For the families of Dahmer’s victims, the news was a mixed bag. Some felt a sense of justice. Others, like the mother of victim Oliver Lacy, felt the pain got worse because Dahmer didn't have to suffer for decades in a cell like they had to suffer without their children.
What This Tells Us About Prison Safety
Even today, high-profile inmates like Brian Kohberger or various serial killers are watched 24/7. The "Dahmer incident" changed how prisons handle "notorious" prisoners. You don't just leave them with a bucket and a mop next to a guy who thinks he’s a vengeful god.
Actionable Insights for True Crime Researchers
If you're looking to dig deeper into the death of Jeffrey Dahmer and the man who killed him, here is where you should look for the most accurate info:
- Read the 2015 New York Post Interview: This is the most detailed account Scarver ever gave about his motives and Dahmer’s behavior in the weeks leading up to the murder.
- Check the Autopsy Summaries: Forensic reports confirm the massive head trauma and the specific type of weapon used, debunking the "prison shank" myths.
- Study the Jesse Anderson Case: Understanding who the third man in the room was provides a lot of context for why Scarver felt so much rage that day.
- Look into Wisconsin Prison Policies: Researching the 1994 investigation into Columbia Correctional reveals how the state tried to cover its tracks regarding the lack of supervision.
The story of Christopher Scarver and Jeffrey Dahmer isn't just about a murder—it's about the total failure of the prison system and the dark "justice" that happens when the law stops watching.
Next Steps for You
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To get a full picture of the case, you should look up the specific transcripts of the 1995 trial where Scarver was sentenced for the prison killings. Those documents contain the original witness statements from the guards who first walked into the gym that morning. They provide a much grittier, less "Hollywood" version of the events than what you see in Netflix documentaries. You can also research the civil rights lawsuit Scarver filed in 2005, which details the conditions of his solitary confinement after the incident.