Christopher Scarver Jr. recalls discovering his father’s role through television reports and later rebuilding their relationship through letters.
Christopher Scarver Jr. has recalled learning about his father’s role in the Jeffrey Dahmer killing through television reports at age 10. An archived interview has resurfaced online, renewing attention on his account of growing up with that knowledge.
His father, Christopher Scarver, fatally attacked Dahmer at Columbia Correctional Institution in Wisconsin on November 28, 1994. Scarver was already serving a life sentence for murder.
However, Scarver Jr. said he was too young to understand Dahmer’s crimes when he saw his father on television. He described carrying the association with Dahmer’s name throughout his life.
Learning about the Jeffrey Dahmer killing
Scarver Jr. recalled the shock of discovering what had happened through news broadcasts rather than from his family. For years, he had hoped his father would eventually return home.
But accepting that his father would never come home brought anger. In the interview, he also questioned how prison staff had left Scarver unsupervised with Dahmer and another inmate.
He wondered whether staff had deliberately arranged the encounter. That remained his suspicion, rather than an established explanation for the attack.
The other inmate, Jesse Anderson, also suffered injuries in the incident and died two days later.
Letters helped rebuild their relationship
Meanwhile, Scarver Jr. described how contact with his father helped him through a difficult period during adolescence. He said he began heading in the wrong direction before deciding to write to him.
In his letter, he explained his personal struggles and addressed the pain surrounding their strained relationship. Writing also gave him a way to express feelings he had held back for years.
His father responded with encouragement, telling him he could endure difficult times and praising his strength. Scarver Jr. said that message stayed with him.
Dahmer’s crimes and prison sentence
Dahmer’s crimes came to light after Tracy Edwards escaped from his Milwaukee apartment and alerted police on July 22, 1991. Investigators then searched the home and found human remains and photographs documenting the dismemberment of victims.
Although Dahmer entered an insanity plea, a jury found him legally sane at the time of his offences. He received 16 consecutive life sentences and was serving them when Scarver killed him.
