The Inmate Who Killed Jeffrey Dahmer: 5 Shocking Facts About Christopher Scarver And The Prison Slaying
The question of who killed Jeffrey Dahmer, one of the world's most notorious serial killers, is a chilling chapter in true crime history, and the details surrounding his 1994 prison murder remain a source of intense public fascination, even as of December 19, 2025. The man responsible was a fellow inmate named Christopher Scarver, a convicted murderer who delivered a brutal, fatal beating to the "Milwaukee Cannibal" while they were on a routine work detail at Wisconsin's Columbia Correctional Institution.
The circumstances of Dahmer’s demise—a violent end behind bars, just three years into his 16 consecutive life sentences—are as gruesome as his own crimes, yet they brought a controversial sense of closure to the victims’ families. Scarver's own history, his mental state, and the shocking motive he later revealed for the attack provide a complex, dark, and essential context to the final moments of the infamous killer.
Christopher Scarver: Complete Biography and Profile
Christopher J. Scarver Sr. is the man convicted of murdering Jeffrey Dahmer and another inmate, Jesse Anderson, on the same day in 1994. His life before the prison slayings was already marked by violence and mental health struggles.
- Full Name: Christopher J. Scarver Sr.
- Born: July 6, 1969 (Age 56 as of 2025)
- Place of Birth: Milwaukee, Wisconsin, U.S.
- First Conviction (1990): Murder of Steven Lohman, his former boss at a Wisconsin Conservation Corps training program. Scarver returned to the program site demanding money and shot Lohman three times after being given only $15.
- Original Sentence: Life in prison for the murder of Steven Lohman.
- Mental Health: Diagnosed with schizophrenia. He reported hearing voices and believed he was the "Son of God" before his 1990 conviction.
- 1994 Prison Murders: Convicted of the first-degree intentional homicide of Jeffrey Dahmer and Jesse Anderson.
- Current Status: Still incarcerated, serving multiple life sentences, including two additional life terms for the 1994 prison slayings.
The Fatal Morning: How Dahmer Met His End
Jeffrey Dahmer's time in prison was relatively short, lasting only from 1992 until 1994. Dahmer, who had confessed to the rape, murder, and dismemberment of 17 young men and boys, was a high-risk target inside the walls of the Columbia Correctional Institution (CCI). Scarver was one of the few inmates allowed to be near the serial killer due to his role on a three-man cleaning crew.
The Unsupervised Work Detail
The fatal incident occurred on the morning of November 28, 1994. Dahmer, Scarver, and a third inmate, Jesse Anderson (who was serving time for the attempted murder of his wife), were assigned to an unsupervised work detail cleaning the gymnasium bathroom. This lack of direct correctional officer supervision was a critical security lapse that allowed the attack to take place.
Scarver later recounted that he split from the other two inmates. When he returned, he found himself alone with Dahmer. He claimed to have tucked a newspaper clipping detailing Dahmer's horrific crimes into his pocket before the encounter.
The Weapon and the Attack
Scarver confronted Dahmer in the locker room. The weapon used was a 20-inch metal bar, which Scarver had taken from the weight room exercise equipment. Scarver struck Dahmer repeatedly in the head, inflicting massive blunt-force trauma. Dahmer was found on the floor of the bathroom, badly beaten.
Minutes later, Scarver also fatally attacked Jesse Anderson, who was also on the work detail. Anderson was beaten with a wooden plank in a separate incident in the same area. Scarver then calmly reported the attack to a correctional officer, stating, "God told me to do it. Jesse Anderson and Jeffrey Dahmer are dead."
Christopher Scarver’s Shocking Motive: No Remorse
For over two decades, the full details of Scarver’s motive remained speculative, often attributed to his diagnosed mental illness. However, in a 2015 interview, Scarver finally provided a chilling and specific reason for targeting the "Milwaukee Monster."
Disgust Over Cannibalism and Lack of Remorse
Scarver stated that Dahmer would often taunt other inmates by molding his prison food into shapes that resembled human body parts, complete with fake blood packets, to mock his crimes of dismemberment and cannibalism. This behavior, coupled with Dahmer's perceived lack of remorse for his 17 victims, fueled Scarver’s rage.
Scarver, a Black man, also believed Dahmer preyed specifically on minorities, which contributed to his intense personal animosity. He felt Dahmer's crimes were profoundly evil, and he saw himself as an instrument of divine justice, a manifestation of his severe mental health condition.
The Third Inmate: Jesse Anderson
The simultaneous murder of Jesse Anderson is often overlooked. Anderson was a convicted murderer who had staged a racist attack on himself to frame two Black men, leading to his original conviction. Scarver reportedly confronted Anderson as well, holding up the newspaper clipping detailing Dahmer’s crimes and asking Anderson if he knew what was on it. Anderson reportedly responded with an act of disrespect, leading Scarver to attack him as well, viewing both men as evil and deserving of death.
The Aftermath and Scarver's Life Today
Following the 1994 slayings, Scarver was convicted of two counts of first-degree intentional homicide. He received two additional life sentences, ensuring he would never be released from custody. He was transferred from Columbia Correctional Institution to a supermax facility.
Legal Battles and Current Incarceration
Scarver attempted to appeal his conviction, citing his mental illness and claiming that he was coerced into confessing. These appeals were ultimately unsuccessful. Since the murders, Scarver has reportedly been transferred between several maximum-security prisons. As of 2025, he remains incarcerated, serving his multiple life terms.
The death of Jeffrey Dahmer sparked a massive debate about prison safety, the treatment of high-profile, vulnerable inmates, and the systemic failures in managing mentally ill prisoners like Scarver. The event remains a stark reminder of the volatile environment inside maximum-security facilities, where even the most infamous killers are not immune to violence.
Key Entities and LSI Keywords:
Jeffrey Dahmer, Christopher Scarver, Jesse Anderson, Columbia Correctional Institution, Steven Lohman, Milwaukee Cannibal, serial killer, cannibalism, dismemberment, intentional homicide, blunt-force trauma, metal bar, work detail, Wisconsin prison system, correctional officer, life sentences, schizophrenia, maximum-security prison, true crime history, prison safety, vulnerable inmates, 1994 prison murder, Milwaukee Monster.
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