Ruling Clears Way for Sale of Dahmer Items

Jeffrey Dahmer’s hatchet, saws and the refrigerator that held the skulls of some of his victims must be turned over to a Milwaukee lawyer who plans to sell the items, a judge has ruled.

Circuit Judge Daniel George on Tuesday ordered the city of Milwaukee to release the belongings to Robert Steuer, who plans to auction them off to settle claims filed by the families of some of Dahmer’s victims.

Prosecutors objected to the sale on the grounds it might glorify Dahmer and his crimes.

Dahmer was beaten to death by another inmate in November 1994 at the state prison at Portage, where he was serving life terms for the murders of 17 young men and boys. A jury had rejected his insanity plea.

Steuer has said the only items not being sought for the auction were pictures taken by Dahmer of his victims. He also has said the sale could be scheduled as early as this summer, but no date was set.

The personal items, including hammers, drill bits, saws, knives, furniture and appliances, have been held by Milwaukee police since Dahmer’s arrest in 1991.

George ordered Milwaukee police to keep custody of some items related to a case involving two officers who were fired for failing to aggressively investigate Dahmer after a naked, bleeding teenager was found outside his apartment building two months before his arrest. Dahmer persuaded the officers to return the young man to his apartment. The items were to be held until all legal proceedings are completed, then destroyed.