Dahmer's Dad

[Glygil]

I hope this is the right section for this topic...

Last week I watched an interview on MSNBC with Jeffrey Dahmer and his father, Lionel. I was struck by a few things, but the one that bothers me most was Lionel's story about his ex-wife's alleged medical issues when she was pregnant with Jeffrey, and how he wonders if this contributed to Jeffrey's deviancy. He recounted that she would have seizure-like states, in which her lower body would go completely stiff, her eyes would bulge out of her head, and she would be drooling or frothing at the mouth (can't remember his exact word re: the saliva). He claimed this condition was treated by the doctor simply coming to the house with morphine and barbiturate injections to "relax" her, and that she was often drugged that way while Jeffrey was still in utero.

I'm no medical expert, nor am I an expert on pre-natal care in the late 50s and early 60s, but I find it hard to believe that morphine would be used to treat seizures, and that a pregnant woman would be treated at home that way, rather than taken to hospital and/or given a proper work-up and diagnosis.

Dahmer's mother seemed gobsmacked when the interviewer asked her about it. She said it never happened, and although I know she had some issues with stability, I'm inclined to believe her on this one. Which leaves me wondering why Lionel would invent such a weird story.

So anyway, I'm wondering if anyone has read about this, and can shed some light on the likelihood (or not) of Lionel's account. TIA.

[razrbladromance]

I remember this interview and Dahmer's mother's reaction to the question. I also believe his mother when it comes to that bizarre story. I think his dad is just trying to place the blame on someone for Dahmer's problems.

[hissister]

I also had seen that interview. I did not believe Dahmer's father's story. I'm sure both of Jeffrey's parents had gone through trying to figure out why their son turned out to be such a gruesome person, and how he could kill so viciously repeatedly; among the other things he did to his victims and their bodies.
But since Jeffrey's mother was so convincing about how none of those things had occured during her pregnancy with Jeffrey; I can't figure out why his father would tell such a strange tale. Does anyone know how the relationship between Dahmer's mother and father had been? Is it possible that his father was only saying those things about her as some kind of personal thing toward her?

[deputydi]

I also had seen that interview. I did not believe Dahmer's father's story. I'm sure both of Jeffrey's parents had gone through trying to figure out why their son turned out to be such a gruesome person, and how he could kill so viciously repeatedly; among the other things he did to his victims and their bodies.
But since Jeffrey's mother was so convincing about how none of those things had occured during her pregnancy with Jeffrey; I can't figure out why his father would tell such a strange tale. Does anyone know how the relationship between Dahmer's mother and father had been? Is it possible that his father was only saying those things about her as some kind of personal thing toward her?
I saw the interview and remember being puzzled by his story. His memory may be a little distorted, but I think there may be some truth in there. I've never heard of morphine being used to control seizures, but he may be confused as to the drug that was actually given to her. I'm certain of one thing -- both mother and father searched their minds and their souls for an answer. If some of their recollections are a little incorrect, can you actually blame them? Does anyone here remember Thalidomide? It was given to pregnant women routinely to control nausea and it caused thousands of babies to be born without limbs.

[WarmNCozy]

I remember this interview and Dahmer's mother's reaction to the question. I also believe his mother when it comes to that bizarre story. I think his dad is just trying to place the blame on someone for Dahmer's problems.

I totally agree with you raz!

[Tangerine]

i also have seen this interview and my opinion at the time was that yes, lionel's story didnt make much sense but his mother was so angry and unstable, i tend not to believe her. so i agree with deputy. i think there is some truth in there. maybe he doesnt remember the correct type of drug or maybe the seizures caused muscle pain and that's why she was given morphine. either way, i found the mother to be completely unbelievable. my thoughts at the time were maybe she is denying this because she feels it is as if she herself is being blamed. i'm sure they have had to put up with a lot of harsh critcism and she probably stays in defense mode.

[hissister]

I had wondered how Jeffrey had felt about his father saying that about his mother. But then, he didn't appear to mind very much.
I also wondered if his father was possibly saying that about his mother trying to help Jeffrey believe there was a possible medical reason behind his becoming a serial killer. I am sure both Jeffrey's parents wracked their brains trying to figure out how their son could become what he had become.

[frydaddy]

i also have seen this interview and my opinion at the time was that yes, lionel's story didnt make much sense but his mother was so angry and unstable, i tend not to believe her. so i agree with deputy. i think there is some truth in there. maybe he doesnt remember the correct type of drug or maybe the seizures caused muscle pain and that's why she was given morphine. either way, i found the mother to be completely unbelievable. my thoughts at the time were maybe she is denying this because she feels it is as if she herself is being blamed. i'm sure they have had to put up with a lot of harsh critcism and she probably stays in defense mode.

Agree with you and Di. I saw this interview the other night and I was struck in that Lionel had no problems acknowledging his own thoughts of murder and wondering if that somehow was passed on to Jeff. The mother was somewhat defensive, she brought a spokepuppet, and she seemed to want to rid herself of blame in the public eye. Can't blame her necessarily, Jeff was a monster of epic proportions. But not once did I get a vibe that she even remotely considered her as unintentionally causing Jeff to become what he did. IMO

[deputydi]

I had wondered how Jeffrey had felt about his father saying that about his mother. But then, he didn't appear to mind very much.
I also wondered if his father was possibly saying that about his mother trying to help Jeffrey believe there was a possible medical reason behind his becoming a serial killer. I am sure both Jeffrey's parents wracked their brains trying to figure out how their son could become what he had become.
Don't you think both parents are desperately searching for answers and praying those answers don't point toward either of them? That, I believe, is just human nature. How would you, as a mother, feel if a drug you had innocently taken during your pregnancy was the cause of such an aberation? I think denial would be normal -- "if other women took the same drug with no bad effects, that couldn't have been the reason".

I'm sorry Jeffrey didn't get to live long enough for some studies to have been done on him. Maybe then we would have at least had a start to getting some answers. I think he would have cooperated fully and there's a chance it would have produced some valuable information.

[Evil6]

I strongly disagree with the possibility that some drug his mother took during pregnancy somehow altered his brain turning him into a killer, it's just way too silly. You can compare Dahmer to hundreds other "deviants" and you will see similarities, and I bet their mothers didn't take any drugs.

He became what he became mostly because of his surroundings, and I'm sure the relationship between his parents didn't help at all. Some people like collecting butterflies, Dahmer liked collecting skulls, it's that simple imho.

Maybe genes do have something to do with this behavior, but I somehow doubt that taking any sort of medication can produce a "killer" gene.

[Family Snapshot]

I strongly disagree with the possibility that some drug his mother took during pregnancy somehow altered his brain turning him into a killer, it's just way too silly. You can compare Dahmer to hundreds other "deviants" and you will see similarities, and I bet their mothers didn't take any drugs.

It does seem far-fetched that something like Dahmer could be created by a drug used in pregnancy: birth defects, genetic disorders, yes, but evil? His history and childhood dispel the idea of environmental causes, and I don't think there's an evil gene so what's left? Wouldn't it be easier for us to comprehend if we could just point to a head injury, a genetic disorder, a diagnosed psychological disorder, or even extreme abuse? I think all of us can understand why Dahmer's parents would be looking for a tangible reason that would tell them why. How could you stop questioning yourself for the rest of your life? I cannot even imagine the anguish that his parents live with. Do you stop loving your child? I sure as Hell would want to, but I don't know if human's are wired that way. If his mother seems cold, distant, or weird I'm not sure I'm ready to judge her for that. Dahmer's parents have to live with the fact that everytime somone sees them, they see Jeffery. Good God, that must be a living Hell. It's a comparison of nightmare scenarios, but I think it might be easier to be a parent of one of his victims instead of the parent of pure evil.