Why Did Jeffrey Dahmer Take Polaroid Pictures Of His Victims?

Publish date: 2024-05-18

Jeffrey Dahmer, one of America’s most notorious serial killers, took Polaroid photos of his victims before and after he killed them. detectives who searched his apartment found over 600 photos, many of which featured naked men in various s*xually explicit positions. 

So why did Dahmer take these photos? Some experts believe that he was trying to create a “trophy collection” of his victims, similar to how a hunter might collect the heads of the animals they’ve killed.

Others believe that he was trying to create souvenirs that would help him to relive the murders again and again. 

Still others believe that Dahmer took the photos as part of a gruesome ritual that helped him to feel more powerful and in control. Whatever the reason, the Polaroid photos provide a disturbing glimpse into the mind of a killer.

How Did These Polaroid Pictures Help The Police Gather Evidence Against Dahmer?

On July 22, 1991, Milwaukee police received a call from a man who claimed he had been drugged and imprisoned by Jeffrey Dahmer. 

When the police arrived at Dahmer’s apartment, they found Polaroid photos of naked men, some of whom appeared to be dead or unconscious.

Dahmer told the police that the photos were part of a “s*x fantasy” and that the men in the photos were willing participants. 

However, the police soon realized that the photos were evidence of Dahmer’s gruesome crimes. The photos helped to connect Dahmer to several unsolved murders, and he was ultimately arrested and convicted of killing 17 people. 

The gruesome case shocked the nation and brought into focus the dangers of allowing violent criminals to roam free. Thanks in part to the Polaroid photos, justice was served in this horrific case.

What Was the Reason Behind Jeffrey Dahmer Taking Polaroids of His Victims?

According to a 1994 article in The American Journal of Forensic Medicine and Pathology, Dahmer frequently felt lonely and yearned for “memories to keep him company.” 

According to ELLE Australia, during their investigation, police also discovered drawings that revealed the serial killer’s intentions to use the images, painted skeletons, and skulls to create an altar in his apartment.

Was His Father To Be Blamed For His Mental Health?

In the early 1990s, he shocked the nation when details of his gruesome crimes were revealed. Dahmer had been killing and dismembering men and boys for over a decade, often keeping their body parts as grisly trophies.

One of the most puzzling aspects of his crimes was his habit of taking Polaroid pictures of his victims before and after he killed them. 

While the motivations behind Dahmer’s crimes will never be fully known, some experts believe that his father may have played a role in his mental health. Dahmer’s father was an alcoholic who was emotionally distant from his family. 

It has been suggested that this emotional distance may have contributed to Jeffrey’s feelings of isolation and loneliness, which may have driven him to commit such horrific acts.

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