Morbid Instinct: The Jeffrey Dahmer Tapes Review - Conversations with a Killer

In this episode of Morbid Instinct, Jeremy, Josh, Colette, and Elaine delve into the chilling mind of Jeffrey Dahmer, as featured in the Netflix docuseries Conversations with a Killer: The Jeffrey Dahmer Tapes. The series is built around recorded interviews between Dahmer and his defense attorney, Wendy Patrickus, where he openly discusses his gruesome crimes.

The discussion focuses on Dahmer's distinct lack of empathy compared to other serial killers, noting his terrifying calmness and honesty when confessing to his acts of murder, necrophilia, and cannibalism. The hosts debate whether his behavior stemmed from a fear of abandonment (wanting to keep his victims with him forever) or pure narcissism. They critique the massive failures of law enforcement, particularly the incident where police returned a drugged, 14-year-old victim (Konerak Sinthasomphone) to Dahmer's apartment despite neighbors' pleas. The crew also touches on the "zombie" experiments Dahmer conducted on his victims, his eventual murder in prison by Christopher Scarver, and the disturbing reality that he seemed to enjoy the notoriety.

Key Highlights
[02:27] The Attorney Tapes: The hosts discuss the unique nature of the series, which relies heavily on tapes recorded by Dahmer's young defense attorney, Wendy Patrickus, to whom he confessed everything because he knew the evidence against him was overwhelming.
[08:44] The Zombie Experiments: A gruesome discussion on Dahmer's attempt to create "zombies" by drilling into victims' skulls and injecting acid, driven by his desire to have a submissive partner who would never leave him.
[10:24] The Tony Hughes Case: The crew highlights the tragedy of Tony Hughes, a deaf victim whom Dahmer seemingly had a genuine connection with, suggesting that Hughes' decision to leave for the night triggered Dahmer's abandonment issues and led to the murder.
[14:40] Police Failure: The hosts express their outrage at the Milwaukee police officers who returned a 14-year-old boy to Dahmer's custody after he had escaped, dismissing neighbors' concerns and accepting Dahmer's explanation that it was a "lovers' quarrel."
[16:35] Living with the Dead: The crew marvels at the horrifying conditions of Dahmer's small apartment, noting that he lived surrounded by decomposing body parts and acid barrels for months, with neighbors frequently complaining about the smell.
[22:28] Death in Prison: A discussion on Dahmer's death in 1994, where he was bludgeoned by fellow inmate Christopher Scarver in the prison gym—an ironic end given that Dahmer's first murder involved bludgeoning a victim with a barbell.