Netflix’s Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story has become one of the platform’s most talked-about true crime dramas. Created by Ryan Murphy, the series dramatises the life and crimes of Jeffrey Dahmer, who murdered 17 men and boys between 1978 and 1991.
While the show dives deep into Dahmer’s disturbing actions and the systemic failures that allowed him to continue for so long, there’s one part of the story it only briefly touches on: his death. Many viewers finish the series wondering what really happened to Dahmer in prison, and what role fellow inmate Christopher Scarver played in his final moments.
Scarver was born in 1969, and he dropped out of high school. At the Wisconsin Conservation Corps, he was learning to be a carpenter, and his supervisor, Edward Patts, told him that he would have a job when he finished. Despite his promise to hire Scarver, Patts resigned before he could do so. Scarver, who had been drinking a lot and smoking pot for the past few years, went to the training centre to talk to the staff when he found out he wouldn’t get the job.
The Netflix portrayal vs. real life
The Netflix series ends with Dahmer’s murder in prison, showing another inmate attacking him. However, it doesn’t give viewers the full details of how Dahmer died or who Christopher Scarver really was.
In reality, Dahmer was killed at the Columbia Correctional Institution in Portage, Wisconsin, on 28 November 1994. He wasn’t the only victim that day—another inmate, Jesse Anderson, who was serving a life sentence for murdering his wife, also died at Scarver’s hands.
Who was Christopher Scarver?
Christopher Scarver, born in 1969, grew up in Milwaukee. After dropping out of high school, he joined the Wisconsin Conservation Corps to train as a carpenter. His supervisor promised him a job after he completed the programme, but when the supervisor resigned, that opportunity disappeared.
Struggling with alcohol and drug use, Scarver confronted staff at the training centre, demanding money. He shot and killed employee Steve Lohman after receiving only $15, while another staff member, John Feyen, gave Scarver $3,000 and a credit card to save his own life. Scarver was later arrested and sentenced to life in prison.
By the time he encountered Jeffrey Dahmer in the mid-1990s, Scarver was already serving a life sentence.
How Jeffrey Dahmer died
On the morning of 28 November 1994, Dahmer, Jesse Anderson, and Christopher Scarver were assigned to cleaning duty. Guards left the three men unattended for about 20 minutes. During that time, Scarver attacked both Dahmer and Anderson with a metal bar taken from the prison weight room.
Dahmer died from severe head trauma, and Anderson died from similar injuries shortly afterwards. The brutality of the attack shocked the public, but many inside the prison system were less surprised, as Dahmer had become a controversial figure among inmates and staff.
Why did Scarver kill Dahmer?
At the time, speculation ran wild. Some believed Scarver was motivated by racial tensions. Dahmer’s victims were largely Black, Asian, or Latino men, and Anderson had initially tried to frame two Black men for his wife’s murder.
However, Scarver later clarified his reasons in a 2015 interview with the New York Post. He said he killed Dahmer because of his behaviour in prison. According to Scarver, Dahmer would taunt other inmates and staff, shaping food into severed limbs and using ketchup to mimic blood. Scarver claimed he saw no remorse in Dahmer, which convinced him to act.
He told the newspaper: “He crossed the line with some people, including prison staff. Some people in prison are repentant, but he was not one of them.”
What happened to Christopher Scarver?
After the murders of Dahmer and Anderson, Scarver received two additional life sentences. He has since been diagnosed with schizophrenia and has spent time in psychiatric facilities.
Today, Scarver is incarcerated in Centennial Correctional Facility in Colorado. Over the years, he has embraced religion and published poetry, including collections titled The Child Left Behind and The Awakening.
Despite his infamy, Scarver has kept a relatively low public profile, speaking only occasionally about the events of 1994.
Why Netflix left details out
Netflix’s Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story focuses more on the crimes, the victims, and the failures of law enforcement than on Dahmer’s final days. While it acknowledges his death, the series does not linger on Christopher Scarver’s motives or background.
This creative choice sparked debate. Some viewers argue that highlighting Dahmer’s end could have provided closure, while others believe focusing too much on his death risks overshadowing the stories of his victims.
Final thoughts
The Netflix series paints a chilling picture of Dahmer’s crimes but leaves gaps in what happened after his conviction. The real story of his death—killed by fellow inmate Christopher Scarver—adds another layer to the narrative. Scarver’s motives, rooted in his perception of Dahmer’s lack of remorse, underline how deeply disturbing Dahmer’s presence remained, even behind bars.
For viewers curious about the full history, understanding what the Jeffrey Dahmer story on Netflix doesn’t say provides crucial context. The series is gripping television, but the real events are even more complex.
