Shari Jordan was a seemingly ordinary woman in stark contrast to the darkness surrounding Jeffrey Dahmer. Her life took an unexpected turn when she became connected to the serial killer. Shari Jordan entered the public eye through her marriage to Lionel Dahmer. Lionel was the father of Jeffrey Dahmer and had been previously married to Joyce Dahmer.
When Shari married Lionel Dahmer, she became Jeffrey’s stepmother In doing so, she unwittingly entered the sphere of one of the most infamous criminal cases in American history.
Shari Jordan and Lionel Dahmer supported Jeffrey throughout his trial and even visited him in prison. Their decision stirred controversy and intrigue, as many couldn’t fathom standing by a person convicted of such heinous crimes.
As Jeffrey Dahmer’s name gained international recognition for his crimes, Shari and Lionel opted for a life of seclusion, distancing themselves from the public eye rather than defending his actions.
Who is Shari Jordan?
Shari Jordan has come to the news as the stepmother of Jeffrey Dahmer, an infamous American serial killer. Shari Dahmer came into connection with Jeffrey Dahmer after her marriage to Lionel Dahmer, the biological father of Jeffrey Dahmer.
She was born in Columbus, USA, on 8th may 1953. Her parents were Howard M. and Olive Jean Miller Jordan. Apart from that nothing more is revealed about the early life of Shari. Instead, her post-marriage life is much celebrated, mainly because of her experience with Jeffrey.
Shari met Jeffrey in Columbus, Wisconsin, where he stayed alone after his mother, Joyce, had left. In the two-part Dahmer On Dahmer documentary on Oxygen, Shari described Jeffrey as “weak” and felt an immediate desire to “mother” him.
She noted that Jeffrey was skilled at concealing his thoughts despite feeling embarrassed and ashamed due to his parent’s divorce.
Motherly Instinct
Like many others, Shari wanted to provide Jeffrey with motherly care. She believed that even if she hadn’t been his biological mother, maternal instincts could sense his loneliness.
First Murder and Drinking Problem
The first murder occurred when Jeffrey became incredibly lonely after his mother’s departure. Shari discovered Jeffrey passed out in a drunken state, realizing he had a drinking problem.
She even considered having him replace liquor bottles with water to address his issue. Shari referred to him as a “closet drinker” but saw no other signs of unhealthy habits.
Jeffrey’s Home
Shari and Lionel, her husband, frequently visited Jeffrey at his house, which was always described as “absolutely clean” and “spotless.” This restructuring aims to provide a more organized and coherent presentation of the information provided.
Her Personal Life
Shari Dahmer loves to maintain a private life and doesn’t reveal much about her details. However, in an interview in 2004, she said she is proud of her surname, Dahmer. She used this name in the business world. From this, it can be speculated that she somehow relates to business as a career.
Her Family
Shari married Lionel Dahmer in 1978 after separating from his former wife Joyce Dahmer. Joyce left the custody of young Jeffrey with Lionel. That’s how Jordan got associated with the future serial serial killer.
Jordan once said that she often met Jeffrey in her mother’s house. She remembered finding her home of Jeffrey as “perfectly clean” and “spotless”.
Besides Jeffrey, Lionel has another son with Joyce named David, who also got assimilated.
Where did Shari Jordan Meet Jeffrey?
Jordan first met Jeffrey in Columbus, Wisconsin. He was staying there alone after his mother left. Shari remembered him as weak and vulnerable. The young boy was also good at camouflaging his thoughts but was embarrassed about his parent’s divorce. It is a tale of crime like we witnessed in the case of Ashley Reeves.
Seeing his condition, Shari wanted to “mother” him. Though she was not his biological mother, Shari explained, she sensed his feelings after she saw Jeffrey.
Lionel Dahmer: Husband of Shari Jordan
Shari Jordan’s husband and the biological father of Jeffrey was born in 1936 in West Allis, Wisconsin. He is famously known as the father of a serial killer and gave interviews. Lionel’s parents were Herbert Walter Dahmer and Catherine Jemima Hughes. Lionel is German and Welsh in ethnicity.
Lionel’s alma mater is Marquette University, where he studied chemistry. Later, he became a researcher in chemistry.
Previous Marriage
Lionel Dahmer was initially married to Joyce Dahmer, and they had a son named Jeffrey from this union. Unfortunately, Joyce left Lionel when Jeffrey was still a child, leading Lionel to seek a second marriage, which led to his union with Shari Dahmer.
Lionel had died in 2023 at the age of 86 after living an unsettling life. In many of his interviews, which are still available, Lionel lamented and urged people not to follow in the footsteps of a serial killer like Jeffrey.
Current Status
As of 2023, Lionel Dahmer is still alive and has been actively involved in several interviews since the public became aware of his son’s heinous crimes. Additionally, Lionel authored a book titled “A Father’s Story,” shedding light on his experiences and perspectives related to his son Jeffrey.
Lionel has documented his experience in two books, “A Father’s Story” (1994) and “Father’s Story a Pbp” (2021). In the first book he portrayed his experience and emotional journey after discovering Jeffrey’s crime.
In the second book, he provides the reader with the insides of the challenges, emotions, and experiences of raising a serial killer. These books are significant and well documented, being a first-hand account of Jeffrey’s life.
Shari Johnson’s Children
Lionel Dahmer and Shari Dahmer had one son together named David Dahmer. Before marrying Shari, Lionel had a son named Jeffrey Dahmer from his previous marriage to Joyce. Upon his marriage to Shari Dahmer, David and Jeffrey became stepbrothers.
Where is David Dahmer Now?
In 1992, Jeffrey Dahmer was convicted of murdering 15 boys and men between 1978 and 1991, and he confessed to two additional murders. David Dahmer, his half-brother, had a somewhat mysterious response to these horrifying revelations, as recounted by their father.
During a 2004 “Larry King Live” interview with Lionel and Shari Dahmer, David Dahmer revealed that he had changed his name. However, his new name remains unknown to the public. Lionel Dahmer mentioned, “We’ve promised to keep him completely secret.”
Despite the secrecy surrounding David’s new identity, his stepmother, Shari Dahmer, did mention that he had found success in life. She shared, “He has a career and a family. He’s delighted. We’re expecting a second grandchild. Everything is going well.”
Lionel Dahmer noted that due to their seven-year age gap, he and David weren’t as close as siblings closer in age might be. He also highlighted the difference in their personalities, with Jeffrey Dahmer being “extremely shy” and David Dahmer described as “very, very ebullient and outgoing.”
Since the 2004 interview, there have been no further updates on David Dahmer, and his new identity remains private, with no public record available.
Step Son Of Shari Dahmer
David Dahmer is the stepson of Shari Dahmer and the half-brother of Jeffrey Dahmer, who infamously goes down in history as one of the most notorious serial killers in America.
Between the years 1978 and 1991, Jeffrey committed a series of gruesome murders, including acts of cannibalism, totaling 17 victims. His biological mother, Joyce Dahmer, passed away in 2000. In contrast, David Dahmer, Jeffrey’s stepbrother, is still alive. Jeffrey met a tragic end in prison, where he was murdered by another inmate named Christopher Scarver.
Who is Jeffrey Dahmer?
Jeffrey Dahmer is the son of Lionel Dahmer and his former wife Joyce Dahmer. Joyce passed away in 2000. Jeffrey is infamously known as one of the most dangerous serial killers in American history, and there is a Netflix show on it named “Dahmer.”
Between the years 1978 to 1991, Jeffrey was accused of committing 17 murders, including cannibalism. Finally, he was taken to prison, where he was stabbed to death by another prisoner, Christopher Scarver.
Based on Jeffrey Dahmer’s life, one of the biggest OTT platforms, Netflix released a documentary named “Dahmer – Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story.” In the documentary, Jeffrey’s character was played by Evan Peters. The actress Molly Ringwald brought out the life of Shari Jordan on the screen.
Jeffrey’s Parents
As it is already mentioned, the life of the Dahmer family has changed a lot after Jeffrey’s infamous activities came to light. The same happened to Lionel Dahmer and Joyce Annette Dahmer, the parents of Jeffrey.
Joyce, Lionel’s mother, was pursuing her career in teaching teletype machines when Lionel met her. The couple lived a life of contentment for approximately four years.
Their elder son Jeffrey was born on 21st May 1960 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA. Jeffrey was followed by his younger brother David on December 18, 1966. David saw the light of earth in Doylestown, Ohio, USA.
Everything was going fine then, but after a few years, Joyce developed depression, problems which cast a dark shadow on the family. Even conflict started growing between Lionel and Jeffrey, significantly affecting Jeffrey’s future psychological development.
Finally when Jeffrey was 18 and his brother David was 12, Lionel and Joyce considered parting their ways. They divorced eventually on 24th July 1978. As per the order of the court, David was taken into the custody of Joyce while Jeffrey was in Lionel’s custody.
Crimes Committed by Jeffrey
Jeffrey was arrested on 22nd July 1991 after his plan to murder Tracy Edwards was revealed. He was arrested, and the officers were shocked when his apartment was investigated. A total of eleven skulls- four in the kitchen and seven in the bedroom were found. More horrifyingly, two human hearts, a part of an arm muscle, were found on shelves.
When he was brought to court, Jeffrey was accused of cannibalism, necrophilia, and even the preservation of body parts, particularly the skeletal remains. Jeffrey also admitted to committing 17 murders from 1978 to 1991. Consequently, he was sentenced to fifteen terms of life imprisonment on February 17, 1992.
What is Shari Jordan Doing Now?
Shari Dahmer, despite her initial support for her son Jeffrey Dahmer during his trial and her frequent visits to him in jail, eventually chose a life of seclusion as the notoriety of the Dahmer name grew due to Jeffrey’s horrific actions.
In 2012, Shari Jordan, formerly known as Shari Dahmer, passed away. She died in her daughter’s house, marking the end of her presence in the public eye. While she may no longer be with us, Shari Dahmer is remembered by her family members. She remains a notable figure in various interviews and videos that featured her during the tumultuous period when her son’s crimes came to light.
Her decision to withdraw from public attention was likely a way to distance herself from the horrifying actions of her son and the worldwide attention that came with it. Shari Dahmer’s legacy reflects the complex and challenging circumstances that can arise when a family member is involved in such a high-profile and disturbing case.
What did Shari say About Jeffrey?
While Jeffrey was in prison, Shari and Lionel maintained contact with him. They believed that Jeffrey was probably struck by mental illness.
Once, in an interview, Jordan revealed that Jeffrey was very vulnerable from childhood and wanted to stay alone. Even when his mother left him, he became more lonely, and “that’s when the first murder occurred.” Jordan also got to know about the drinking problem that Dahmer had. He was a “closet alcoholic”, according to Jordan, and no warning came to help to change his nature.
