Jeffrey Dahmer killed 17 men and boys between 1978 and 1991, but Tracy Edwards, whom he met in July 1991, brought an end to the serial killer’s violent streak. During the timeframe, in which he violently killed his victims, Dahmer evaded capture by the authorities. However, Milwaukee authorities eventually arrested him after Tracy Edwards, a potential victim, alerted them to being drugged and almost killed by Jeffrey in July 1991.
Edwards played a crucial role in putting Dahmer behind bars; he even testified against him. But that fateful day took a drastic toll on Tracy Edwards, and he was never the same thereafter. Although his current whereabouts are unknown, it’s important to know what happened to him after Dahmer was arrested.
Tracy Edwards’s life changed after his encounter with Dahmer
On July 22, 1991, Tracy Edwards escaped from Jeffrey Dahmer’s apartment after Dahmer drugged him. The authorities found Edwards wandering the streets with handcuffs hanging from his wrist. He led the police to Dahmer’s apartment and assisted in searching the entire place. Law enforcement eventually arrested and took the serial killer into custody.
After authorities arrested Jeffrey, Edwards continued to play a part in ensuring his imprisonment. During the 1992 Wisconsin vs. Jeffrey Dahmer murder trial, he provided his testimony about the night, stating that he had seen Dahmer a few times before the fateful night in July. He recounted the events to a jury, including Jeffrey’s plans for him after his death. According to Tracy, Jeffrey claimed that he intended to eat his heart after committing the crime.
Even though the jury found Dahmer guilty and sentenced him to 16 life sentences, what happened to him still affected Edwards. Widespread reports indicated that Tracy Edwards became homeless, frequently moving from one shelter to another. Eventually, authorities indicted him for sexual battery involving a 14-year-old girl. In July 2011, Edwards faced a grim turn, when he was arrested for trying to fatally throw a man off a Milwaukee bridge.
At the time, his defense attorney told ABC News that his client’s life was never the same after encountering Dahmer. In July 2012, authorities found Tracy Edwards guilty and sentenced him to a year and a half in prison.
As mentioned above, Edward’s current whereabouts are unknown, and reports suggest that he also lost touch with his former attorney after his release from prison.
