The Case of Anthony "Tony" Hughes

Anthony "Tony" Hughes, 31, was a deaf and mute Milwaukee man who met Jeffrey Dahmer at a nightclub in May 1991. Dahmer invited Hughes to his apartment, where he drugged and strangled him. Hughes' remains were discovered in Dahmer's apartment following his arrest two months later.

Anthony Hughes was 31 years old and lived in Milwaukee. He was deaf and unable to speak and communicated primarily through American Sign Language. Hughes was a regular presence in Milwaukee's nightlife and had attended the Club 219 nightclub on May 24, 1991. He met Dahmer at the club, and the two communicated using sign language. Dahmer invited Hughes back to his apartment, offering him money to pose for photographs. Hughes agreed and accompanied Dahmer to 924 North 25th Street.

The murder occurred inside Dahmer's Milwaukee apartment. Dahmer later told investigators that he drugged Hughes and strangled him. He subsequently left Hughes' body in the apartment for several weeks. Because of Hughes' deafness, his case received particular attention during the investigation, as communication difficulties may have made it more difficult for authorities to recognise what had happened to him when he disappeared.

Hughes disappeared after leaving Club 219 with Dahmer. Following Dahmer's arrest on July 22, 1991, investigators searched his apartment and discovered human remains. Hughes' skeletonised remains were among those recovered. Dental records were used to identify Hughes. His murder was subsequently established as part of Dahmer's wider series of killings.

Jeffrey Dahmer was convicted of Anthony Hughes' murder and received a life sentence without the possibility of parole. Hughes' remains were recovered from Dahmer's apartment and identified through dental records.

Anthony Hughes was Dahmer's twelfth known victim and was killed during the final, highly concentrated period of Dahmer's murders. Hughes' deafness and reliance on sign language are important details in understanding his background and his encounter with Dahmer.