The Case of Konerak Sinthasomphone

Konerak Sinthasomphone, 14, was abducted and drugged by Jeffrey Dahmer in Milwaukee on May 27, 1991. Konerak escaped from Dahmer's apartment but was found in the street and returned to Dahmer by two police officers after Dahmer convinced them that the teenager was his adult boyfriend. Dahmer subsequently killed Konerak and concealed his remains.

Konerak Sinthasomphone was a 14-year-old Laotian American boy living in Milwaukee. He was the younger brother of Somsack Sinthasomphone, whom Dahmer had previously drugged and sexually assaulted in 1989. Dahmer had been convicted of that sexual assault and was on probation when he later encountered Konerak. On May 27, 1991, Dahmer approached Konerak and offered him money to accompany him to his apartment and pose for photographs. Dahmer drugged Konerak and attempted to incapacitate him.

Konerak managed to escape from Dahmer's apartment while still under the effects of the drugs. He was found wandering outside, confused and injured. Two Milwaukee police officers, John Balcerzak and Joseph Gabrish, encountered Konerak and Dahmer. Dahmer convinced the officers that Konerak was his adult boyfriend who had simply become intoxicated. Despite Konerak's apparent distress, the officers returned him to Dahmer's apartment. After the officers left, Dahmer killed Konerak. His remains were later recovered from the apartment following Dahmer's arrest.

Konerak's disappearance became one of the most significant incidents examined after Dahmer's arrest because police had encountered him alive shortly before his murder. The officers who returned Konerak to Dahmer were initially investigated and faced widespread public criticism. Both officers were later fired, although their dismissals were subsequently overturned through arbitration and they were reinstated. Following Dahmer's arrest on July 22, 1991, investigators recovered Konerak's remains from the apartment and established that he had been murdered shortly after police returned him to Dahmer. The incident became a major focus of scrutiny surrounding the police response to Dahmer's victims.

Jeffrey Dahmer was convicted of Konerak Sinthasomphone's murder and received a life sentence without the possibility of parole. Konerak's remains were recovered from Dahmer's apartment following his arrest. The police handling of Konerak's escape became one of the most controversial aspects of the Dahmer investigation.

Konerak was 14 years old when he was murdered. His case is particularly significant because he escaped from Dahmer and was still alive when police encountered him. He was returned to Dahmer despite appearing disoriented and injured, and Dahmer killed him shortly afterwards. Konerak was also the younger brother of Somsack Sinthasomphone, a previous victim of Dahmer's sexual assault.