The Case of Raymond "Ricky Beeks" Smith

Raymond "Ricky Beeks" Smith, 32, was murdered by Jeffrey Dahmer in Milwaukee on May 20, 1990. Dahmer met Smith at a nightclub and lured him to his apartment with an offer of money for photographs. He drugged and strangled Smith before dismembering his body and disposing of the remains.

Raymond Smith, known as Ricky Beeks, was 32 years old and lived in Milwaukee. He worked as a bartender and was known within Milwaukee's nightlife community. On May 20, 1990, Smith met Dahmer at a Milwaukee nightclub. Dahmer offered him money to accompany him to his apartment and pose for photographs. Smith went with Dahmer to the apartment, where Dahmer drugged him and subsequently strangled him. Smith was the first person Dahmer murdered after a period of more than a year without a known killing.

The murder occurred inside Dahmer's apartment at 924 North 25th Street in Milwaukee. After killing Smith, Dahmer dismembered his body and disposed of the remains. He retained Smith's skull, which was later recovered from the apartment after Dahmer's arrest.

Smith's disappearance was not connected to Dahmer at the time. After Dahmer's arrest in July 1991, investigators discovered extensive evidence of his crimes inside the apartment, including human remains and photographs documenting his victims. Dahmer confessed to killing Smith and identified him as one of his victims. Investigators subsequently established Smith's identity from the evidence recovered from the apartment.

Jeffrey Dahmer was never separately tried or convicted for Raymond Smith's murder. He confessed to killing Smith as part of his wider confession to 17 murders. Smith's remains were recovered from Dahmer's apartment following his arrest in 1991.

Raymond Smith was Dahmer's sixth known victim and the first person he murdered after his lengthy period without a known killing. His murder also marked the beginning of the rapid escalation that would see Dahmer kill repeatedly during 1990 and 1991.