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The murder of Matt Turner represents the beginning of the final and most chaotic phase of Jeffrey Dahmer’s killing spree. By this point, Dahmer was operating at an extremely high frequency, with little time between victims and increasing risk-taking behavior. His apartment was already filled with human remains, yet he continued to bring victims back without hesitation. This case highlights the complete breakdown of restraint, where Dahmer’s compulsion had overtaken any remaining caution.
Dahmer approached Turner in a public setting and lured him back to his apartment using the now-familiar offer of money in exchange for photographs. Once inside, Turner was drugged and rendered unconscious. Dahmer then strangled him, following the same method he had used repeatedly in previous murders. After the killing, Dahmer engaged in necrophilic acts and dismembered the body. By this stage, his post-mortem routine was fully standardized. In Turner’s case, Dahmer preserved the head and internal organs, storing them in his apartment. The remaining body parts were disposed of using acid, a method Dahmer had refined to eliminate evidence more efficiently.
Turner’s disappearance did not generate immediate investigative leads. There were no witnesses connecting him to Dahmer, and no crime scene was identified at the time. The lack of early detection allowed Dahmer to continue killing in rapid succession during this period.