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The murder of Raymond Smith marks the beginning of Jeffrey Dahmer’s most infamous and prolific killing phase. This case is significant not only because of the brutality involved, but because it coincides with Dahmer moving into his own apartment—the Oxford Apartments—which would soon become the primary location for the majority of his murders. With increased privacy and independence, Dahmer’s crimes escalated dramatically in both frequency and severity. This murder represents the start of his most dangerous period, where his methods became fully refined and his confidence in avoiding detection reached its peak.
Dahmer met Smith and used his now-standard approach—offering money in exchange for photographs—to lure him back to his apartment. The Oxford Apartments provided Dahmer with something he had not previously had: complete control over a private space where he could operate without interference. Once inside, Smith was drugged until unconscious. Dahmer then strangled him, following the now fully established method he had refined over previous murders. The killing itself was controlled, deliberate, and carried out with chilling efficiency. After the murder, Dahmer escalated his post-mortem behavior. He engaged in necrophilic acts and then dismembered the body. Unlike earlier cases, his approach to handling remains had become more experimental and methodical. He preserved Smith’s skull by painting it, a clear evolution from earlier preservation attempts. This case also marked Dahmer’s increasing comfort with keeping parts of victims within his living space, turning his apartment into both a crime scene and a storage site for human remains.
Smith’s disappearance did not immediately lead to a focused investigation. There were no witnesses linking him to Dahmer, and no physical evidence was discovered at the time. This lack of early investigative pressure allowed Dahmer to continue his killings without interruption. The move to the Oxford Apartments played a crucial role here—Dahmer now had an environment where he could commit crimes repeatedly without raising immediate suspicion.