Oliver Lacy’s Early Life and Family
Oliver Joseph Lacy was born on June 23, 1968, in Oak Park, Chicago, Illinois. He was the son of Katherine Lacy and had a brother and sister. Oliver’s mother, Katherine, described her son as very outspoken, always telling people what was on his mind. He was a family man who loved sports very much.
Oliver’s Personality and Character
Oliver was described as lively and down-to-earth. He loved helping others and always welcomed everyone with a smile. Moreover, Oliver was amicable, and made friends quickly, and people close to him mentioned that he hated violence in every form. He also wore a cross around his neck that belonged to his father, who passed away a few months before Oliver’s disappearance.
Education and Athletics
In his teenage years, Oliver attended River Forest High School. He had his ups and downs there, but according to his track coach and mother, he managed to get his life in order. According to his high school friend, Iran Harris, he had many girlfriends.
The Chicago Tribune reported that Oliver was a standout track racer in high school. His coach, Glenn, said that Oliver had genuine talent as a runner. Several times in his senior year, Oliver ran the 100-meter dash in 10.5 seconds, an exceptional time for high school, equivalent to a 9.4 or 9.5-second 100-yard dash. “There were no flukes about it,” said Glenn.
Challenges and Determination
Oliver was offered a track scholarship to Texas A&M University, but his grades weren’t high enough for admission. So, he attended a junior college to improve his grades. Oliver demonstrated an ability to overcome academic difficulties in high school. His coach said that as a high school freshman, he was somewhat of a renegade and a free spirit.
He thought his athletic ability would allow him to get by without good grades, but he was wrong. His poor grades made him ineligible for sports in his sophomore and junior years, and he was placed in the school’s behavior disorder program for students with discipline problems or who lacked effort.
Turnaround and Success
In his senior year, Oliver approached his coach Glenn, and said he wanted to rejoin the track team. When asked if his grades would allow it, Oliver confidently replied, “Coach, the grades are fine. I want to run.” Oliver aimed to be one of the top five fastest runners in Illinois. He achieved his goal and became one of the state’s five fastest runners. In one indoor 55-meter race, he even beat the youth who eventually became the state 100-meter champion.
Post-Graduation and Final Days
After graduation, Oliver occasionally visited his old high school to talk with Glenn. The last time Glenn saw Oliver was in May 1991. Glenn asked Oliver to talk to some of the boys on the track team who had the same renegade attitude Oliver had shown in his freshman year. Oliver gave them advice on how to carry on with their lives, showing that he was trying to make something of himself.
In 1991, Oliver was a 23-year-old father to a 2-year-old named Emanuel and was engaged to Emanuel’s mother, Rose Cologne. Four months before his disappearance, Oliver moved to Milwaukee from Oak Park to be with his fiancée and their son. Rose and Emanuel were living with Oliver’s mother, Katherine, in her duplex on Milwaukee’s west side.
Meeting with Jeffrey Dahmer
At the time, Oliver was working in downtown Milwaukee for Pioneer Commercial Cleaning Incorporated. On July 15, 1991, Oliver was at the intersection of 27th and Kilbourn when he met Jeffrey Dahmer, who introduced himself as a professional photographer and seduced Oliver with his words. Dahmer invited Oliver to his place under the pretext of posing for photos for money. In the apartment, Dahmer drugged Oliver. This time, instead of immediately killing his victim, Dahmer preferred to stay with Oliver while he was asleep and under the influence of drugs.
Dahmer had to go to work at the Milwaukee Ambrosia Chocolate Factory and didn’t want to kill Oliver outright, but he also couldn’t keep him under his influence for long. When a rag soaked in chloroform proved ineffective, Dahmer strangled Oliver to death.
Disappearance and Investigation
There is some inconsistency regarding the day Oliver disappeared. All sources say that Oliver met Dahmer on July 15, which is also considered the date of his death. However, in a Chicago Tribune article, Katherine claims she last saw her son on July 12 and reported him missing on Saturday, July 13. According to this version, he was last seen by his family on July 12 at the Grand Avenue Mall in downtown Milwaukee, where he had gone with a friend at about 6:00 p.m. His mom reported his disappearance the next morning when he didn’t return home. “When he wasn’t home Saturday, I felt something was wrong because my son would call me. My children always call me,” said Katherine.
Tragic Confirmation
When Jeffrey Dahmer was caught on July 22, 1991, Oliver’s mom feared her son might be among the victims. Unfortunately, her concerns were confirmed. Police warned Katherine that her son had been dismembered, but she still wanted to see a photograph of his head. She said, “I need to find out. I wanted to see for myself. The only thing that’s going through my mind right now is my son.” Katherine had no idea how her son might have come into contact with Dahmer. According to her, Oliver wasn’t the type of person who would let someone approach him like that. She said Oliver didn’t use drugs and was never engaged in homosexual activity.
Read more: Who was Jeffrey Dahmer victim Jeremiah Weinberger?
Conclusion
Oliver was the first identified victim of Jeffrey Dahmer. He was only 23 years old when he died. His tragic end remains a sorrowful memory for his family and friends, a stark reminder of the dangers that can lurk behind seemingly innocent encounters.
