Joseph Bradehoft Childhood
Joseph Bradehoft was Jeffrey Dahmer’s 17th and final victim. Bradehoft was only 25 years old at the time of his death. He grew up in Greenville, Illinois, and was the youngest of five siblings. He had recently moved to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, from Minnesota in search of work. He was living in an apartment rented by his brother.
Bradehoft Family
He had a wife and three young children back in Minnesota, who were between the ages of two and seven. Bradehoft loved sports and fishing. He was described as a devoted father. Mary Roy, who lived in a mobile home park in Greenville with Bradhoft’s parents, said that he was the tall and slender man who was always ready to lend her a hand.
Bradehoft Personality
Mary Roy also described him as a very trusting individual. Tragically, this trusting nature is most likely what contributed to Bradhoft becoming Dahmer’s final victim.
Disappearance and Death
On July 19, 1991, Bradhoft left for a job interview and was never seen again. It was reported that he met Dahmer at a bus stop in Milwaukee and was lured back to his apartment with the promise of fifty dollars for nude photos. Once there, Dahmer drugged and strangled him to death. Dahmer then dismembered Bradhoft’s body and kept his skull and torso as gruesome souvenirs.
Read more: Who was Jeffrey Dahmer victim Jeremiah Weinberger?
Police Found Bradhoft’s body
Bradhoft’s body parts were found in the Dahmer Apartment. Body parts were in Dahmer’s freezer three days later when police finally apprehended him.
Trial:
At Dahmer’s trial in 1992, Bradhoft’s brother, Donald, stood before the court and delivered a heartfelt victim impact statement:
“Good morning, Your Honor. My name is Donald Bradhoft. For the Bradhoft family, as much as love in our family, my mother gave us five beautiful kids. We lost—he destroyed—the baby of the family, and I hope you go to hell. I love this world. You guys did a wonderful job. From the bottom of my heart, thank God I got a lot of strength. God bless America.”
