Since Netflix series Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story premiered on the streaming service last week, many viewers have taken to social media to criticize it. Many argue that it ‘humanizes’ the brutal crimes of the notorious serial killer, with victims’ families also talking about feeling ‘re-traumatized.’
One of the victims’ families displeased with the show is Rita Isbell – sister of Errol Lindsey, one of Jeffrey Dahmer’s 17 victims.
She recently spoke to Insider after watching a recreation scene of her standing in court to deliver an emotional victim impact statement about her brother Errol.
This is what she had to say:
“When I saw some of the show, it bothered me, especially when I saw myself—when I saw my name come across the screen and this lady saying verbatim exactly what I said.”
“If I didn’t know any better, I would’ve thought it was me. Her hair was like mine, she had on the same clothes. That’s why it felt like reliving it all over again. It brought back all the emotions I was feeling back then,” she continued.
Rita then said she ‘was never contacted about the show’ and that she feels like ‘Netflix should’ve asked if they mind or how they felt about it making it.’
“They didn’t ask me anything. They just did it.”
Rita also called on Netflix to compensate the victim’s kids. Lindsey had a daughter.
“I’m not money hungry, and that’s what this show is about, Netflix trying to get paid,” Rita explained.
“I could even understand it if they gave some of the money to the victims’ children. Not necessarily their families. I mean, I’m old. I’m very, very comfortable. But the victims have children and grandchildren. If the show benefited them in some way, it wouldn’t feel so harsh and careless. It’s sad that they’re just making money off of this tragedy. That’s just greed. The episode with me was the only part I saw. I didn’t watch the whole show. I don’t need to watch it. I lived it. I know exactly what happened.”
Famously known as the ‘Milwaukee Cannibal,’ Jeffrey Dahmer was responsible for the brutal murder of 17 men and boys between 1978 and 1991 – the majority of whom were Black. Errol Lindsey was only 19 years old when Dahmer murdered him in April 1991.
His vicious crimes involved dismemberment, necrophilia, and cannibalism, with the Netflix dramatization highlighting the heinous methods he used during the murders.
In court, a sanity trial found Jeffrey Dahmer to be legally sane, and he was jailed for life in 1992 – given 15 consecutive life sentences (957 years in prison). He was later issued another (16th) life sentence.
Dahmer was killed in prison in 1994.
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