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The mother of one of Jeffrey Dahmer’s victims has said that Halloween costumes impersonating the Milwaukee serial killer are insensitive to the families of his victims.
Shirley Hughes, 85, the mother of Dahmer’s 12th victim Tony Hughes, has criticized the Netflix show for re-victimizing the family of those he killed and misrepresenting the circumstances around the death of her deaf son.
Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story has become the second most viewed English Netflix series of all time, having racked up more than 700 million hours viewed.
The renewed interest in Dahmer and his crimes has triggered speculation and fears for family members that people will dress up as the serial killer this Halloween, donning a blonde wig, gold frame sunglasses and buying drills similar to the one used by the killer to dismember bodies.
Hughes has now told multiple media outlets that she cannot believe the show was allowed to be made and that it pains her to see people profit from her son’s death.
Shirley Hughes, 85, has said that she finds the new Netflix show re-traumatizing and views Dahmer-themed Halloween costumes as rubbing salt in the wound
A vintage Makita drill, similar to the one used by Dahmer to dismember his victim’s bodies, is listed for sale on eBay
Imitations of Jeffrey Dahmer’s distinctive gold-rimmed sunglasses are also available for sale online
Shirley Hughes was the mother of aspiring model Tony Hughes, who was murdered aged 31 by Dahmer after they met at a gay bar in 1991.
Hughes told the Guardian: ‘I don’t see how they can use our names and put stuff out like that out there.’
She also challenged the show’s accuracy, saying: ‘It didn’t happen like that.’
Hughes told TMZ that it was difficult enough seeing the Netflix show but now knowing that people have plans to dress like her son’s killer rubs salt in the wound.
While some fancy dress shops have opted not to sell Dahmer paraphernalia at all, props are showing up in online stores like eBay. For sale are blonde wigs, vintage gold-framed sunglasses and even vintage drills that look like the one used by Dahmer.
Hughes told TMZ that she believed the family should be seeing some of the profits generated by her son’s death, but at a minimum eBay listings should be taken down.
Hughes is the mother of the deaf, aspiring model Tony Hughes, who was killed by Dahmer in 1991
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A Dahmer-style wig for sale on eBay. Hughes told TMZ that she would like to see the insensitive listings taken down
A mug for sale on eBay featuring Dahmer’s face and the text: ‘I eat guys like you for breakfast’
In 1992 a Milwaukee judge awarded seven of Dahmer’s victim’s families $70million to acknowledge the severity of his crimes. But since Dahmer was behind bars there was no money for him to pay.
The judge at the time said: ‘It is true that it is Monopoly money in that Mr. Dahmer does not appear to have any resources
‘But I think that it was critical to the survivors that the outrage that had been perpetrated on members of their family was appropriately appreciated by the court.’
It was then speculated that the penalties could potentially be paid for with money generated by a future book or movie.
A mugshot of Jeffrey Dahmer taken in August 1982, ten years before he was sentenced to 15 life sentences in prison
An entire episode of Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story focused on the murder of Tony Hughes, who was played by deaf actor Rodney Burford
Shirley Hughes, mother of victim Tony Hughes, said of the Dahmer Netflix show: ‘It didn’t happen like that’
The cousin of another of Dahmer’s victims, Errol Perry, posted on Twitter his family members were not made aware of the Netflix show until it came out, just like everyone else.
Dahmer is charged with two counts of first degree murder and 13 counts of intentional homicide for serial killings in Milwaukee in August 1991
Cousin of Errol Perry, Eric Perry, posts on Twitter that his family were not notified in advance that the film was being made
The wildly popular Netflix series has proved lucrative for owners of Dahmer collectibles.
Taylor James, who runs Cult Collectibles in Vancouver, Canada, owns a pair of glasses worn by Dahmer, listed for $150,000, as well as his original urn, which he’s hoping to sell for $250,000.
