US

Sister of Victim Calls Organizers of Walking Tour Through Favorite Spots of Milwaukee Serial Killer ‘Evil’

Organizers of Jeffrey Dahmer Walking Tour Criticized Just as Evil as Serial Killer by Victims Sister

(AP) — The sister of one of Jeffrey Dahmer‘s 17 victims joined others in protesting a Milwaukee walking tour of the serial killer’s haunts Saturday, calling out to tour organizers that they were “just as evil” as Dahmer himself.

Janie Hagen’s brother, 25-year-old Richard Guerrero, disappeared in 1988 and was one of the first young men Dahmer is known to have murdered. On Saturday, Hagen criticized the new walking tour as merely an attempt to make money by turning her brother’s murder into macabre entertainment.

“This whole thing opens up a lot of old wounds, a lot of painful memories,” Hagen said while holding a sign calling tour-organizer Bam Media and Marketing heartless. “It’s that same hurt all over again.”

The new walking tour of places where Dahmer trolled for victims drew attention this week after criticism prompted online deal-maker Groupon to take down a promotion for discounted tickets. But Bam Media said it would not cancel what it calls a legitimate exploration of criminal history.

Hagen was one of about 20 protesters who followed the first small tour group of four customers Saturday. The protesters chanted, “Stop the tour,” but generally kept their distance.

Tour guide Nicholas Vollmann wasn’t dissuaded. He led the group up and down the street for about an hour, stopping at buildings that used to house the gay bars where Dahmer cruised for his victims. Reading from notecards, he named the victims whom Dahmer met at each place, detailed their sexual activity and described how Dahmer killed and disposed of the victims.

Afterward he said sympathized with the protesters, but believed the tours would go on.

“The protests are not likely to continue,” he said.

Dahmer, a chocolate factory worker, spent years frequenting Milwaukee-area gay bars. He was arrested in 1991 and admitted killing 17 young men, some of whom he mutilated and cannibalized. He was serving life prison sentences when a fellow inmate beat him to death in 1994.

The apartment building where Dahmer stored body parts eventually was razed. The area now sits in the middle of a revitalized section of Milwaukee, with new restaurants and bars in remodeled buildings that once housed the bars where Dahmer went.

A number of police cars drove past Saturday as the tour group and protesters crossed paths. The two sides generally avoided conversation, except for occasional protesters calling on the tour group to desist.

“You’re just as evil as he was!” Hagen shouted. “You’re putting Milwaukee to shame!”

One protester held a sign that said, “You may not care but we do.”

Several tour participants said they found the experience interesting and educational. One sightseer who identified himself as Paul Smith, 26, of Waukesha, said there’s a difference between hearing about a serial killer and seeing firsthand where he actually stalked his victims.

“You look at it now and it’s all these nice buildings,” he said. “You really wouldn’t think all these horrific things happened here.”

Comments (11)

  • ianmc002
    Posted on March 5, 2012 at 9:28am

    I know, I KNOW…Iran is a threat…we need to attack Iran. lol I hear Pee Wee is threatening the ‘Rock’. Maybe the Rock should spend billions hunting Pee Wee down to eliminate the threat…lol

    Only a Becker would believe that.

    Report Post » ianmc002  
    • GovtIs4JusticeplusDefense
      Posted on March 5, 2012 at 10:41am

      Do you even know where you are right now? Typical Paul-bot…propaganda machines. Not to encourage your behavior, but is that really a fair comparison? Way to oversimplify the world so it fits into Rep. Paul’s plan. If only you understood how the world actually works. It’s not as simple as you want it to be.

      Report Post » GovtIs4JusticeplusDefense  
  • ianmc002
    Posted on March 5, 2012 at 9:25am

    Good morning Beckers….

    What disinformation are we spreading today?

    Report Post » ianmc002  
  • Jennifer
    Posted on March 5, 2012 at 7:03am

    The fact that there is a market for this is more than a little weird. & i feel really badly for the sister of the victim. But what I found interesting is how we have come to “protest” in this country. . .maybe just this ridiculous state. Protesting now means you have the right to stalk someone. Like how the article puts it, “The protesters kept their distance.” Say wha? All I know is the “protesters” in Madison screaming, blowing horns, ringing cowbells every day at our Capitol have crossed the line. They harass passers-by and stalk (follow around) dissenters.

    Report Post »  
    • GovtIs4JusticeplusDefense
      Posted on March 5, 2012 at 8:33am

      I would tend to disagree with your sentiment about our state. You know as well as I that the politics of WI is controlled in Madison (aptly called Mad-town) and Milwaukee. These are the two major centers; a large-ish city and a college town. It is roughly a 68% urban to 32% rural population breakdown. We NEED to have ALL the people who have sense to be active in our state or we can lose it easily. Again, Madison and Milwaukee ARE NOT good examples of our state, yet they are the only places who receive any attention.

      Report Post » GovtIs4JusticeplusDefense  
    • Rowgue
      Posted on March 5, 2012 at 12:19pm

      Of course there is a market for it.

      There are a lot of mentally ill people that are obsessed with death and murder. These are the people that are trying to live vicariously through the exploits of other serial killers to satisfy their own urges.

      It’s not like this sort of serial killer hero worship is something new. Hell mainstream america basically idolizes and glorifies the mafia, which is nothing but a collection of serial killers.

      Report Post »  
  • db321
    Posted on March 5, 2012 at 1:02am

    I’m sure it is very painful for Janie Hagen – At least she knows that her brothers killer was beat to death in Prison. Even criminals don’t want a peace of garbage like that around.

    Report Post » db321  
  • JACKTHETOAD
    Posted on March 4, 2012 at 6:03pm

    Yes, Dorothy, there‘s a BTK ’tour’ in Wichita, too. I curse the day I threw my red Converse high-toppers out. I wanna go home.

    Report Post » JACKTHETOAD  
  • hauschild
    Posted on March 4, 2012 at 5:35pm

    Ah, lovely Milwaukee……the next Detroit.

    Report Post »  
    • GovtIs4JusticeplusDefense
      Posted on March 5, 2012 at 8:45am

      Ignorance, the situation is quite the opposite actually. But you would rather put your two cents on this rather than do some research. Thanks for your exceptional insight. (I hope you caught the sarcasm)

      Report Post » GovtIs4JusticeplusDefense  
  • Freebird
    Posted on March 4, 2012 at 4:37pm

    We had kinda the same thing here in south Louisiana after hurricane Katrina went through New Orleans.
    People have a morbid curiosity and there are plenty of folks willing to exploit anything for a few dollars.

    Report Post » Freebird  

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