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UNADVERTISED
The Assault That Went Unheard: Preston's Military Encounter With a Serial Killer
Long before Jeffrey Dahmer became a household name as the Milwaukee Cannibal who murdered 17 young men, he left a trail of destruction that extended beyond his known victims. This episode reveals the harrowing account of Preston, a fellow soldier whose life was forever altered after a sexual assault during their time together in the Army in 1979.
When Preston, an exemplary soldier, was assigned to train the newly arrived Dahmer, he couldn't have anticipated how this routine assignment would derail his promising military career. During a training exercise, their vehicle broke down, leaving them isolated for several days—a period during which Preston was sexually assaulted by Dahmer. Believing he was drugged due to significant memory gaps, Preston carried the shame and trauma of this assault in silence for years.
The ripple effects of trauma permeate every aspect of this story. Preston's once-stellar military career spiraled downward following the assault, leading to his eventual discharge after nine years of service. His marriage collapsed, he lost contact with his children, and he struggled with alcoholism and ongoing physical health issues directly related to the assault. Perhaps most devastating is the guilt Preston carries, wondering if speaking up sooner might have prevented Dahmer's subsequent crimes. His story reminds us that behind sensationalized headlines about serial killers lie numerous survivors whose lives were irreversibly changed not by death, but by surviving encounters that left invisible yet profound scars.
Have you experienced trauma that continues to affect your life? Sharing your story can be a powerful step toward healing. Email unadvertisedinfocrime@gmail.com to connect with us, and don't forget to subscribe so you never miss our weekly Friday episodes where we continue to bring light to the stories that too often remain in darkness.
Welcome back to Unadvertised. I'm your host, melina Lopez. Disclaimer the information, opinions and recommendations presented in this podcast are for general information only. Any reliance on the information provided in this podcast is at your own risk. This podcast should not be considered professional advice. The content discussed will include sensitive topics such as sexual assault, self-harm, violence and mental illness. Before we begin today's story, we first need a little context. For those of you who don't know, jeffrey Dahmer, also known as the Milwaukee Cannibal, was responsible for a series of gruesome murders of 17 young men from 1988 until he was caught in Milwaukee on July 22, 1991. He was sentenced to 957 years in prison for his crimes but only served two before he was killed by a fellow inmate, christopher Schaefer, at the age of 34. Today we'll be learning about Preston's experience with Jeffrey Dahmer in the Army. In July of 1979, jeffrey Dahmer was assigned to Preston's unit. From the beginning, jeffrey was a very racist individual. He was in his room in the barracks, drinking gin and using racist insults. He often talked about how his father taught him that he was better than everybody else.
Speaker 1:On October 5, 1979, preston re-enlisted for four more years in the Army. His platoon sergeant asked him to train Jeffrey, who was new to the unit. Preston had to do all the driving because Jeffrey was not licensed. The training was with a tank unit and they were providing medical support the last three or four days of the field exercise. Their vehicle broke down and was towed to the train station when they had to wait until the completion of the field exercise. During this three or four day period Preston was isolated and alone with Jeffrey. Somewhere in that time frame Preston was sexually assaulted, which included penetration. Preston believes that he was drugged because he lost time and he has memory gaps. Preston must have felt so ashamed because he had very little recollection of the event. On February 4th 1980, preston left his unit and was assigned to Fort Dix, new Jersey. Preston left his unit and was assigned to Fort Dix, new Jersey.
Speaker 1:Prior to this incident Preston was an outstanding soldier, as his record showed, but his career began to spiral downward following the assault. He married in April of 1980, and his marital problems were just getting started. Many times the military police, also known as MPs, were called to his quarters for domestic disputes with his wife. No-transcript, but received a DUI off post and was reduced one grade. Preston was having problems that now he believed were a result of the sexual assault that occurred.
Speaker 1:In May 1986, preston was discharged from the Army under honorable conditions. He was a very bitter individual because he loved the service and was angry that his career ended after nine years. His marriage also had many issues and his wife divorced him in 1988. He eventually lost contact with her. Preston lost contact with his sons as well, due to moving so frequently and not keeping in touch. Due to moving so frequently and not keeping in touch, after leaving the military, preston's drinking increased and then he received a second DUI in September 1986. Over the years, preston suffered from rectal problems and eventually had to have surgery to correct his anal fistulas and occurring hemorrhoids. Preston blamed himself for all the terrible things that Jeffrey Dahmer did to another victim that he knew. As we reflect on Preston's story, we must remember the victims of Jeffrey Dahmer and the countless lives that were altered by his insidious actions, the trauma that left psychological scars behind, not just for the individuals involved but for society as a whole.
Speaker 1:Thank you for tuning in to Unadvertised. If you or someone you know has experienced a similar situation, I encourage you to reach out for help. Know has experienced a similar situation, I encourage you to reach out for help. Remember, sharing your story can be a powerful step towards healing. If you enjoyed today's episode, please take a moment to leave us a review on Spotify, apple Podcasts, podcast Index, podcast Addict, deezer and player FM. Your feedback helps us grow and bring you even better content. If you would like to reach out and submit your story, email unadvertisedinfocrime at gmailcom. Don't forget to hit subscribe so you never miss an episode we upload every Friday. Until next time, stay safe, stay informed and take care of each other. Always remember you are not alone.