Tracy Edwards ran in trouble with law 20 years after narrowly escaping Jeffrey Dahmer

Jeffrey Dahmer survivor Tracy Edwards is known for playing a key role in the arrest of the prolific serial killer, having been one of the fortunate victims who was able to escape. 

Dahmer – who is the subject of chilling new Netflix series Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story – was convicted of killing 17 men and boys between the late 70s and early 90s, often drugging and sexually assaulting those who fell into his trap. 

His murderous spree eventually came to an end on 22 July 1991, after approaching three men and offering them money to pose for nude photographs. 

Edwards was one of those to agree, following Dahmer back to his apartment to 'drink beer and watch The Exorcist' – only to be held hostage as his captor told him he intended to eat his heart. 

Netflix

Thankfully, Edwards managed to punch Dahmer, knocking him to the ground to allow him to run away and flag down two Milwaukee police officers, who were led back to Dahmer’s home. 

Edwards later told police he managed to escape by gaining Dahmer's trust. "He underestimated me," Edwards said, "God sent me there to take care of the situation."

Edwards, who is played by Shaun J. Brown in the new true crime drama, explained during court testimony that Dahmer was ‘not the same person’ he met at the bar when he had been taken into the bedroom. 

“His face structure seemed different…It was like, it wasn’t him anymore,” he recalled. 

But after being hailed a hero for his role in taking Dahmer down, Edwards’ story took a turn of its own when he was arrested on 26 July 2011 – almost 20 years to the day after Dahmer’s capture. 

Edwards, who was homeless and aged 52 at the time of the arrest, was accused of throwing a man off a Milwaukee bridge to his death. 

Police handout

According to ABC News, Edwards was seen standing on the bridge with two other homeless men, Timothy Carr and Jonny Jordan, with a witness saying they saw Edwards and Carr push Jordan into the river below – supposedly after an argument. 

Edwards' defense attorney Paul Ksicinsk said Edwards’ post-Dahmer life had been understandably tumultuous. 

"It's like Humpty Dumpty," he said. 

"It's like he was never able to put the pieces back together again." 

In 2012, Edwards pleaded guilty and was convicted to one-and-a-half years in prison, and two years of extended supervision, for his involvement in the row that ended in Jordan’s death. 

Watch Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story on Netflix now.