Shari Jordan Is Jeffrey Dahmer's Step-Mother: Inside Her Relationship with His Father

Lionel Dahmer, Jeffrey Dahmer's father, revealed he was in a bleak and lonely place in his life when he met his second wife, Shari Jordan. Together, they overcame the controversy surrounding his son and strived to help other parents.

Many of Jeffrey Dahmer's family members have been thrown into the limelight following the unearthing of his crimes, including his stepmother, Shari Jordan. She came into her stepson's life when he was still a teenager and during a difficult time in his father's life.

Lionel Dahmer and his second wife's relationship progressed quickly, and together, they went on "Larry King Live" in 2004 in an attempt to help other parents see the signs to "prevent another Jeff."

Shari Jordan's Husband Called Him His 'Life Preserver'

When Lionel met thirty-seven-year-old Shari, he was still reeling in exhaustion and self-blame as it had only been three months since his divorce had been finalized and he had lost his sons — Jeffrey and his younger brother — and his first wife.

In his autobiography, Shari's husband revealed they were both in lonely places, with his life especially bleak as he had found himself "in a fog." However, Shari's husband shared:

"I felt like I was drowning. Needless to say, Shari came to me like a life preserver."

Shari Jordan Did Not Welcome Any Children of Her Own

Although Shari did not welcome any biological children, she became a stepmother twice, including in 1978 when he married Lionel and became a stepmom to his sons. While reports alleged Shari's neighbors said she didn't have the best relationship with her stepsons, Shari stated otherwise.

She admitted that the experience of being associated with Jeffrey was not easy.

"We got along fine. Jeff was able to separate his personal relationship with his parents and his mother and with me. He accepted me as an individual," Shari said about her relationship with her husband's eldest son.

Shari Jordan on How She and Her Husband Overcame the Controversy Surrounding His Son

In 2004, Shari and her husband appeared on "Larry King Live" and opened up about their experiences as the family of Jeffrey Dahmer — who was portrayed by Evan Peters in the popular Netflix series "Dahmer — Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story."

During their interview, Shari's husband admitted he had come on the show to help people, stating, "I really want to tell parents about what I think they should look for in rearing their children." Shari shared the same sentiment, revealing:

"Absolutely. Anything that we could do to circumvent or prevent another Jeff would be a blessing."

Although Shari admitted to being proud of her name during her appearance on "Larry King Live," she admitted that the experience of being associated with Jeffrey was not easy.

However, Shari and her husband persevered and were able to survive the scandal with faith and the help of good friends. "So we've lost a lot of family, a lot of people we knew, but we have a lot of friends who are proud of us, who are not ashamed of who we are, again because we've done nothing wrong. So life is good," she said.