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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.

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