Truth is usually messier than what you see on a TV screen. If you've watched the Netflix series about the Milwaukee Monster, you probably remember episode six. It's the one that breaks your heart. It focuses on Tony Hughes, the aspiring model who was deaf and had a smile that could light up a room. But honestly, the way the show depicts the relationship between Tony Hughes and Jeffrey Dahmer isn't exactly how it went down in the real world.
There's a lot of noise online. People want to believe in a "tragic romance" or a deep connection that was cut short by a monster. The reality is far more clinical and, frankly, much more devastating for the people who actually knew Tony.
The Real Tony Hughes: More Than a Victim
Tony wasn't just a character in a script. He was 31 years old. He was a son. A brother. A friend who loved to dance.
He lost his hearing as a baby because of some bad medication for pneumonia, but he didn't let that stop him. He was a regular at the gay bars in Milwaukee, especially at a place called The Phoenix. People who knew him said he was incredibly outgoing. He communicated through sign language, lip-reading, and writing notes on pads of paper he carried around.
He had big dreams. He was trying to make it as a model in Madison before moving back to Milwaukee. His mother, Shirley Hughes, has been very vocal lately about how the media handles her son’s legacy. She basically says the show's version of events is a fantasy. It’s hard to hear a mother say, "It didn't happen like that," while the rest of the world is binge-watching her trauma.
The Encounter at The Phoenix
On May 24, 1991, Tony went out. It was Memorial Day weekend.
👉 See also: The Real Story Behind I Can Do Bad All by Myself: From Stage to Screen
A friend of his, Michael Ross, actually testified about seeing him that night. According to Ross, Tony already knew Jeffrey Dahmer. This is a detail a lot of people miss. They weren't strangers who met for the first time that night. Ross said Tony had mentioned "Jeff" before and they’d had some kind of "relations" in the past.
When Dahmer walked into The Phoenix that night, Tony got up from the bar and went straight to him. They went to the dance floor. That was the last time anyone who loved Tony saw him alive.
The show portrays a weeks-long courtship. It shows them exchange letters and spend time together in a way that feels almost normal. There is zero evidence for that. Most experts and people close to the case believe the "romance" was a narrative device used by showrunners to make the tragedy hit harder. In reality, Dahmer’s patterns were much faster and much more predatory.
What Happened in Apartment 213
We know the grim details because of the trial. After leaving the bar, Tony went back to Dahmer’s apartment on North 25th Street.
Dahmer’s MO was consistent. He’d offer money for photos or just a drink. He’d lace the drink with Halcion. Once Tony was unconscious, the horror began.
✨ Don't miss: Love Island UK Who Is Still Together: The Reality of Romance After the Villa
The most disturbing part of the Tony Hughes and Jeffrey Dahmer story isn't just the murder itself, but the timing. While Tony’s body was still in the apartment, Dahmer actually lured another victim—14-year-old Konerak Sinthasomphone.
Police famously walked Konerak back into that apartment while Tony’s remains were likely still there. It’s a level of institutional failure that’s hard to wrap your head around. If the officers had looked in the bedroom, they would have found Tony. They didn't. They joked with Dahmer and left.
Dahmer later confessed to the police that he killed Tony and then stayed with the body for several days. He even kept Tony's skull. When investigators finally raided the apartment in July 1991, Tony’s skull was one of the many found in the freezer and filing cabinets. He was identified through dental records.
Why the "Romantic" Portrayal is Problematic
Shirley Hughes is right to be angry.
When you turn a serial killer’s victim into a romantic lead, you're blurring the lines of consent and reality. Tony couldn't consent to being a character in a show. His family didn't sign off on it. In fact, many of the families found out about the show at the same time we did—when the trailer dropped.
🔗 Read more: Gwendoline Butler Dead in a Row: Why This 1957 Mystery Still Packs a Punch
The "Silenced" episode was meant to humanize the victims. That’s the goal the creators gave. But you have to ask: at what cost?
- Retraumatization: Families have to see their loved ones' worst moments recreated for "entertainment."
- Fictionalization: By inventing a relationship that didn't exist, the show suggests Tony had some level of agency or "choice" in being with Dahmer, which ignores the predatory nature of a serial killer.
- Profit: The victims' families didn't see a dime of the millions Netflix made off their names.
The Aftermath and Shirley's Fight
Shirley Hughes didn't just sit back. Back in 1992, she won a civil judgment for $10 million against Dahmer. Obviously, he didn't have that money. But the point was to make sure he—or anyone else—couldn't profit from selling the rights to the story.
Decades later, she's still fighting the same battle. She told The Guardian that she doesn't understand how they can use their real names and put stuff out there like that. It’s a valid point. Privacy laws are weird when it comes to "public record," but ethics are a different story.
Key Facts to Remember:
- Tony was a 31-year-old deaf man and aspiring model.
- He was murdered in May 1991, just months before Dahmer was caught.
- There is no evidence they had a long-term "romance" as shown on TV.
- His mother, Shirley, remains a fierce advocate for the victims' memories.
How to Respect the Legacy of the Victims
If you're interested in the case of Tony Hughes and Jeffrey Dahmer, the best thing you can do is look past the dramatization.
Read the actual court transcripts. Listen to the victim impact statements. Shirley Hughes’ words in court were powerful, filled with a grief that a TV script can't touch. These weren't just "Dahmer victims." They were people with jobs, families, and futures.
Next Steps for True Crime Consumers:
- Seek out victim-centered content: Look for documentaries where the families are actually interviewed and gave consent, like Conversations with a Killer.
- Support legislation: Some advocates are pushing for "Right of Publicity" laws that would require creators to get permission from families before using the names and likenesses of crime victims in scripted media.
- Remember the names: When you think of this case, try to remember Tony Hughes, Errol Lindsey, and Steven Hicks—not just the man who took their lives.
The real story of Tony Hughes is one of a vibrant life cut short by a system that failed to protect its most vulnerable citizens. It's not a dark romance. It's a tragedy that didn't need any Hollywood polish to be meaningful.