Serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer’s friend, John “Derf” Backderf, was a BJ staff artist-cartoonist (1990-1999) after his 1986-89 run with the PD. 

He authored “The City” comic strip.

His awards would form a humongous pile of – let’s call it stuff: Green Eyeshade Award from The Society of Professional Journalists, Best Cartoon from the Association of Alternative Newspapers (runner-up three times), Robert F. Kennedy Journalism Award for political cartooning, two Eisner Awards nominations (the Oscars of comics) and Lifetime Achievement Award from The Lit, Cleveland's literary society.

The Richfield native and Ohio State University graduate also wrote three graphic novels.

Derf’s late father, Richard Backderf, was a Goodrich chemist in Brecksville for 36 years who was married to Maryanne, Derf’s mom. Derf apparently inhaled a lot of dad’s fumes.

Derf is married to Sheryl Harris, a former BJ reporter who became a business writer at the Plain Dealer and who must walk around their home very quietly till Derf has had his morning tranquilizer.