John Wayne Gacy was a prolific American serial killer who terrorized the state of Illinois in the 1970s. After his release in 1970 and while still on parole, he was again arrested for sexual assault, but the charges were later dropped. 28, 14 to 18 years old. Shortly thereafter, he was sentenced to death. He became notorious as the "Killer Clown" because of the … Wikimedia Commons An active member of his community in the 1970s, Gacy … Gacy was respected and admired by friends, neighbors, and police officers. A report was made, but officers failed to follow up on it. He was convicted and later executed for the rape and murder of 33 boys and young men between 1972 and his arrest in 1978, 27 of whom he buried in a crawl space under the floor of his house, while others were found in nearby rivers. John Wayne Gacy, (born March 17, 1942, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.—died May 10, 1994, Statesville, Illinois), American serial killer whose murders of 33 boys and young men in the 1970s received international media attention and shocked his suburban Chicago community, where he was known for his sociability and his performance as a clown at charitable events and childrens’ parties. He buried 29 of his victims in a crawl space under his house. The Chicago-based serial killer John Wayne Gacy — whose story, and that of his victims, is told in John Wayne Gacy: Devil in Disguise, which premiers on Peacock March 25 — brutally murdered 33 men and boys from 1972 until his … To determine if any current criminological theories are applicable to John Wayne Gacy and what is their level of accuracy, if applicable or will Gacy require a … This would not be the last time worried parents asked officials to review Gacy as a suspect, but the pleas fell on deaf ears. His father, John S. Gacy, Sr. (1900-1969), was an alcoholic and beat him frequently during his violent rages. Gacy was arrested, and used an insanity plea in the hopes of a not guilty verdict. But while he was awaiting his execution, John Wayne Gacy began painting in prison. Of the … During this time he threw elaborate block parties and built a solid reputation in his community. To many people, John Wayne Gacy was a friendly man who loved to entertain young children. By 1978, public perception of Gacy would change forever, and he would earn the ominous nickname of “the Killer Clown”. As Gacy grew up, he began to develop a identity crisis - doubting his own masculinity. As we mentioned above, one of the most horrifying things about John Wayne Gacy was how normal he seemed. And about 14 years later, he was executed by lethal injection. This unidentified white male is 5-foot-6 to 5-foot-11. John Wayne Gacy Jr. born on March 17, 1942 in Chicago, Illinois, was an American serial killer. By the time he was released, Gacy was divorced and decided to move to Chicago for a fresh start. John Wayne Gacy, (born March 17, 1942, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.—died May 10, 1994, Statesville, Illinois), American serial killer whose murders of 33 boys and young men in the 1970s received international media attention and shocked his suburban Chicago community, where he was known for his sociability and his performance as a clown at charitable events and … On March 12, 1980, the … John Wayne Gacy was also a ruthless predator who tortured, raped, and strangled 33 young men between 1972 and his arrest in 1978. Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. He … Omissions? March 17, 1942 – May 10, 1994 To many people, John Wayne Gacy was a friendly man who loved to entertain young children. John Wayne Gacy claimed that he had multiple personalities and that one in particular, “Jack,” was the evil one. The John Wayne Gacy Biography, Copyright 2021 Crime Museum, LLC - All Rights Reserved | Privacy Policy |. John Wayne Gacy (March 17, 1942 to May 10, 1994) was an American serial killer and rapist who took the lives of at least 33 young males in Cook County, Illinois, burying most under his home. https://www.britannica.com/biography/John-Wayne-Gacy, Crime Museum - Biography of John Wayne Gacy. Gacy was arrested and spent 18 months in prison. John Wayne Gacy performed as a clown at charitable events and childrens’ parties. After obtaining a search warrant, police discovered the bodies of 29 boys and young men in or near Gacy’s house; four other bodies were found in the nearby Des Plaines River. Over a period of just a few years, he murdered 33 people, 29 of whom were found underneath Gacy’s house — 26 in the crawlspace and 3 other bodies were found in other areas beneath his home. The home that sits on the lot where John Wayne Gacy murdered 33 boys and young men back in '70s has sold... after quite a slash in the original asking price. He sexually assaulted, tortured and murdered at least 33 teenage boys and young men between 1972 and 1978 in Cook County, Illinois and Chicago. After attending four different high schools, Gacy dropped out before completing his senior year and cut off all contact with his family, heading west. https://serialkillershop.com/blogs/true-crime/john-wayne-gacy At his trial Gacy’s plea of innocent by reason of insanity was supported by the testimony of several psychologists, who diagnosed him as schizophrenic, but was rejected by the jury, which found him guilty of all 33 murders of which he was accused; he was executed by lethal injection in 1994. John Wayne Gacy was convicted of the torture, rape, and murder of 33 males between 1972 until his arrest in 1978. Finding The Bodies. Gacy is more likely a very disturbed man with a destructive childhood who hid his secret and acted out brutally and without regard for humanity. John Wayne Gacy was born in Chicago on March 17, 1942. Unknown to anyone else at the time, Gacy began to rape and kill young men. The first warning sign about Gacy appeared in 1964, when he was found guilty of sodomizing two young boys. Be on the lookout for your Britannica newsletter to get trusted stories delivered right to your inbox. Case in point is John Wayne Gacy, who between 1972 and 1978 killed at least 33 youngsters. In 1976, Gacy divorced for a second time, and it seemed to give him a feeling of personal freedom. Musical artists such as Fingersmith and Sufjan Stevens have recorded songs about Gacy… Although I disagree with Amirante and his stance that Gacy is truly insane, the book brought a different perspective on Gacy. His father, John S. Gacy, Sr. (1900-1969), was an alcoholic and beat him frequently during his violent rages. Updates? By signing up for this email, you are agreeing to news, offers, and information from Encyclopaedia Britannica. Gacy had an abusive childhood and struggled with his sexuality. A young man went to the Chicago police for help in 1977, claiming that he had been kidnapped and molested by John Wayne Gacy. From the time of his initial arrest for the murder of Robert … John Wayne Gacy’s execution by lethal injection was on 10th May 1994. On December 22, 1978, John Wayne Gacy confesses to police to killing over two dozen boys and young men and burying their bodies under his suburban Chicago home. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. The defense attorneys convinced him to plead not guilty by way of insanity. And if you saw John Wayne Gacy in Walmart you probably wouldn’t look twice, because he looked like most of the portly white males who shop there, but he was a sadistic and murderous fuck who loved … On May 10, 1994, John Wayne Gacy was executed by lethal injection. Four other bodies were found in the nearby Des Plaines River. John Wayne Gacy was an American serial killer whose murders of 33 boys and young men in the 1970s received international media attention. In 1978, after one of Gacy’s victims, Robert Piest, was reported missing, police learned that Gacy was the last person known to have seen him. He was executed by lethal injection on May 10, 1994. He frequently dressed up as his alter ego, Pogo the Clown, at parties that he hosted for his entire neighborhood. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. Upon further investigation, officers discovered that the ring belonged to a teenage boy who was missing, and they found a witness who claimed Gacy had admitted to killing up to 30 people. Investigators Are Still Working to Solve the Totality of Gacy’s Crimes. The following year, Gacy murdered a 15-year-old boy who had gone to Gacy’s home to ask about a job with his construction company. He was dubbed the "Killer Clown" because he entertained children at parties and hospitals as "Pogo the Clown." Gacy May Not Have Worked Alone. Author of. This was an insightful look at the trial of John Wayne Gacy. The massive media attention Gacy’s case attracted naturally led to some ripples in the pop-culture world. There have been at least a dozen books written about him and four feature-length films. Gacy was raised by an abusive, alcoholic father, who referred to him as "sissy", and a passive mother. During July 1975, a teenager who worked for Gacy disappeared. When Gacy was seven years old and a family friend molested him, he didn’t tell anyone for fear of being beaten. Known for his predilection for wearing clown costumes, getting involved in his community, and most notably, killing at least 25 young men, there are plenty of odd facts about John Wayne Gacy that circulated in the news after his capture. He was close to his sisters and his mother, who called him "Johnny". As reported by the South Florida Sun-Sentinel, his lawyers filed 11th-hour appeals. John Wayne Gacy was born in 1942 and grew up in a working-class neighborhood of Chicago, Illinois. After running out of money in Las Vegas, Nevada, Gacy lied about his age and applied for John Wayne Gacy was convicted of his heinous crimes on March 12, 1980. Gacy was born into a blue-collar family and seems to have had a fairly ordinary childhood. Darrell Sampson (April 6, 1976) In March 1976, Gacy’s divorce from his second wife, Carole … In 1968, after his conviction for sexually assaulting a teenage boy, he was confined in the Iowa State Men’s Reformatory (Anamosa State Penitentiary) and forced to undergo psychological evaluation. By now, most of the world is aware of the John Wayne Gacy case. Distinguished Professor of History, Baylor University. For many, he was an ordinary man who loved to entertain children by dressing up as Pogo the Clown. John Wayne Gacy spent his final days alive in an Illinois prison, trying not to die. Indeed, the area of the house had emitted a foul stench for years, but Gacy had told his houseguests and his wife that the smell was the result of moisture buildup. They found a class ring, clothing for much smaller individuals, and other suspicious items. The murder of Gacy’s final victim, 15-year-old Robert Piest, led to the … Did I mention he had a sideline gig as a clown, or should I say, killer clown? In Chicago, Gacy founded a successful construction business, attended church, re-married, and volunteered as the Democratic Precinct Captain in his area. His parent’s pleaded with Chicago police officers to investigate Gacy, but they never did. … After being convicted of sexual assault in 1968, his murders were uncovered. He often berated the boy and whipped him with a belt. As Gacy grew up, he began to develop a identity crisis - … Police discovered the bodies of 29 boys and young men in or near Gacy’s house. He frequently dressed up as his alter ego, Pogo the Clown, at parties that he hosted for his entire neighborhood. However, the disturbing testimony of a few of his victims and employees who were involved in the grave-digging showed well-planned pre-meditation. John Wayne Gacy last words were “Kiss my ass” and John Wayne Gacy’s last meal was a bucket of KFC, fried shrimp, fries, strawberries and a Diet Coke. Gacy then became a fairly successful independent contractor and bought a house in suburban Chicago. John Wayne Gacy was found guilty of all 33 murders of which he was accused. John Wayne Gacy, Jr. (March 17, 1942 – May 10, 1994) was an American serial killer. For more information, please visit: Corrections? Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). But he exhibited a growing tendency toward sadism, which resulted in several encounters with the law in the 1960s. The ruse did not work, and he was found guilty. Unlike his victims, though he wasn't defenseless. His father had always despised him, called him a “sissy,” and abused him from age four. John Wayne Gacy (1942–1994) John Wayne Gacy was born in 1942 and grew up in a working-class neighborhood of Chicago, Illinois. 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