Tim_Boyle

John Wayne Gacy’s mugshot taken in December 1978.

John Wayne Gacy was a notorious serial killer who from 1972-1994 sexually assaulted and murdered 33+ male individuals. He become famous for his alter ego “Pogo the Clown” and is now known as “The Clown Killer”

John Wayne Gacy was born on March 17, 1942. He spent his early life in Chicago, Illinois, and lived in an abusive household, with an alcoholic father who beat Gacy and his siblings.

His school life wasn’t great either as he couldn’t play with other children due to a serious heart condition. Gacy’s father looked at him in a negative manner because of this. Gacy at this time was also in constant turmoil and confusion from his closeted homosexuality. 

Around the 1960s Gacy worked in a fast food chain, becoming a building contractor soon after.

In addition to this, Gacy was married, although had been divorced twice before, having two step children and two biological children.

According to  “John Wayne Gacy Biography” Gacy would frequently dress up as a clown and go to children’s birthday parties. He wore the costume while doing some of his killings. He lured many of his victims by promising construction work, though this was a lie.

According to Crime Museum, Gacy’s first red flags started around 1964 when he was found seducing two young boys. Gacy was arrested and sentenced to 18 months in prison. Soon after his release his crimes continued. In July 1975 it was revealed that a teenage boy who worked with Gacy had gone missing. The parents of the young boy wanted and pleaded to Chicago Police officials to investigate but they never did.  

This would not be the first time the parents of previous victims would want Gacy to be investigated but these pleas would lead to nothing. 

In 1977 or early 1978 a survivor who escaped Gacy, Jeffrey Rignall ,would give the police information on Gacy but they would not act quickly, leading the report to fall on deaf ears. Gacy was only charged with battery and remained free while the case was pending.

During this time period Gacy would take the life of Robert Piest. Chicago Police finally searched Gacy’s home and  found pieces of clothing from previous victims. Gacy was finally arrested on December 1978 for 33 murders. on death row for fourteen years.

John Wayne Gacy would plead insanity, although that did not work.  He spent fourteen years on death row before being executed by lethal injection on May 10, 1994.