John wayne gacy biography
John Wayne Gacy: A Timeline of the 'Killer Clown' Murders, Trial and Execution
On the surface, John Wayne Gacy seemed a cornerstone of his suburban Chicago community in the 1970s: Gregarious and boastful, he was known for running a successful construction business, his involvement in local politics and, especially, for entertaining young children at parades and hospitals as the jolly clown, Pogo.
However, there were troubling signs behind the makeup for those who bothered to look, from the coming and going of young men from his home at all hours of the night, to the unusual odor that emanated from the bowels of that house, to his conviction for a sexual offense with a minor that nobody seemed to know about.
When the horrific truth finally came out, neighbors were shocked to learn that their once-friendly neighbor was masking the impulses that made him one of the most prolific serial killers in history — and the image of the clown as a happy, beloved entertainer would never be the same.
Watch the special three-night event, Invisible Monsters: Serial Killers in America, beginning Sunday, August 15 at 9/8c on A&E.
1967-68: Gacy is accused of sexual assault
Gacy, a restaurant manager and a father of two in Waterloo, Iowa, sees his family-man image shattered when two high school boys describe to authorities how he served them alcohol, forced them to watch pornographic films and initiated sexual contact; one also claims that Gacy attempted to strangle him. Gacy subsequently hires a high school senior to intimidate one of the boys into remaining silent, a move that backfires.
December 3, 1968: Gacy is sentenced to 10 years behind bars
One month after pleading guilty to sodomy, Gacy earns a 10-year prison sentence, the strict punishment meant to serve as "a further deterrent" to his preying on teenage boys.
June 18, 1970: Gacy is granted parole
Reportedly a well-behaved prisoner, Gacy is allowed to leave the Iowa State Reformatory for Men
John Wayne Gacy was born in 1942 and grew up in a working-class neighborhood of Chicago, Illinois. His father, John Stanley Gacy (1900-1969), was an alcoholic and beat him frequently during his violent rages. As Gacy grew up, he began to develop a identity crisis - doubting his own masculinity. At the age of 11, he suffered a blow to the head from a swing. Over the next five years, he had frequent blackouts until doctors found a clot in his brain that was removed with medications. Following that, he would feign 'heart problems' for attention. John Wayne Gacy was a serial killer and rapist who murdered at least 33 teenage boys and young men in Cook County, Illinois, burying most under his house. Sometimes known as the “Killer Clown” for his habit of dressing in a clown costume and makeup, Gacy had an abusive childhood and struggled with his homosexuality. Gacy committed all the murders in his Norwood Park home, luring his victims there with the promise of construction work or some other ruse, then sexually assaulting and torturing them before killing them, usually by strangulation. Gacy was arrested in 1979, and the following year, he was convicted of 33 murders. Gacy was executed in 1994. FULL NAME: John Wayne Gacy John Wayne Gacy was born on March 17, 1942, in Chicago to John Stanley Gacy and Marion Elaine Robison. His father, an auto repair machinist and World War I veteran, struggled with alcoholism and beat John and his two sisters with a razor strap if they were perceived to have misbehaved. John’s father frequently belittled him, calling him stupid and comparing him disparagingly to his sisters, according to Johnny and Me: The True Story of John Wayne Gacy by Barry E. Boschelli. Gacy’s psychosexual history began between the ages of 6 and 10, when a teenage daughter of one of his mother’s friends reportedly undressed and played with him, according to Killer Clown: The John Wayne Gacy Murders by Terry Sullivan. Gacy was molested at a young age by a family friend and contractor, and between ages 10 and 12, Gacy and a friend were accused of sexually fondling a young girl, according to Sullivan. A sickly, overweight, uncoordinated child, Gacy was unable to perform at sports or bond with children his own age, according to American serial killer (1942–1994) "Gacy" redirects here. For other uses, see Gacy (disambiguation). John Wayne Gacy 1978 mugshot of Gacy Chicago, Illinois, U.S. Stateville Correctional Center, Crest Hill, Illinois, U.S. Marlynn Myers Carole Hoff Span of crimes Date apprehended John Wayne Gacy (March 17, 1942 – May 10, 1994) was an American serial killer and sex offender who raped, tortured, and murdered at least 33 young men and boys in Norwood Park Township, near Chicago, Illinois. He became known as "the Killer Clown" due to his public performances as a clown prior to the discovery of his crimes. Gacy committed all of his known murders inside his ranch-style house. Typically, he would lure a victim to his home and dupe them into donning handcuffs on the pretext of demonstrating a magic trick. He would then rape and torture his captive before killing his victim by either asphyxiation or strangulation with a garrote. Twenty-six victims were buried in the crawl space of his home, and three were buried elsewhere on his property; four were discarded in the Des Plaines River. Gacy had previously been convicted in 1968 of the sodomy of a teenage boy in Waterloo, Iowa, and was sentenced to ten years' imprisonment, but served eighteen months. He murdered his first victim in 1972, had murdered twice more by
He graduated from business college and started to work as a shoe salesman. Gacy married a co-worker worker, whose family owned a KFC in Waterloo, Iowa and began to work there as Manager. He gradually earned the respect of the local Jaycees. In May 1968 he was arrested for sexual misconduct with a young male employee. Gacy actually hired a thug to beat up the witness, which failed, and only increased the charges against him. He plead guilty to sodomy and was sentenced to 10 years. Gacy was a model prisoner and was paroled in 1970 after serving only 18 months.
He then moved to Chicago where he began his life anew as a building constructor. Gacy became popular with his new neighbors and colleagues. He would throw theme parties and often dress up as 'Pogo the Clown' for children's parties and charity shows. Gacy was also involved with the Democratic party and even had his picture taken with then First Lady Rosalynn Carter (wife of former President Jimmy Carter).
On February 12, 1971 he was once again charged with sexual misconduct towards a young man. The witness did not show up in court and the charges were dropped. He finished his parole on October 18, 1971. Gacy committed his first murder on January 3, 1972. His modus operandi would be to drive around town looking for young male runaways, ex-jailbirds or even male prostitutes. Gacy's victims ranged in age from 9 to 20 years. He would flash the John Wayne Gacy
1942-1994
Who Was John Wayne Gacy?
Quick Facts
BORN: March 17, 1942
DIED: May 10, 1994
BIRTHPLACE: Chicago, Illinois
SPOUSES: Marlynn Myers (1964-1969) and Carole Hoff (1972-1976)
CHILDREN: Michael and Christine
ASTROLOGICAL SIGN: PiscesChildhood
John Wayne Gacy
Born (1942-03-17)March 17, 1942 Died May 10, 1994(1994-05-10) (aged 52) Other names The Killer Clown Criminal status Executed by lethal injection Spouses Children 2 Conviction(s) Iowa
Sodomy
Illinois
Murder (33 counts)
Indecent liberties with a child
Deviate sexual assaultVictims 33+ 1972–1978 Country United States State(s) December 21, 1978 Imprisoned at Menard Correctional Center