Have you ever heard of a killer clown? This may evoke images of fictional characters from the every day horror movie, but John Wayne Gacy was far from fictional. Known as the “killer clown,” Gacy wasn’t the regular performance clown you would see at a kids birthday party, but nevertheless a cold blooded killer. Gacy’s horrifying crimes during the late 1970s shaped his legacy as one of the most notorious killers in American history, murdering 33 young men and boys in his home near Chicago, Illinois.

Gacy was not just a murderer, but also a predator and sex offender who lured his victims with lies and used his “charm” to gain their trust. Dressed as “Pogo the Clown,” a character which he created to entertain at kids parties, giving a harmless impression. However, behind the clown makeup was a man who was capable of indescribable viciousness. 

Gacy’s methods were deliberate and chilling. He would invite young men and boys into his ranch-style home, often offering them a job or promising fun. Once inside, he would perform what he called “magic tricks,” which involved handcuffing his victims under the make-believe performance. Once they were restrained, Gacy would attack them. He tortured, raped, and eventually killed them, using methods that revealed his twisted need for control. 

To cover his tracks, Gacy would hide most of the bodies in the crawl space under his house. Others, buried around his property or thrown in a nearby river. For many years Gacy was never suspected. Although, in 1978, the disappearance of a 15 year old, Robert Piest, who was last seen with Gacy, led police to investigate. That investigation led to the uncovering of the full scope of his crimes, overall terrifying the nation. 

Gacy was further arrested in 1978 after the police found human remains in his home. The investigation disclosed that he has been killing these young men and boys since 1972. In 1980, Gacy was convicted of 33 murders, the most homicides ever committed by a single person in U.S. history at that time. He was later sentenced to death and spent 14 years on death row before being executed by lethal injection on May 10, 1994. 

Some psychologists believed that Gacy’s behavior and actions were shaped by his abusive childhood. He grew up with an alcoholic father who used to always insult and beat him, calling him weak and worthless. This abuse damaged Gacy’s self esteem and left him craving this form of approval from others. As an adult, he seeked control and power, often taking his frustration out on his victims. 

Gacy’s troubled childhood does not excuse his actions, but it helps explain how his violent tendencies came fourth. Unfortunately, instead of seeking help, he chose to inflict his pain on others in the most horrific ways possible. 

John Wayne Gacy’s legacy is a harsh reminder of the evil that can hide behind a friendly face. His crimes left a forever lasting scar on his community and still remains a disturbing piece of true crime history. 

 Gacy’s story is one of the most chilling in American history. For those who are interested in true crime, go over to A&E’s blog which has more details reflecting Gacy’s life and crimes into further detail. You can also check out Netflix’s “Conversations with a Killer: The John Wayne Gacy Tapes,” which also takes a deeper look into his mind through various interviews and recordings made before his execution.