John Wayne Gacy: The Killer Clown

The Cook County Circuit Court documents refer to John Wayne Gacy as the Killer Clown (John). He is one of the most notorious serial killers in United States history. Many serial killers blend in to society because they are the type of person who can go through the motions of ordinary living while acting out against others without giving themselves away (Ramsland 178). Gacy was no exception; while he was busy burying young men under his home he was also running a contractor business, throwing fundraiser as the Democratic precinct captain, in the Chicago suburbs, and entertaining sick children as Pogo the Clown (178). Gacy’s seemingly normal lifestyle to the public was far from the reality of the secret life he lead as a serial killer, taking the life of thirty three young men from 1972 to 1978. When we look at the factors considered in classifying a serial killer, the killer is typically male, the victim and

was born on March 17, 1942. He was the second of three children born to Marion and John Gacy, Sr. All of the Gacy children were raised Catholic and all three attended Catholic schools, where they lived on the northern side of Chicago.

Gacy and his siblings grew up with an alcoholic father who would beat the children with a razor strap (Amirante). Suffering from an apparent heart condition Gacy suffered alienation at school and was looked upon by his father as a failure (John).

After dropping out of high school he developed a talent for salesmanship. He excelled becoming the manager of a Nunn Bush Shoe Company in downtown Chicago (John). He quickly was transferred to Springfield, IL to manage a men’s clothing store for the company. It was there that he met and fell in love with a young lady from a wealthy family and moved with her to Waterloo, IA. At the request of his new father-in-law he took over management of the family’s fast food stores and quickly became a well-known, well liked member of the community.

Career