John Wayne Gacy

John Wayne Gacy (March 17, 1942 – May 10, 1994) was an American serial killer. He was convicted and later executed for the rape and murder of thirty-three men between 1972 and his arrest in 1978. He became notorious as the "Killer Clown" because of the many block parties he attended, entertaining children in a clown suit and makeup.

Trial and Execution

On February 6, 1980, Gacy's trial began in Chicago. During the trial, he made a plea of not guilty by reason of insanity. However, this plea was rejected outright—his lawyer made the claim that Gacy had moments of temporary insanity at the time of each individual murder, but before and afterwards, somehow regained his sanity to properly lure and dispose of victims. Also, Gacy had made an earlier confession to police, and was unable to have this pulled as evidence. He was found guilty on March 13 and sentenced to death.

Related Topics:
February 6 - 1980 - Plea - Not guilty by reason of insanity - Confession - March 13 - Death

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On May 10, 1994, Gacy was executed in Stateville Penitentiary near Joliet, Illinois, by lethal injection. His execution was a minor media sensation, and large crowds of people gathered for "execution parties" outside the penitentiary, with numerous arrests for public intoxication, open intoxicants and disorderly conduct. In a display of what has been called "shocking bad taste," vendors sold T-shirts and Gacy merchandise, and the people cheered at the moment when Gacy was pronounced dead.

Related Topics:
May 10 - 1994 - Execute - Joliet, Illinois - Lethal injection - Public intoxication - Disorderly conduct - T-shirt

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Gacy's execution also proved problematic when the chemicals used in the lethal injection were mixed in a way that caused them to solidify, and as a result, he reportedly took 27 minutes to die (afterwards, Illinois adopted a different method of lethal injection). However, since Gacy was so universally hated, this was not investigated. It has even been speculated that officials purposely botched his execution in an attempt to prolong his pain.

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According to reports, Gacy did not express remorse. His last words were to the effect that killing him would not bring anyone back, and he is reported to have said "You can kiss my ass," to a guard while he was being sent to the execution chamber.

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Some have pointed to his poor relationship with his abusive, alcoholic father, his head trauma and subsequent blackouts in his teenage years as some basis for his acts. After his execution, Gacy's brain was removed. It is currently in the possession of Dr. Helen Morrison, who interviewed Gacy and other serial killers in an attempt to isolate common personality traits held by such people. However, an examination of Gacy's brain after his execution by the forensic psychiatrist hired by his lawyers revealed no abnormalities. She has said Gacy did not fit into any psychological profile associated with serial killers, and the reasons for his rampage will probably never be known.

Related Topics:
Alcoholic - Blackout - Brain - Helen Morrison - Forensic psychiatrist

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During his time on Death Row, Gacy took up oil painting, and his favorite subject was painting portraits of clowns. He claimed to have used his clown act as an alter ego, once sardonically saying that "A clown can get away with murder." After his execution, his paintings were sold at auction. Reportedly, the main buyer destroyed the paintings after winning the bids.

Related Topics:
Death Row - Oil painting - Clown - Alter ego

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