John Wayne Gacy, also known as the "Killer Clown," was a serial killer who murdered at least 33 young men in the 1970s. On the surface, Gacy appeared to be a successful businessman and a pillar of his community, but he led a dark double life. He would cruise local parks, picking up young men and killing them, often burying their bodies under the floorboards of his suburban Chicago home. In December 1978, police began investigating Gacy after the disappearance of Robert Piest, a young man who had gone to see Gacy about a potential construction job. As police searched Gacy's home, they found evidence linking him to multiple missing persons cases and eventually discovered the remains of 29 bodies on his property. Gacy was arrested, charged with murder, and later confessed to killing at least 32 young men. He was sentenced to death by lethal injection and executed in 1994. To this day, six of his victims remain unidentified.
Here are the key facts extracted from the text:
1. In December 1978, Chicago police began to uncover evidence of a heinous crime committed by John Wayne Gacy.
2. John Wayne Gacy was a serial killer known as the "Killer Clown".
3. Gacy was a well-known and well-liked figure in his suburban community, owning a construction business and being involved in local activities.
4. Gacy was married to his second wife and had two stepdaughters.
5. Gacy was a precinct captain for the Democratic Party and met First Lady Rosalynn Carter in 1978.
6. Gacy had a dark past, having been arrested in Iowa for assaulting two young men and serving 18 months in prison.
7. Gacy was released on parole and moved to Chicago, where he started his construction business.
8. In 1978, a young man named Robert Piest disappeared after talking to Gacy about a potential construction job.
9. Robert's family reported him missing, and the police investigation led them to Gacy.
10. Gacy was questioned by police, but he was released due to lack of evidence.
11. The police found a receipt for a roll of film that belonged to Robert, and Gacy was placed under surveillance.
12. Gacy's employees reported that two of their colleagues had gone missing, and the police found a ring linked to another missing boy.
13. The police searched Gacy's home and found a stench of death, leading them to suspect that Gacy was involved in the disappearances.
14. Gacy was arrested for selling marijuana and, while in custody, he admitted to murder.
15. Gacy told police that he had killed at least 32 young men and buried 27 bodies on his property.
16. The police found the bodies of 29 victims, but only 7 were positively identified.
17. Gacy was charged with the murders of 7 young men and was later indicted for 33 murders.
18. Gacy's trial began in February 1980, and he was found guilty after a 5-week trial.
19. Gacy was sentenced to death by lethal injection and spent 14 years on death row.
20. Gacy took up art while in prison, painting pictures of clowns.
21. After Gacy's execution, his paintings were auctioned off to raise money for art supplies for prisoners.
22. In 2011, DNA testing helped identify one of Gacy's unknown victims, William George Bundy.
23. To this day, 6 victims of the Killer Clown remain unidentified.
24. The Chicago police created a computerized database of missing and murdered children and youths as a result of Gacy's crimes.