John Wayne Gacy
Pogo the Clown, The Killer Clown
Active for 7 years
(1972-1978) in United States
33
CONFIRMED
VICTIMS
34
POSSIBLE
VICTIMS
Jump to:
- Summary
- Serial Killer Profile
- Serial Killer Type
- General Information
- Characteristics
- Childhood
- Cognitive Ability
- Incarceration
- Death
- 11 Timeline Events
- Serial Killers Active During Spree
- Boolean Statistical Questions
- 18 Books Written About John Wayne Gacy
- 18 External References
- Internal References
John Wayne Gacy (John Wayne Gacy Jr.) an American serial killer and rapist known as Pogo the Clown. Gacy was known to have sexually assaulted, tortured and murdered a minimum of thirty-three teenage boys and young men between 1972 and 1978, twenty-six of whom he buried in the crawl space of his Chicago home. He was known as the Killer Clown due to him entertaining children at social events dressed in a self devised clown costume. While in prison, Gacy took up painting as a hobby and means of making money, the paintbox used to create the art is on display at Alcatraz East Crime Museum in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. John Wayne Gacy was executed by lethal injection In 1994.
John Wayne Gacy Serial Killer Profile
Serial Killer John Wayne Gacy (aka) Pogo the Clown, The Killer Clown, was active for 7 years between 1972-1978, known to have ( 33 confirmed / 34 possible ) victims. This Serial Killer was active in the following countries: United States
John Wayne Gacy was born (John Wayne Gacy, Jr.) on March 17th 1942 in Chicago Illinois, US. He was born 2nd of 3 children and raised by both parents. He was raised as a middle child and had two sisters. His father, John Stanley Gacy, Sr., auto repair machinist and World War I veteran. His mother, Marion Elaine Robinson, a pharmacist and homemaker. His mother and father abused alcohol and/or drugs. John Wayne Gacy had XYY Syndrome, a rare chromosomal disorder that affects only males. He had a head injury as well as a physically defect. During his education he had academic, social or discipline problems, including being teased or picked on. John Wayne Gacy was sexually, physically, and psychologically abused at some point of his life.
John Wayne Gacy a bisexual male citizen of the United States of America, with religious ties and/or beliefs connected with the Catholic Church religion, organization or belief system. He took an intelligence quotient test before or after his crimes, John Wayne Gacy had an IQ of 118. He completed 12 years of school, received a GED. He gained part of his education while attending Northwestern College. He married Marylynn Myers on Aug 31 1964, married Carole Hoff on Jul 01 1972. He had 2 children.
Prior to his spree he had commited crimes, served time in jail, and served time in prison. He saw a psychologist.
In 1972 (Age 29/30) John Wayne Gacy started his killing spree, during his crimes as a serial killer he was known to torture, strangle, stalk, rape, and murder his victims. He was known to kill victims at his own home. He would keep personal items from the victim after the crime. At least one victim was tied, bound, or otherwise restrained during the crime. At the time of his crimes he was living with his mother, Marion Gacy, where he was known to work as a circus performer, painter, politician, serial killer.
He was arrested on December 21st 1978 (Age 36), convicted on March 13th 1980 (Age 37), sentenced to execution by lethal injection at Stateville Correctional Center in Crest Hill, Illinois, US. He was convicted on charges of murder, sodomy, sexual assault and other possible charges during his lifetime. John Wayne Gacy was executed on May 10th 1994 (Age 52).
John Wayne Gacy died on May 10th 1994 (Age 52), cause of death: capital punishment, executed by lethal injection at Stateville Correctional Center in Crest Hill, Illinois, US.
Profile Completeness: 100%
serial killers by profile completenessJohn Wayne Gacy has been listed on Killer.Cloud since November of 2016 and was last updated 5 years ago.
John Wayne Gacy a known:
( 651 killers ) SERIAL KILLER
The unlawful killing of two or more victims by the same offender(s), in separate events. Serial Killer as defined by the FBI at the 2005 symposium.
( 308 killers ) RAPIST
Rape is usually defined as having sexual intercourse with a person who does not want to, or cannot consent.
( 89 killers ) TORTURER
Torture is when someone puts another person in pain. This pain may be physical or psychological. Tourturers touture their victims.
( 251 killers ) STRANGLER
Strangulation is death by compressing the neck until the supply of oxygen is cut off. Stranglers kill by Strangulation.
( 53 killers ) STALKER
Stalking means following someone secretly to watch them. Serial Killer Stalkers stalk victims prior to killing them.
John Wayne Gacy
Serial Killer Profile:
Updated: 2019-05-13 Collected by Killer.Cloud
| General Information | |
|---|---|
| Name: | John Wayne Gacy |
| Nickname: | Pogo the Clown, The Killer Clown |
| Victims: | 33 - 34 |
| Years Active: | 1972 - 1978 |
| Ages Active: | 29/30 - 35/36 |
| Active Countries: | United States |
| Convicted Of: | murder, sodomy, sexual assault |
| Life Span: | 1942 - 1994 |
| Characteristics | |
|---|---|
| Gender: | Male |
| Citizenship: | United States of America |
| Sexual Preference: | bisexual |
| Religious Affiliation: | Catholic Church |
| Astrological Sign: | ♓ Pisces Feb 18 - Mar 20 |
| Birth Month: | March |
| Marital Status: | married, divorced and remarried , married Marylynn Myers on Aug 31 1964, married Carole Hoff on Jul 01 1972 |
| Children: | two children by two wives |
| Living With: | his mother, Marion Gacy |
| Occupation: | circus performer, painter, politician, serial killer |
| Childhood Information | |
|---|---|
| D.O.B.: | Mar 17, 1942 |
| Birth Name: | John Wayne Gacy, Jr. |
| Given Name: | John Wayne |
| Birth Location: | Chicago Illinois, US |
| Birth Order: | 2nd of 3 |
| Siblings: | two sisters |
| Raised By: | both parents |
| Birth Category: | middle child |
| Mother: | Marion Elaine Robinson, a pharmacist and homemaker |
| Father: | John Stanley Gacy, Sr., auto repair machinist and World War I veteran |
| Cognitive Ability | |
|---|---|
| IQ: | 118 |
| Highest School: | 12 years of school |
| Highest Degree: | received a GED |
| Educated At: | Northwestern College |
| Incarceration | |
|---|---|
| Arrested: | Dec 21, 1978 (Age 36) |
| Convicted: | Mar 13, 1980 (Age 37) |
| Sentence: | execution by lethal injection |
| Prison Location: | Stateville Correctional Center in Crest Hill, Illinois, US |
| Executed: | May 10, 1994 (Age 52) |
| Previous Crimes: | TRUE |
| Previous Jail: | TRUE |
| Previous Prison: | TRUE |
| Death Information | |
|---|---|
| Death Date: | May 10, 1994 (Age 52) |
| Manner of Death: | capital punishment |
| Cause of Death: | executed by lethal injection |
| Death Location: | Stateville Correctional Center in Crest Hill, Illinois, US |
| Killed In Prison: | FALSE |
| Suicide: | FALSE |
11 Timeline Events of Serial Killer
John Wayne Gacy
The 11 dates listed below represent a timeline of the life and crimes of serial killer John Wayne Gacy. A complete collection of serial killer events can be found on our Serial Killer Timeline.
| Date | Event Description |
|---|---|
| Mar 17 1942 | John Wayne Gacy was born in Chicago Illinois, US. #19420317 |
| Mar 17 1962 (Age 20) | 20th Birthday |
| Dec 25 1969 (Age 27) | Gacy's father died #19691225 Location: Veterans Administration Hospital in Hines, Illinois, US John Wayne Gacy's father, John Stanley Gacy, died from cirrhosis of the liver. |
| 1972 (Age 29/30) | John Wayne Gacy started his serial killing spree. #1972 |
| Mar 17 1972 (Age 30) | 30th Birthday |
| 1978 (Age 35/36) | John Wayne Gacy ended his serial killing spree. #1978 |
| Dec 21 1978 (Age 36) | John Wayne Gacy arrested. #19781221 |
| Mar 13 1980 (Age 37) | John Wayne Gacy was convictedand sentenced to execution by lethal injection at Stateville Correctional Center in Crest Hill, Illinois, US. #19800313 |
| Mar 17 1982 (Age 40) | 40th Birthday |
| Mar 17 1992 (Age 50) | 50th Birthday |
| May 10 1994 (Age 52) | John Wayne Gacywas executed.cause of death:capital punishment,executed by lethal injectionat Stateville Correctional Center in Crest Hill, Illinois, US. #19940510 |
Back to top Serial Killers Active During
The following serial killers were active during the same time span as John Wayne Gacy (1972-1978).
Serial Killers By Active Year
| 40 / 40 ANSWEREDSerial Killer Boolean Questions: | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Killer Question | Killer Answer | Total Answered | ||
| father drug abuse | TRUE | 192 | ||
| mother drug abuse | TRUE | 195 | ||
| xyy | TRUE | 81 | ||
| problems in school | TRUE | 221 | ||
| teased in school | TRUE | 218 | ||
| physically defect | TRUE | 300 | ||
| head injury | TRUE | 299 | ||
| physically abused | TRUE | 231 | ||
| psychologically abused | TRUE | 224 | ||
| sexually abused | TRUE | 226 | ||
| psychologist | TRUE | 258 | ||
| previous crimes | TRUE | 367 | ||
| previous jail | TRUE | 352 | ||
| previous prision | TRUE | 336 | ||
| kill at killers home | TRUE | 320 | ||
| rape | TRUE | 453 | ||
| torture | TRUE | 426 | ||
| stalk | TRUE | 418 | ||
| bound | TRUE | 406 | ||
| strangle | TRUE | 443 | ||
| totem personal item | TRUE | 354 | ||
| living with children | FALSE | 268 | ||
| suicide | FALSE | 225 | ||
| killed in prison | FALSE | 218 | ||
| speach defect | FALSE | 300 | ||
| drug abuse | FALSE | 226 | ||
| alcohol abuse | FALSE | 226 | ||
| forensic hospital | FALSE | 257 | ||
| previous killed | FALSE | 208 | ||
| kill at victims home | FALSE | 323 | ||
| used weapon | FALSE | 453 | ||
| used gun | FALSE | 451 | ||
| blindfold | FALSE | 363 | ||
| sex with body | FALSE | 430 | ||
| mutilated | FALSE | 447 | ||
| ate part of body | FALSE | 451 | ||
| drank blood | FALSE | 442 | ||
| posed body | FALSE | 365 | ||
| totem body part | FALSE | 365 | ||
| robbed | FALSE | 418 | ||
Books that Mention John Wayne Gacy
Kevin Smith
Serial Killer Stranglers
Kevin Smith
Serial Killer Rapists
Terry Sullivan
Killer Clown
Terry Sullivan
Killer Clown
Harold Schechter
The Serial Killer Files
Peter Vronsky
Serial Killers
Jason Moss
The Last Victim
Dr. Helen Morrison
My Life Among the Serial Killers
18 Books that mention Serial Killer
John Wayne Gacy
John Wayne Gacy Jr. (March 17, 1942 – May 10, 1994) was an American serial killer and rapist. He sexually assaulted, tortured and murdered at least 33 teenage boys and young men between 1972 and 1978 in Cook County, Illinois (a part of metropolitan Chicago).
External References
- John Wayne Gacy on en.wikipedia.org, Retrieved on Sep 13, 2018.
- Juan Ignacio Blanco, John Wayne Gacy on murderpedia.org, Retrieved on Sep 13, 2018.
- The Tuscaloosa News, Jan 8, 1979 (Page 3) on news.google.com, Retrieved on Sep 23, 2018.
- The Tuscaloosa News, Dec 23, 1978 (Page 2) on news.google.com, Retrieved on Sep 23, 2018.
- The Tuscaloosa News, Dec 24, 1978 (Page 6A) on news.google.com, Retrieved on Sep 23, 2018.
- The Tuscaloosa News, Dec 29, 1978 (Page 11) on news.google.com, Retrieved on Sep 23, 2018.
- People v. Gacy, 530 NE 2d 1340 - Ill: Supreme Court 1988 on scholar.google.com, Retrieved on Sep 29, 2018.
- People v. Gacy, 468 NE 2d 1171 - Ill: Supreme Court 1984 on scholar.google.com, Retrieved on Sep 29, 2018.
- FBI - John Wayne Gacy on vault.fbi.gov, Retrieved on Sep 29, 2018.
- Q298252 on www.wikidata.org, Retrieved on Oct 9, 2018.
- John Wayne Gacy #237 on www.clarkprosecutor.org, Retrieved on Dec 4, 2018.
- John Wayne Gacy on www.biography.com, Retrieved on Dec 14, 2018.
- Kori Rumore, Timeline: John Wayne Gacy on www.chicagotribune.com, Retrieved on Dec 17, 2018.
- John Wayne Gacy on www.alcatrazeast.com, Retrieved on Jan 10, 2019.
- John Wayne Gacy's Paintbox on www.alcatrazeast.com, Retrieved on Jan 10, 2019.
- John Wayne Gacy on www.serienkillers.de, Retrieved on Feb 17, 2019.
- John Wayne Gacy on www.serialkillers.cz, Retrieved on Apr 1, 2019.
- John Wayne Gacy on criminalia.es, Retrieved on May 22, 2019.
Internal References
John Wayne Gacy is included in the following pages on Killer.Cloud the Serial Killer Database
- #2 of 40[ Page 1 ] of Pisces Serial Killers sorted by Confirmed Victims
- #2 of 651[ Page 1 ] of serial killers sorted by Profile Completeness
- #2 of 38[ Page 1 ] of Serial Killers with birthdays in March
- #3 of 53[ Page 1 ] of Serial Killer Stalkers sorted by Confirmed Victims
- #6 of 327[ Page 1 ] of Serial Killers active in the United States
- #6 of 89[ Page 1 ] of Serial Killer Torturers sorted by Confirmed Victims
- #15 of 250[ Page 1 ] of Serial Killer Stranglers sorted by Confirmed Victims
- #16 of 307[ Page 2 ] of Serial Killer Rapist sorted by Confirmed Victims
- #29 of 72[ Page 2 ] of serial killers sorted by IQ Level
- #30 of 651[ Page 2 ] of serial killers sorted by Confirmed Victims
- #183 of 651[ Page 13 ] of the A-Z List of Serial Killers
- #241 of 651[ Page 17 ] of serial killers sorted by Years Active
- Statistics:
- Serial Killers Statistics, charts John Wayne Gacy is included in: Active Serial Killers by Country, Serial Killers By Gender, Age of Serial Killer by Date, Killers By Astrological Sign, Killers By Birth Month, Serial Killers IQ Level, Years of School Completed, Highest Degree Achieved, Sexual Preference, Birth Category, Mannor of Death, Active Serial Killers by Year and Statistical Boolean Questions.
- Years Active: