John Wayne Gacy Chicago, Illinois (Active: 1972–1978)
Known as the "Killer Clown," Gacy sexually assaulted and murdered at least 33 young men between 1972 and 1978. Many of his victims were lured to his home under the guise of employment opportunities or through his charitable work as a clown performer. Once there, they were sexually assaulted, tortured, and murdered. Gacy buried 26 of his victims in the crawl space beneath his house. Others were buried elsewhere on his property or discarded in nearby rivers.
Known Victims:
Timothy McCoy – 16 years old. Gacy's first known victim, killed on January 3, 1972.
John Butkovich – 18 years old. A former employee of Gacy's construction business, killed on July 31, 1975.
Darrell Samson – 18 years old. Disappeared on April 6, 1976.
Randall Reffett and Samuel Stapleton – 15 & 14 years old. Both vanished on May 14, 1976.
Michael Bonnin – 17 years old. Last seen on June 3, 1976.
William Carroll – 16 years old. Disappeared on June 13, 1976.
James Haakenson – 16 years old. Disappeared on August 5, 1976; identified in 2017.
Rick Johnston – 17 years old. Vanished on August 6, 1976.
Kenneth Parker and Michael Marino – 16 & 14 years old. Both disappeared on October 24, 1976.
William Bundy – 19 years old. Disappeared on October 26, 1976; identified in 2011.
Francis Wayne Alexander – 21 years old. Disappeared in December 1976; identified in 2021.
Gregory Godzik – 17 years old. Last seen on December 12, 1976.
John Szyc – 19 years old. Disappeared on January 20, 1977.
Robert Gilroy – 18 years old. Vanished on September 15, 1977.
John Mowery – 19 years old. Disappeared on September 25, 1977.
Russell Nelson – 21 years old. Last seen on October 17, 1977.
Robert Winch – 16 years old. Disappeared on November 10, 1977.
Tommy Boling – 20 years old. Vanished on November 18, 1977.
David Talsma – 19 years old. Disappeared on December 9, 1977.
William Kindred – 19 years old. Last seen on February 16, 1978.
Robert Piest – 15 years old. Disappeared on December 11, 1978.
Several victims remain unidentified. Efforts to identify these individuals continue, with advancements in DNA technology aiding in the process. Notably, James Haakenson was identified in 2017, William Bundy in 2011, and Francis Wayne Alexander in 2021.
The discovery of Robert Piest's disappearance in December 1978 ultimately led to Gacy's arrest. A subsequent search of his home revealed the remains of numerous victims, bringing to light the full extent of his atrocities. Gacy was convicted of 33 murders and was executed by lethal injection on May 10, 1994.
