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NEED TO KNOW
- John Wayne Gacy died by execution on May 10, 1994
- The serial killer was convicted of murdering at least 33 teen boys and young men in the 1970s
- His last words after sitting on death row for 14 years became infamous
John Wayne Gacy, a.k.a. the Killer Clown, died 31 years ago today.
On May 10, 1994, the serial killer — who was convicted of murdering at least 33 teen boys and young men throughout the 1970s — died while at a correctional facility in Illinois. Though his crimes were among the most heinous in American history, Gacy maintained a disturbing double life as both an upstanding citizen and a sexual predator.
On the outside, he was seen as a friendly community man who often entertained children in local hospitals and birthday parties — a persona that later earned him the nickname the “Killer Clown.”
In 1980, he was convicted and sentenced to death. When asked in a recording featured in Netflix’s Conversations with a Killer: The John Wayne Gacy Tapes about how he felt about the trial being over, the serial killer said, “How can you feel relief about something you still don’t understand?”
“Because they say I’m guilty, I’m supposed to feel guilty now? I don’t,” he said. “I have no remorse.”
Here’s what to know about John Wayne Gacy’s death in prison 31 years ago.
How did John Wayne Gacy die?
Courtesy of Netflix
On March 13, 1980, Gacy was convicted of murdering 33 people and sentenced to die for 12 of those killings. According to History.com, Gacy made paintings of clowns and other figures that sold for thousands of dollars during his years on death row, until he was eventually executed by lethal injection.
According to ABC News, he was given three different chemicals: one to knock him unconscious, one to stop his breathing and one to stop his heart. However, there was an error during the process, as there was a clog in the line that stopped the second chemical from completely going in at first.
Per the outlet, it took 18 minutes for him to die, which is about four times longer than expected.
When did John Wayne Gacy die?
Courtesy of Netflix
Gacy’s execution occurred on May 10, 1994.
According to the New Yorker, Gacy’s execution date fell on the 26th anniversary of his first arrest — for sodomy — when he was 26 years old.
Where did John Wayne Gacy die?
ARCHIVIO GBB / Alamy
Gacy was executed at Stateville Correctional Center in Crest Hill, Ill.
How old was John Wayne Gacy when he died?
Courtesy of Netflix
Born on March 17, 1942, Gacy was 52 years old when he died.
What were John Wayne Gacy’s last words?
Des Plaines Police Department/Chicago Tribune/Tribune News Service via Getty
Just before he was executed, Gacy spoke his notorious last words: “Kiss my a–.”
Prior to his execution, Gacy ate a final meal from Kentucky Fried Chicken, the restaurant chain where he had been a manager years earlier, per 9News. According to the outlet, he requested a bucket of KFC chicken, 12 fried prawns, a pound of strawberries, fries and a Diet Coke.
How did the public react to John Wayne Gacy’s death?
EUGENE GARCIA/AFP via Getty
On the day of his execution, nearly 1,000 people gathered around the City Hall courtyard in Chicago to celebrate Gacy’s impending death, per the Los Angeles Times. According to the outlet, they released balloons and carried placards mocking Gacy’s fascination with clowns.
In the Netflix docuseries, Conversations with a Killer, those marching could be heard chanting, “Death to Gacy,” and many people expressed that while the serial killer was getting what he deserved, they thought his execution date should have come sooner.
The docuseries also featured one of Gacy’s survivors, Steve Nemmers, who said he had “no sympathy for him. I had nothing for him.”
Meanwhile, jury foreman Ron Beaver said he felt “relief.”
“The relief came simply knowing that there would be no other children that John Wayne Gacy would kill,” he added.
How have John Wayne Gacy’s crimes been portrayed in the media?
Peacock/NBC
In addition to Netflix’s Conversations with a Killer: The John Wayne Gacy Tapes, there have been several other documentaries re-telling the horrific events, including Peacock’s six-part docuseries titled John Wayne Gacy: Devil in Disguise, which was released in 2021.
In June 2024, Deadline announced that Peacock greenlit a limited drama series — titled Devil in Disguise: John Wayne Gacy — with Severance‘s Michael Chernus portraying the titular serial killer.
If you or someone you know has been a victim of sexual abuse, text “STRENGTH” to the Crisis Text Line at 741-741 to be connected to a certified crisis counselor.