John Wayne Gacy is among the most infamous serial killers of all time, having been convicted of as many as 33 murders between 1972 and 1978. A new Peacock limited series, Devil in Disguise: John Wayne Gacy, set to release on October 16, 2025, will explore the life and crimes of the serial killer and sex offender.
Ahead of the series, here’s what you need to know about him.
Who was John Wayne Gacy?
Born to John Stanley Gacy and Marion Elaine Robison on March 17, 1942, John Wayne Gacy reportedly shared a troubled relationship with his father, who abused him. When he was 20, he fled from home and eventually started working at a mortuary in Las Vegas. He later confessed to sleeping in a coffin beside a dead boy during this time.
Gacy eventually moved to Illinois, where he married and started a family. He later relocated to Waterloo, Iowa, where his wife’s father owned several Kentucky Fried Chicken franchises. Gacy managed the restaurants. He was a respected member of the community until he was accused of sexually assaulting two high school boys.
This led to a prison term of 18 months and a divorce. He later remarried his high school girlfriend, Carole Hoff. But the marriage began to fall apart when Carole started finding wallets belonging to young men in Gacy’s car.
Between 1972 and 1978, Gacy lured many young men, whom he sexually assaulted, tortured, and murdered. During this period, he also owned and operated a remodeling business. He was an active community member and also volunteered at children’s hospitals as a clown. This earned him the nickname “Killer Clown.”
How many murders did John Wayne Gacy commit?
John Wayne Gacy was convicted of 33 murders, 26 of which were victims he buried in the crawl space of his house. While the real number of victims could be higher, 33 was the official count when Gacy was convicted. At the time, it marked the highest number of homicides in United States legal history.
