John Wayne Gacy

Federal courts rejected applications for habeas corpus and final attempts to stay the execution. On 9 May 1994, the US Supreme Court declined to intervene, just hours before the execution.

Gacy was executed by lethal injection at Stateville Correctional Center. The execution was delayed by a technical problem with the intravenous tubing before he was pronounced dead.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Directly implicated

In further proceedings, Gacy challenged his convictions and sentences under the Post-Conviction Hearing Act. The Illinois Supreme Court upheld the dismissal of his petition.

The Illinois Supreme Court rejected Gacy's principal arguments concerning the searches, confessions, evidence, conduct of the trial and sentencing, and upheld the judgment.

Gacy was tried in a single proceeding for 33 murders, deviate sexual assault and sexual abuse of a child. His defence relied in part on his mental condition.

Attribution

Directly implicated

For the twelve murders committed after the applicable law came into force, the jury imposed the death penalty; Gacy received life sentences without parole for the other murders.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Directly implicated

Gacy murdered 33 boys and young men. Most of the bodies were buried beneath or around his house; others were dumped in waterways.

State of the evidence

Established by a court

Attribution

Directly implicated

After approximately eighteen months in custody, Gacy was granted parole and returned to the Chicago area.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Accused

While living in Iowa, Gacy was accused by teenage boys of providing them with alcohol and initiating or forcing sexual acts. One case led to his guilty plea in 1968.

Attribution

Directly implicated

Gacy pleaded guilty to one count of sodomy involving a teenage boy and was sentenced to ten years' imprisonment in Iowa.

State of the evidence

Established by a court

Attribution

Directly implicated