Criminal History of John Wayne Gacy

In America, there have been more killings and manslaughters over the past few years.

However, the mortality rates are now lower than they were in the 1990s. Serial murderers are among those who commit these crimes. This essay analyzes the criminal life of Jon Wayne Gacy, known as the first serial murderer in American history. It also examines whether the authorities stopped the criminal activity and whether the criminal’s profile actually matches that of a serial killer.

The life span of John Wayne Gacy

was from 1942 to 1994. He was created in Chicago, Illinois. At school, he was alienated due to his heart condition. His father was another failing drunkard who often beat their mother. His attraction to men led him to suffer significant turmoil. In 1968, he was arrested and tried for offenses of sexually assaulting some boys. Upon his release on parole, he was later arrested in 1970 but could not be convicted due to deficiencies of the prosecution. After a question by the police, he was found to have killed Timothy McCoy whom he lured to come to his house (Eltezer, 2013). Another evidence killing was discovered in 1978 when Robert Priest disappeared after meeting him to discuss a job. When he was arrested, he confessed and attempted to prove that he was insane. He was tried and convicted of an offense of sexual assault in the United States of America. It was until then that it was discovered that he had killed 33 boys whom he buried under his home.

Congruence with Serial Offenders

The profile of a serial offender is very distinct from other forms of murder or manslaughter or even other offenders in general. First, the serial offenders are offenders who are rarely caught. Though they do not get scot free, it takes longer to apprehend and try them as compared to other offenders. They are therefore capable of committing offenses for weeks and months. Secondly, a serial killer is seen as more sinister (Freccero, 1997). They are not expected to be crazy to the society. Their killing is not as a result of a stressful environment but is as a result of a decisive action to maim and kill under the cover. Their attraction of a long-term media and public attention and is therefore large and not localized.

Thirdly, the serial offenders individualize their killing

and do not engage in the killing of a larger number of victims at ago. It is for this reason that they survive for a longer time. Rarely do they commit suicide after the crime and enjoys means of control over life. Another characteristic is that the serial offender’s activities are not viewed as a one-time accident but is a plan that is orchestrated over time (Haggerty, 2009).

The above characteristics of serial offenders satisfy that of Gacy.

He carried out premeditated killing of three or more victims over a period, whether days, months or years (Hickey 1986). Moreover, it is currently being understood that the victims are strangers or not or the movement or the place of the killing is irrelevant as to the determination of who a serial killer is. It would also fit the definition by the law enforcers that the serial killing is a product of sexual molestation and assault of victims before they are killed. However, it is agreed that a decisive killing of many people over a period amounts to a serial killing. The only issue that arises is whether his actions were critical due to his claim of craziness and dual personalities. Notably, the matter was settled in court and being a serial offender is the only viable conclusion.

The Typology in the Text

There are many typologies of serial murders. This can be visionary, mission-oriented, hedonistic or control-oriented. The typology used in the text of the criminal’s profile is visionary. The actions by Gacy were not to eliminate the boys from the face of the world. From his life history, it is evident that he was attracted to men. His defense also procured medical experts to prove the alternative personality. The primary point, however, is that he was killing his victims to cover up his attraction to men and evidence of cases of sexual assault. Evidently, this is evidence of some form of psychosis.

Solution of the Crimes

The crime of the offender was resolved in the year 1980 when the trial started. The crimes were solved through DNA investigations to identify the victims. The police interrogated him and questioned him. After the arrest, he confessed. This case has attracted the attention of many; the court found him guilty and sentenced him to serve several life sentences and the death penalty. His life ended on May 10, 1994, when he was lethally injected. This served as the deterrence to others.

Conclusion

Though the actions of Gacy can be traced from his psychological development influenced by his way of life and how he was raised, it is clear that his behavior falls within the actions of a serial killer. This because he was executing his victims one by one on different and unrelated occasions with the aim of hiding evidence of his feeling and attraction for men and young boys.

References

Canter, D. V. (2004). The organized/disorganized typology of serial murder: Myth or model?

Psychology, Public Policy, and Law, 10 (3), 293.

Freccero, C. ((1997)). Historical Violence, Censorship, and the Serial Killer: The Case of

American Psych. Diacritics, 27, 46.

Haggerty, K. (2009). Modern serial killers. “ Crime, Media, Culture, 5 (2), 171.

Hickey, E. (2013). Serial murderers and their victims. Cengage Learning .