A Coffee Table Confession
I’ll admit something a little embarrassing: the first time I read about John Wayne Gacy, I had to sleep with the lights on. I was in college, cramming for a criminology exam, and the phrase “Killer Clown” popped up in my notes. My brain immediately went into overdrive. How many people did John Wayne Gacy kill? The answer—33 confirmed victims—wasn’t just a number. It was a gut punch.
And here’s the truth: I didn’t just feel scared. I felt small. Like the world was darker than I could handle. But over time, I realized that learning about these tragedies isn’t about wallowing in fear—it’s about facing the shadows so we can better understand the light.
The Chilling Facts Behind the Numbers
So, let’s ground ourselves in the facts. Between 1972 and 1978, John Wayne Gacy murdered at least 33 young men and boys in Illinois.
29 bodies were found buried in the crawl space beneath his home.
4 others were discovered in the nearby Des Plaines River.
His crimes went undetected for years because he lived a double life—community volunteer by day, predator by night.
Did You Know? Gacy often performed at children’s parties dressed as “Pogo the Clown.” That detail alone is enough to make anyone rethink their childhood birthday photos.
When Curiosity Turns Into Obsession
Here’s where I confess mistake number two: I once went down a true-crime rabbit hole so deep it felt like swimming through molasses. I’d binge documentaries, podcasts, and articles until 2 a.m., convinced I was “learning.” But really, I was just feeding my anxiety.
The lesson? Curiosity is healthy, but obsession can be paralyzing. It’s okay to step back, breathe, and remind yourself that the point of studying darkness is to better appreciate the light.
Why We Can’t Look Away
Why do stories like Gacy’s grip us so tightly? Psychologists suggest it’s because they force us to confront uncomfortable truths:
Evil can hide in plain sight.
Ordinary neighborhoods can harbor extraordinary horrors.
We’re drawn to the “why” even when the “what” is unbearable.
But here’s the flip side: learning about these cases can also sharpen our empathy. We remember the victims not as statistics, but as sons, brothers, and friends whose lives mattered.
A Personal Challenge: The 3-Day Balance Experiment
If you’ve ever found yourself spiraling into the darker corners of the internet (like I did), here’s a small challenge to try:
Day 1: Limit your true-crime intake to one article, podcast, or episode. Write down how it makes you feel.
Day 2: Balance it with something uplifting—watch a comedy, call a friend, or read a story of resilience.
Day 3: Reflect. Did limiting exposure help your mood? Did balancing it with light make the darkness easier to process?
This isn’t about ignoring reality. It’s about protecting your mental space while still engaging with the world.
Common Questions About Gacy
Q: Was John Wayne Gacy ever caught?
Yes. He was arrested in December 1978 and later executed by lethal injection in 1994.
Q: Why did it take so long to discover his crimes?
Gacy was a master manipulator who blended into his community. Police also underestimated missing young men, often assuming they were runaways.
Q: Are there suspected victims beyond the 33 confirmed?
Some investigators believe there may have been more, but 33 remains the official count.
Closing the Loop
When I think back to that night in college—me, wide-eyed under the glow of a desk lamp, terrified by the number 33—I realize something. I didn’t stay afraid forever. I learned to face the darkness, to name it, and to move forward with more compassion for the lives lost.
So yes, the answer to how many people did John Wayne Gacy kill is 33. But the bigger answer is this: we honor those victims not by obsessing over the killer, but by remembering the humanity that was stolen from them.
Now it’s your turn. Have you ever faced a story, statistic, or moment that shook you to your core? Share your story in the comments—I’d love to hear how you found your way back to the light.