American Serial Killer John Wayne Gacy took the lives of at least 33 boys in Cook County, Illinois. He had buried most of the victims under the house he was living in. He’s mostly known as the “killer clown” for his habit of dressing in a clown costume and makeup. Gacy struggled with having an abusive father and with his homosexuality. Gacy’s murder victims were discovered after he was convicted of sexual assault in 1968.

Gacy was born on March 17, 1942, in Chicago, Illinois. Gacy and his siblings grew up with an alcoholic father who would beat the children with a razor strap if they misbehaved. Gacy’s sister, Karen, would later say that the siblings learned to toughen up against the beatings. Gacy suffered further alienation at school, unable to play with other children due to a congenital heart condition that was looked upon by his father as another failing. He later realized he was attracted to men and experienced great turmoil over his sexuality. Gacy worked as a fast-food chain manager during the 1960s. He was also a member of a Chicago-area “jolly joker” clown club and frequently performed in clown attire and makeup at children’s parties, charity fundraisers, and other events as his alter egos, “Pogo the Clown” or “Patches the Clown.” The “killer clown” sometimes lured his victims with the promise of construction work or some other ruse, and then captured, sexually assaulted, tortured, and eventually strangled them with either his bare hands or a rope.

Years later, during a conversation with detectives while he was under surveillance, Gacy discussed his work as a clown, remarking that “clowns can get away with murder.” In 1968, Gacy was convicted of sexually assaulting two teenage boys and given a 10-year prison sentence. He was released on parole in the summer of 1970 but was arrested again the following year after another teen accused Gacy of sexual assault. The charges were dropped when the boy didn’t appear at the trial.

Ten days later, a police search of Gacy’s house in Norwood Park, Illinois, uncovered evidence of his involvement in numerous crimes, including murder. It was later discovered that Gacy committed his first known killing in 1972, taking the life of 16-year-old Timothy McCoy after luring the youth to his home. After a lengthy period of police surveillance and investigation and the discovery of several trenches filled with human remains in the crawl space beneath his house, Gacy eventually confessed to killing approximately 30 people. John Gacy was later executed by lethal injection.