John Wayne Gacy, one of America’s most notorious serial killers, preyed on young men and boys in the Chicago area during the 1970s. Behind the facade of a friendly clown and community figure, Gacy concealed a horrifying secret: he was responsible for the abduction, torture, and murder of at least 33 young individuals. While Gacy’s gruesome crimes and trial captivated the nation, it’s crucial to remember the individuals whose lives were tragically cut short. This article serves to honor the memory of the John Wayne Gacy Victims, detailing their stories and the circumstances surrounding their disappearances and eventual identification. It is a somber reflection on the lives lost and the enduring impact of Gacy’s monstrous acts.
The Identified Victims of John Wayne Gacy
The following sections detail the lives and disappearances of the victims who have been identified in connection to John Wayne Gacy. Their stories, though brief in the face of such tragedy, serve as a testament to the lives stolen and the importance of remembrance.
Timothy Jack McCoy, 16 years old
Timothy Jack McCoy, originally from Iowa and Nebraska, was just 16 years old when he became John Wayne Gacy’s first known victim. On January 3, 1972, McCoy was passing through Chicago, awaiting a connecting Greyhound bus at the Loop station on his journey home. Gacy confessed to encountering McCoy at the bus station, luring him to his residence, and tragically ending his life by stabbing him in the chest. The brutal act left a significant bloodstain under the carpet of Gacy’s bedroom, a grim piece of evidence uncovered by investigators. It wasn’t until May 1986 that McCoy’s identity was confirmed, thanks to the distinctive dental features that orthodontist Dr. Edward Pavlik meticulously analyzed.
John Butkovich, 18 years old
John Butkovich, an 18-year-old former Lane Tech student, met his fate after leaving his Chicago family home on July 31, 1975, with the intention of visiting Gacy’s residence. Butkovich had previously worked for Gacy as a contractor but had left after eight months. He was heading to Gacy’s house at 8213 W. Summerdale Ave. to demand his final paycheck. Tragically, this visit led to his demise. Butkovich’s body was the first discovered by police on December 21, 1978. Gacy himself led officers to his garage, revealing the location of Butkovich’s remains. The body was exhumed the following day, and dental records swiftly confirmed his identity, marking the beginning of the unraveling of Gacy’s horrific crimes.
Francis Wayne Alexander, 21 to 22 years old
Francis Wayne Alexander, known as “Wayne,” had a transient life, having been raised in North Carolina and later residing in New York before moving to the Chicago area in February 1975. After a brief marriage and subsequent divorce, Alexander vanished, with the last contact occurring between November 1976 and March 1977. His family, believing he desired solitude, did not file a missing person’s report. Alexander’s body was discovered in Gacy’s crawl space on December 26, 1978, among the many other victims. Decades later, in October 2021, advancements in DNA technology and genealogy websites led to a breakthrough. A DNA profile match with a potential relative finally identified Francis Wayne Alexander, bringing closure to a decades-long mystery.
Darrel Samson, 19 years old
The disappearance of Darrel Samson, aged 19, on April 6, 1976, remains shrouded in mystery, with scant details known about the circumstances leading up to his vanishing. His body was unearthed from Gacy’s crawl space, a silent testament to a life abruptly ended. Identification efforts took time, with Samson’s identity being confirmed sometime between November 1979 and March 1980. Like many of Gacy’s victims, Samson’s story is a poignant reminder of the young lives tragically lost.
Samuel Stapleton, 14 years old
Samuel Stapleton, at just 14 years old, was one of John Wayne Gacy’s youngest victims. On May 13, 1976, Stapleton disappeared while walking home from his sister’s residence in Chicago. His mother and stepfather reported him missing the following day, initiating a desperate search. A distinctive bracelet found on one of the bodies recovered from Gacy’s crawl space ignited the family’s worst fears. Their suspicions were tragically confirmed on November 14, 1979. An earlier X-ray of Stapleton’s head, which included the outlines of his teeth, provided the crucial dental evidence needed for identification.
Randall Reffett, 15 years old
The activities Randall Reffett, 15, was engaged in before his disappearance on May 14, 1976, remain unknown. His body was located by police in the crawl space beneath the front door of Gacy’s house on Christmas Day, 1978, a grim discovery on a day meant for joy. Reffett’s identification came through a previous X-ray taken at Weiss Memorial Hospital after he sustained a stab wound unrelated to Gacy. This X-ray, which included his jaw and teeth, served as the key to confirming his identity on April 11, 1979, nearly three years after he went missing.
Michael Bonnin, 17 years old
Michael Bonnin, a 17-year-old Chicago resident, disappeared on June 3, 1976. A fishing license bearing Bonnin’s name, discovered inside Gacy’s residence, became the initial and crucial clue in connecting him to the serial killer. The grim confirmation came on January 6, 1979, when a body recovered from Gacy’s crawl space was positively identified as Michael Bonnin. The fishing license served as a stark and personal link between victim and perpetrator.
William Carroll, 16 years old
William Carroll, a 16-year-old Chicago youth described as having a “penchant for getting into trouble,” disappeared on June 13, 1976, his older brother’s birthday. Carroll had assured his father he would return within an hour before entering a dark-colored vehicle occupied by three or four other teenagers. Tragically, he never returned. A body found in Gacy’s crawl space was confirmed to be William Carroll on March 17, 1979, through dental records, bringing a somber end to the family’s search.
Jimmy Haakenson, 16 years old
Jimmy Haakenson, a 16-year-old native of St. Paul, Minnesota, made a fateful call to his mother on August 5, 1976, to inform her of his arrival in Chicago. This phone call was their last conversation. For decades, Haakenson remained unidentified among Gacy’s victims. However, nearly 40 years later, DNA provided by his brother and sister, spurred by the encouragement of a nephew, led to a conclusive identification. The body found in Gacy’s crawl space was confirmed to be Jimmy Haakenson, offering long-awaited answers to his family.
Rick Johnston, 17 years old
Rick Johnston, a 17-year-old Bensenville resident and high school student, was dropped off by his mother at the Aragon Ballroom to attend a concert on August 6, 1976. It was the last time she saw him. A body recovered from Gacy’s crawl space was identified as Johnston on January 1, 1979, through dental records. His disappearance marked another tragic loss in the series of crimes committed by Gacy in the Chicago area.
William George Bundy, 19 years old
William George Bundy, a 19-year-old accomplished diver and gymnast at Senn High School, told his family he was going to a party in October 1976. Notably, he left his wallet at home, an unusual detail that later stood out. For 35 years, Bundy’s whereabouts remained unknown, until a renewed effort by Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart. DNA provided by Bundy’s siblings confirmed that he was an unidentified Gacy victim. There is suspicion that Bundy may have worked for Gacy, though this has never been definitively verified.
Michael Marino, 14 years old
Michael Marino, 14, and his close friend Kenneth Parker, 16, were last seen together on October 24, 1976, near a restaurant at the intersection of Clark Street and Diversey Parkway, an area known to be frequented by Gacy for picking up victims. Investigators believe Marino and Parker may have been murdered around the same time and buried together in a shared grave beneath Gacy’s house. Marino’s mother provided two sets of dental records and X-rays, which were used to identify him on March 29, 1980. Years later, she controversially claimed that the remains she buried were not those of her son, casting a shadow of doubt and further tragedy over the case.
Kenneth Parker, 16 years old
Kenneth Parker, 16, and his longtime friend Michael Marino, 14, were last seen on October 24, 1976, near the intersection of Clark Street and Diversey Parkway. Like Marino, Parker is believed to have been murdered around the same time and buried in a common grave under Gacy’s house. Dental records and X-rays of a previously fractured arm were used to identify Parker on March 29, 1980. In 2016, Parker’s body was exhumed for DNA testing at the request of Marino’s mother, who disputed her son’s identification, further complicating the already tragic narrative.
Gregory Godzik, 17 years old
Gregory Godzik, a 17-year-old Taft High School senior who worked for Gacy, left his home around 8 p.m. on December 11, 1976, supposedly for a date with his girlfriend, but never returned. Friends discovered his abandoned car, and his family hired a private investigator, but these efforts yielded no results. Godzik’s girlfriend even visited Gacy’s house to inquire about his disappearance. Gacy claimed Godzik had told him he was running away. Godzik’s body was found in the crawl space and identified through dental records in January 1979. During his trial, Gacy chillingly claimed that Godzik had “dug his own grave,” adding another layer of horror to the crime.
John Szyc, 19 years old
The circumstances surrounding John Szyc’s activities before his disappearance on January 20, 1977, are unclear. On December 15, 1978, police discovered a Maine West High School ring in Gacy’s home that belonged to Szyc. A body found in Gacy’s crawl space was identified as Szyc in January 1979 through dental records. The discovery of the high school ring in Gacy’s possession provided a tangible link between the victim and the killer.
Jon Prestidge, 20 years old
Jon Prestidge, a 20-year-old native of Kalamazoo, Michigan, came to Chicago to visit a friend. He found work with a Chicago contractor, though it remains unconfirmed if this contractor was Gacy. Prestidge was last seen alive on March 15, 1977, meeting a friend for coffee near Bughouse Square. Dental records provided by his mother confirmed in January 1979 that a body found in Gacy’s crawl space was indeed Jon Prestidge.
Matthew Bowman, 18 years old
Matthew Bowman, an 18-year-old native of Crystal Lake, was reported missing by his sister on July 5, 1977. A body discovered in Gacy’s crawl space was confirmed to be Bowman on January 27, 1979. Bowman’s disappearance and subsequent discovery further solidified the horrific scale of Gacy’s crimes within his own home.
Robert Gilroy, 18 years old
Robert Gilroy, 18, was the son of a Chicago police sergeant. He told his parents he was attending a horseback riding lesson on September 15, 1977. However, he had not attended his scheduled lessons for weeks. He was not reported missing until September 27, 1977, as his family believed he had traveled to Maryland for a special class. The Gilroy family lived just four blocks from Gacy’s home, yet no connection was initially made. A body from Gacy’s crawl space was identified as Gilroy on January 6, 1979, through dental records, tragically close to home.
John Mowery, 19 years old
John Mowery, 19, had recently completed 18 months with the Marines when he returned to Chicago in early 1977. On September 25, 1977, he stopped by his family’s house to say he was going out for the night—the last time he was seen alive. Tragically, Mowery’s sister, Judith, had been murdered six years prior, adding another layer of grief to his family’s history. A body found in Gacy’s crawl space was confirmed to be Mowery on January 27, 1979, through dental records.
Russell Nelson, 21 or 22 years old
Russell Nelson, 21 or 22, an engaged University of Minnesota student, was Gacy’s first victim from outside the Chicago area. He called his mother on October 17, 1977, to wish her a happy birthday, and was never heard from again. Nelson’s mother stated that her son had come to Chicago with another young man to work for a contractor, but it is unknown if this contractor was Gacy. Nelson was identified on January 6, 1979, through dental records.
Robert Winch, 18 years old
Robert Winch, 18, moved to Chicago from Kalamazoo, Michigan, having previously run away from a foster home. He was last seen alive on November 11, 1977. A distinctive “tiger’s eye” belt buckle found in Gacy’s house was linked to Winch. However, he was ultimately identified on September 12, 1979, by markings on bones that had been broken in an earlier accident and had subsequently healed, a unique skeletal fingerprint.
Tommy Boling, 20 years old
Tommy Boling, 20, was a married father to a 3-year-old son, Timmie. He disappeared from his Chicago home on November 18, 1977. Boling’s sister told reporters that he was using drugs at the time of his disappearance. His wedding ring and dental records confirmed on September 12, 1979, that a body found in Gacy’s crawl space was Tommy Boling.
David Talsma, 20 years old
David Talsma, 20, a Chicago resident, disappeared on December 9, 1977. His body was recovered from Gacy’s crawl space on November 16, 1979. On what would have been his 21st birthday, Talsma was identified through X-rays of his left arm, a somber birthday confirmation of his tragic fate.
William Kindred, 19 years old
William Kindred, 19, a Chicago resident, was reported missing by his girlfriend, Mary Jo Paulus, on February 16, 1978, after he failed to arrive at her house. Paulus had met Kindred when he picked her and a friend up while they were hitchhiking in July 1977. Paulus knew Gacy, though it’s unclear if Kindred did. Police developed information that Kindred was picked up by Gacy near Diversey Parkway and Broadway. His body was found in Gacy’s crawl space, and his identity was confirmed through dental records on May 21, 1979.
Timothy O’Rourke, 20 years old
Timothy O’Rourke, 20, disappeared on June 30, 1978. Friends indicated that he frequented gay bars, areas Gacy was also known to prowl. A body recovered on June 30, 1978, near the Dresden Island Lock and Dam in the Illinois River, just a short distance from where two more bodies were later found, was identified as O’Rourke through fingerprints. His body also bore a distinctive tattoo on his left arm reading, “Tim Lee.”
Frank Landingin, 19 years old
Frank Landingin, 19, a Chicago resident, disappeared on November 4, 1978. Police linked his death to Gacy on December 26, 1978, after finding some of Landingin’s personal items inside Gacy’s residence. Landingin’s naked body was discovered in the Des Plaines River at Channahon in Will County on November 12, 1978. He had died of asphyxia, with bikini briefs stuffed into his throat. He was identified by his father, fingerprints, and dental records.
James Mazzara, 20 years old
James Mazzara, 20, from Elmwood Park, disappeared on November 23, 1978. Gacy admitted to dumping the body of a youth nicknamed “Mojo” into the Des Plaines River. (Mazzara’s nickname was indeed “Mojo.”) Mazzara was Gacy’s next-to-last victim. The cause of death for Mazzara could not be determined. His body was found in the Des Plaines River at Channahon on December 28, 1978, and identified through his fingerprints.
Robert Piest, 15 years old
Robert Piest, 15, a Maine West High School honor student, finished his shift at Nisson Pharmacy in Des Plaines on December 11, 1978. Piest told his mother to wait inside while he spoke with a man outside about a construction job. He then vanished. Inside Gacy’s house on December 13, 1978, police found a receipt for film development. The Piest family recognized the receipt as belonging to a female friend of their son, placing Piest at Gacy’s residence. Police concluded Piest was in Gacy’s house. Gacy was arrested on December 21, 1978, with Piest believed to be his last victim. Gacy confessed to dumping Piest’s body in the Des Plaines River. Piest’s body was recovered and positively identified on April 9, 1979, marking the end of Gacy’s known killing spree.
The Unidentified Victims of John Wayne Gacy
Despite the tireless efforts of law enforcement and forensic scientists, some victims of John Wayne Gacy remain unidentified. These individuals, known only as Victim Numbers, deserve to be remembered and efforts to identify them continue.
Victim No. 28, 14 to 18 years old
This unidentified white male was estimated to be between 14 and 18 years old, standing 5-foot-6 to 5-foot-11 in height. He disappeared sometime between January 3, 1972, and July 31, 1975, a period coinciding with Gacy’s early years of murder.
Victim No. 26, 22 to 30 years old
Victim No. 26 is described as an unidentified white male, aged between 22 and 30 years old, and shorter in stature, ranging from 5-foot-2 to 5-foot-6. His disappearance occurred between June 13, 1976, and August 6, 1976, placing him within the peak years of Gacy’s known killing spree.
Victim No. 13, 17 to 21 years old
This unidentified white male, Victim No. 13, was estimated to be between 17 and 21 years old and significantly taller, ranging from 5-foot-11 to 6-foot-2. He disappeared between August 6, 1976, and October 5, 1976.
Victim No. 21, 21 to 27 years old
Victim No. 21 is another unidentified white male, estimated to be between 21 and 27 years old, with a height range of 5-foot-8 to 6 feet. His disappearance timeframe is estimated between August 6, 1976, and October 25, 1976.
Victim No. 10, 17 to 21 years old
Victim No. 10, an unidentified white male, was estimated to be between 17 and 21 years old, with a height of 5-foot-7 to 5-foot-11. He disappeared between March 15, 1977, and July 5, 1977.
Conclusion
The story of John Wayne Gacy is a chilling chapter in American true crime history. However, at the heart of this dark narrative are the victims, the young men and boys whose lives were brutally taken. This article serves as a memorial to each of the John Wayne Gacy victims, both identified and unidentified. It is a reminder of the devastating impact of violence and the importance of remembering those who have been lost. While Gacy’s name is infamous, it is the names and stories of his victims that should endure, prompting reflection, empathy, and a commitment to preventing such tragedies from ever happening again.
