Clowns have never been scarier than when it was John Wayne Gacy behind the makeup. In this article, you will learn more about one of the most infamous serial killers in America, as well as another mass murderer who hailed from Houston.
John Wayne Gacy
‘Pogo the Clown’ was Gacy’s alter ego and he used this friendly disguise when he threw parties. Because of this, he was given the nickname of ‘Killer Clown’ or the ‘Clown Killer.’ Gacy committed his crimes between 1972 and 1978, where he raped and murdered young men. After the murders, he hid most of the bodies under his own home.
What is incredibly unnerving about Gacy is that he was a popular figure within his community and when he was fingered as a cruel murderer, everyone was in shock. His life seemed terribly normal. It is said that his last words before he was executed by lethal injection in 1994 were ‘kiss my ass.’ Gacy is believed to have taken the lives of 33 people.
Facts
· He was 52 years old when he was executed on May 10, 1994
· Gacy was apprehended in December, 1978.
· Gacy served jail time in the 1960s, while his abusive father passed away in 1969. The death shook up Gacy, as he broke down into tears. As a youth, Gacy longed for the approval of his father but never got it.
Dean Corll
Corll was given the nickname of the ‘Candy Man’ because at the time of his crimes, he was in charge of his mother’s small candy company. Between the years of 1970 and 1973, Corll was responsible for what was dubbed the “Houston Mass Murders.” However, he wasn’t alone in his crimes. He worked with two accomplices, Elmer Wayne Henley and David Brooks.
The trio would kidnap and torture young boys. The victims were lured to his apartment and after they were killed, the bodies were buried in rural places close to his home. Corll never served any time for his crimes. Corll met his end by way of the end of Henley’s gun. He shot and killed him after the two had begun arguing with one another. He died in his own home. In the end, 27 deaths were attributed to Corll.
Facts
· When the information surrounding the murders started to come to light, the crimes were being called the “worst case of serial killing in American history.”
· Corll was born on December 24, 1939 in Fort Wayne, Indiana.
· Corll has a military background being drafted into the United States Army on August 10, 1964.
· He was then assigned to Fort Polk, Louisiana for basic training, and then went on to Fort Benning, Georgia before he was permanently assigned to Fort Hood, Texas as a radio repairman.