S1 Ep5: John Wayne Gacy, the real life killer clown

Devils in the Dark

True Crime, Comedy

4 • 835 Ratings

🗓️ 14 March 2022

⏱️ 49 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Helen Anderson and Danni Howard travel to 1970s Illinois, America to explore the twisted world of the sinister Killer Clown, John Wayne Gacy. Once a strong pillar of his community, John Wanye Gacy or “Pogo” the clown to the local children, his kind reputation was shattered after a search warrant for his home uncovered unspeakable horrors. Expect harrowing details from police on the scene, an incredible story from the only survivor and of course, the most sinister clown makeup to ever have existed. Devils in The Dark contains graphic details of sexual assault and violence and is not intended for all audiences. Listener discretion is strongly advised.

00:00 - Introduction
05:11 - Where John’s story begins
08:28 - John gets a job in a mortuary
09:27 - John starts a new life in Springfield, Illinois
14:54 - John’s first known assault
16:56 - John is sent to Anamosa State Penitentiary
19:40 - John’s second new life in Chicago
20:55 - Pogo The Clown
24:48 - The abduction of Rob Piest
26:31 - Police search John’s house
29:06 - Catching John Wayne Gacy
36:09 - The confession
40:50 - The boy who survived, Tony Antonucci
43:28 - The trial of John Wayne Gacy
47:44 - Outro

This episode is sponsored by...

Beer 52. Head to www.beer52.com/DARK to claim your free case of beer now.

Follow Helen Anderson at @helenanderz and Danni Howard at @thatdannihoward. Special thanks to Woodcut Media. See audioboom.com/about/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Produced by Alexandra Jueno at Audioboom Studios.

If you have been affected by any of the themes in this week’s episode please consider contacting the following resources:

The Samaritans helpline: 116 123

Rape Crisis Helpline: 0808 802 9999 (help is also available at live chat at https://rapecrisis.org.uk/get-help/live-chat-helpline/ *times apply)

Sexual Assault Support Line: 01708 765200

Transcript

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0:00.0	Hello, welcome to Devils in the Dark with me, Helen Anderson and me, Danny Howard.
0:06.9	In every episode, we're going to be turning back the clock and looking at some of the worst murder cases in history.
0:13.0	In this episode, we're looking into the infamous clown killer.
0:17.9	It's John Wayne Gasey.
0:33.1	Thank you. Clown Killer, it's John Wayne Gasey. How are you today, Danny?
0:35.3	I'm not going to lie.
0:36.5	You just hear the words clown killer.
0:40.1	And you're just full of dread.
0:41.4	I'm dreading this one.
0:42.5	I don't want to do it.
0:43.7	Do not like clowns.
0:45.0	Who likes clowns?
0:46.3	Not many.
0:46.9	Nobody.
0:47.8	But are they like a genuine phobia?
0:49.6	What an unpopular thing to be.
0:52.4	Yeah.
0:53.0	I don't believe in clowns.
0:54.4	I don't think I'm afraid necessarily of clowns, but I'm afraid of people's people in masks.
1:04.1	I'm afraid of masks or like when I can't see a person's face and a clown is that basically.
1:09.2	So yes.
1:09.9	Actually, yeah, that was just a long way of saying
	...

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