In December 1978, police uncovered the first of 29 bodies buried on suburban businessman John Wayne Gacy’s property — 26 in the crawl space under his home in unincorporated Norwood Park Township and three more outside the house. He confessed to four more murders of victims found in waterways south of Chicago.
More than 40 years later, here’s a guide to the investigation, conviction and execution of Gacy, and the continuing efforts to name the remaining five unidentified victims.
EDITOR’S NOTE: If you can’t see the complete timeline, then try clicking here.
Sources: Chicago Tribune reporting, photos and archives; Cook County sheriff’s office; Cook County clerk
![National Weather Service officials are expecting several rounds of thunderstorms to kickoff mid to late morning Friday in portions of central and northeast Illinois, northwest Indiana, and some may become severe. Mostly the storms are expected west of Chicago, with damaging wind up to 70 mph as a possibility, officials said. Scattered thunderstorms, some of which may be severe are expected mid afternoon through early evening. With those storms officials expect damaging wind gust, large hail and possible tornadoes. Officials said the highest tornado risk will be from the Chicago metro area westward. Current conditions at Midway Airport is overcast […]](https://www.chicagotribune.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/CTC-L-beach-season-04_192547778.jpg?w=505 "National Weather Service officials are expecting several rounds of thunderstorms to kickoff mid to late morning Friday in portions of central and northeast Illinois, northwest Indiana, and some may become severe. Mostly the storms are expected west of Chicago, with damaging wind up to 70 mph as a possibility, officials said. Scattered thunderstorms, some of which may be severe are expected mid afternoon through early evening. With those storms officials expect damaging wind gust, large hail and possible tornadoes. Officials said the highest tornado risk will be from the Chicago metro area westward. Current conditions at Midway Airport is overcast […]")
