There are numerous portraits, perspectives, and analyses of the life and deeds of American serial killer John Wayne Gacy, who is thought to have sexually assaulted and murdered 32 boys between 1976 and his arrest in December 1978 (Cahill, 1978; Gacy, 1989). This profile of Gacy compiles a birth-to-death chronology of events and activities that may lend insight to the personality of a habitual liar, model citizen, and serial murderer.

Born to Marion Elaine Robinson Gacy and John Hanely Gacy on St. Patrick's Day in 1942, John Wayne Gacy was the second of three children. The alcoholic Gacy, Sr. was both physically and verbally abusive towards the entire family. His special interest in John, Jr. was the litany that he was "dumb and stupid? and an embarrassment to the family. However John Jr. loved his father and strived to please him.

John suffered poor health during much of his childhood. After attending four years...