John Wayne Gacy Chapter Summaries

Clifford L. Linedecker was a well-known author for writing about true crime and historical events. He has written books on various topics, mostly including crime and mysteries, and his books often provide a very detailed and specific account of insights into these events. The topic of my book goes into a detailed account of serial killer John Wayne Gacy Jr’s life. Gacy is known to be responsible for at least 33 young men and boys during the 1970’s, but the “Why?” has always remained unknown. Linedecker wanted to dive deeper into Gacy’s background, his crimes, and the investigations and trials, along with the results. I chose this book because I have always been interested in Gacy’s story and what triggered him to do what he did. Linedecker’s

Lindecker aims to shed light on the chilling nature of Gacy’s crimes and the lasting, devastating effects they had on the victims’ families and the community. For example, when Gacy’s first offense went to trial, Lindeckers goes into depth about the testimonies of the trial. Gacy’s first victim, James Tullery, testifies about the abuse he endured when he worked at Gacy’s Kentucky Fried Chicken restaurant. Lindecker explained in depth everything Tullery said occurred that night, even the exact words he used as the “punishment” for the winner of the last game of pool. Lindecker quoted Tullery’s testimony as saying, “Gacy suggested that the loser perform oral sex on the winner. The smile on his face made it crystal clear he was not just making a joke.” Linedecker explained the exact words used by Gacy’s victim, allowing the reader to picture the abuse he faced, making it easier to imagine the ill intentions of Gacy. Lindecker’s explanations of the community’s feelings helped explain to the readers the true horror that Gacy placed onto the community. For example, when the bodies were discovered under Gacy’s home, he recounts the fear and shock that gripped the rest of the neighborhood as the extent of Gacy’s actions came to light. Specifically, Russel Nelsons experience who lived across the street from Gacy at the time the bodies were discovered. Lindecker explained Nelsons personal feelings on the situation and quoted, “It was an incredibly unsettling experience for me and the entire neighborhood.” Lindecker effectively conveys the lasting trauma on a member of the community from Gacy, further supporting his thesis of providing a comprehensive account of the devastating effects left on the community. Throughout reading the book, I believe Linedecker had no bias while writing the book.