Did John Wayne Gacy receive the death penalty?

Netflix just released a follow-up to Conversations with a Killer: The Ted Bundy Tapes titled Conversations with a Killer: The John Wayne Gacy Tapes. The new three-episode docuseries is streaming now on the service.

John Wayne Gacy was one of the most prolific American serial killers and sex offenders, assaulting and murdering more than 30 young men and boys. For those who follow criminal cases, you might be interested to find out more about the murderer and the docuseries. Below we answer some of the most pressing questions people have about Gacy and how he spent his final years.

Did John Wayne Gacy receive the death penalty?

Yes. John Wayne Gacy was executed by lethal injection on the morning of May 9, 1994. He had remained incarcerated on death row for 14 years. He was pronounced dead at 12:58 a.m. that morning. Interestingly, Gacy’s execution was delayed after a clog developed in the tubing. It took him 18 minutes to die.

According to a report from the Associated Press at the time, the clog and delay did not cause him to suffer. Will County Coroner Patrick O’Neil said, “To the best of my knowledge and the knowledge of the pathologist, he did not suffer any pain.”

"“He got a much easier death than any of his victims,” said William Kunkle, who prosecuted Gacy and witnessed the execution at the maximum-security Stateville Correctional Center."

How long did John Wayne Gacy go to jail?

In 1968, Gacy was convicted of sodomy of 15-year-old Donald Voorhees in Waterloo, India. He was sentenced to 10 years of imprisonment, but only served 18 months. He was granted parole with twelve months’ probation. His criminal convictions were sealed, which helped him start over in a new city.

He did not get arrested again, for his connection to Robert Piest’s murder, until December 21, 1978. After that, he remained in jail throughout his trial until his eventual transfer to death row where he remained until his execution.

What was John Wayne Gacy’s last meal?

According to The John Wayne Gacy Tapes, Gacy’s last meal was a bucket of KFC’s original recipe chicken, 12 deep-fried shrimp, french fries, a pound of strawberries and a bottle of Diet Coke to wash it all down.

What were John Wayne Gacy’s last words?

The serial killer’s last words were supposedly, “kiss my a**”, although there are some conflicting reports.

Stream Conversations with a Killer: The John Wayne Gacy Tapes on Netflix.