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Home > Once Upon A Crime | True Crime > Bonus: John Wayne Gacy: A Case Review & Peacock’s “Devil in Disguise”
Podcast: Once Upon A Crime | True Crime
Episode:

Bonus: John Wayne Gacy: A Case Review & Peacock’s “Devil in Disguise”
Category: Society & Culture
Duration: 00:19:51
Publish Date: 2025-12-15 00:00:00
Description:

In this bonus episode of Once Upon a Crime, Esther revisits the horrific crimes of serial killer John Wayne Gacy, often referred to as “The Killer Clown,” and reviews the 2025 Peacock docu-drama Devil in Disguise: John Wayne Gacy. The episode explores Gacy’s background, his crimes, the investigation's failures, and how the new series approaches the case from a victim-centered perspective.


Episode Overview

  • A concise but comprehensive summary of John Wayne Gacy’s life, early red flags, criminal history, and escalation into serial murder.
  • A breakdown of the 1978 investigation that led to the discovery of 33 victims and Gacy’s eventual arrest.
  • Key points from Gacy’s trial, sentencing, and 1994 execution after 14 years on death row.
  • Esther’s review of the 2025 Peacock TV series, Devil in Disguise: John Wayne Gacy:
  • How the series differs from past portrayals
  • Why its victim-focused storytelling stands out
  • What is factually accurate and what is dramatized
  • A discussion of additional theories, research, and case details not included in the series.

Sources & Further Reading

  • Devil in Disguise: John Wayne Gacy (2025), Peacock TV / Littleton Road Productions
  • Creator & Showrunner: Patrick McManus
  • Rolling Stone – “Four Things ‘Devil in Disguise: John Wayne Gacy’ Leaves Out”
  • Elisabeth Garber-Paul (Oct 24, 2025)
  • EBSCO Knowledge Advantage: John Wayne Gacy – Research Starters
  • People Magazine – “‘Devil in Disguise: John Wayne Gacy’ — What’s Fact, What’s Fiction?”
  • Caroline Blair (Oct 20, 2025)

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