Serial Killer Gacy Loses 3 Appeals; Execution by Injection Set Tuesday
CHICAGO — John Wayne Gacy lost appeals in three courts Friday and authorities assembled a rapid-response legal team to counter any last-minute moves to buy time for the convicted serial killer.
Gacy, 52, is scheduled to die by lethal injection early Tuesday. He was convicted of murdering 33 young men and boys between 1972 and December, 1978.
Gacy lost appeals Friday in Cook County Circuit Court, U.S. District Court and the state Supreme Court.
“We knew it was going to be a long, busy weekend anyway,†Gacy’s attorney John Greenlees said. “It appears now it’s going to be longer and a lot busier than we had thought.â€
The appeals variously argued that he was out of town when several of the killings occurred, was mentally incompetent and that execution by injection is unconstitutional.
“There’s no merit to any of the claims Mr. Gacy has brought, and I don’t think there’s any merit to any claim he could bring in the future,†said Assistant Atty. Gen. Arleen Anderson.
Gacy was originally scheduled to die June 2, 1980, but appeals have kept him alive.
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