Sixteen-year-old Timothy “Jack” McCoy spent Christmas 1971 with his relatives in Michigan, leaving on January 2, 1972, to return home to Nebraska. After arriving in Chicago for a bus connection, he met a man who offered him food and a tour of the city. Timothy accepted, but he would never be seen alive again. Fourteen years later, his family learned he had been the first known victim of John Wayne Gacy, the infamous “Killer Clown.”

Through the accounts of survivors and families, The Devil in Disguise series uncovers Gacy’s horrifying legacy and the failures that allowed his killing spree to continue for years.

You can watch Devil in Disguise: John Wayne Gacyhere.


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CREDITS 

Guest: Patrick Macmanus 

Host: Claire Murphy

Senior Producer: Tahli Blackman

Group Executive Producer: Ilaria Brophy

Audio Engineer: Tina Matalov

GET IN TOUCH

Follow us on Instagram and TikTok @truecrimeconversations

Make sure to leave us a rating and review on Apple & Spotify to let us know how you're liking the episodes. 

Want us to cover a case on the podcast? Email us at truecrime@mamamia.com.au or send us a voice note.

If any of the contents in this episode have caused distress, know that there is help available via Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636.

We acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the Land we have recorded this podcast on, the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures.

Sixteen-year-old Timothy &ldquo;Jack&rdquo; McCoy spent Christmas 1971 with his relatives in Michigan, leaving on January 2, 1972, to return home to Nebraska. After arriving in Chicago for a bus connection, he met a man who offered him food and a tour of the city. Timothy accepted, but he would never be seen alive again. Fourteen years later, his family learned he had been the first known victim of John Wayne Gacy, the infamous &ldquo;Killer Clown.&rdquo;
Through the accounts of survivors and families, The Devil in Disguise&nbsp;series uncovers Gacy&rsquo;s horrifying legacy and the failures that allowed his killing spree to continue for years.
You can watch Devil in Disguise: John Wayne Gacy <a href="https://binge.com.au/shows/show-john-wayne-gacy-devil-in-disguise!32385?asset=165287&amp;play=true">here</a>. <a href="https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/devil_in_disguise_john_wayne_gacy" data-ved="2ahUKEwin0eTt4uuQAxUdj68BHVZ4ELIQFnoECEIQAQ"></a><a href="https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/devil_in_disguise_john_wayne_gacy" data-ved="2ahUKEwin0eTt4uuQAxUdj68BHVZ4ELIQFnoECEIQAQ"></a><a href="https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/devil_in_disguise_john_wayne_gacy" data-ved="2ahUKEwin0eTt4uuQAxUdj68BHVZ4ELIQFnoECEIQAQ"></a>
SURVEY
Want to win a $1,000 gift card in just 3 minutes? <a href="https://survey.alchemer.com/s3/8496276/True-Crime-Study-2025">Fill out this short survey</a> to help True Crime Conversations gather more information on what content you want to hear from us!
CREDITS&nbsp;
Guest: <a href="https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0533976/">Patrick Macmanus</a>&nbsp;
Host: <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/claire-murphy-52121979/?originalSubdomain=au">Claire Murphy</a>
Senior Producer:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/tahli-blackman-205a891b7/?originalSubdomain=au">Tahli Blackman</a>
Group Executive Producer: Ilaria Brophy
Audio Engineer: Tina Matalov
GET IN TOUCH
Follow us on Instagram and TikTok&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/truecrimeconversations/?hl=en">@truecrimeconversations</a>
Make sure to leave us a rating and review on Apple &amp; Spotify to let us know how you're liking the episodes.&nbsp;
Want us to cover a case on the podcast? Email us at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:truecrime@mamamia.com.au">truecrime@mamamia.com.au</a>&nbsp;or <a href="https://help.mamamia.com.au/en-US/send-a-podcast-voice-note-467960">send us a voice note.</a>
If any of the contents in this episode have caused distress, know that there is help available via Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Beyond Blue on <a href="tel:1300 22 4636">1300 22 4636</a>.
We acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the Land we have recorded this podcast on, the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures.

True Crime Conversations explores the world’s most notorious crimes by speaking to the people who know the most about them. 

Follow us on TikTok @truecrimeconversations

Want us to cover a case on the podcast? Email us at truecrime@mamamia.com.au

True Crime Conversations explores the world&rsquo;s most notorious crimes by speaking to the people who know the most about them.&nbsp;
Follow us on TikTok <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@truecrimeconversations?lang=en">@truecrimeconversations</a>
Want us to cover a case on the podcast? Email us at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:truecrime@mamamia.com.au">truecrime@mamamia.com.au</a>

True Crime Conversations

The Killer Clown Used Magic Tricks To Lure His Victims

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/3ea926be-9be7-482a-8ac3-a44f016e43d1/clips/7d3982c8-44f2-4f17-b6cc-b39300036cd8/transcript

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