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===PDM Contractors=== In 1971, Gacy established a part-time construction business, PDM Contractors (for "Painting, Decorating, and Maintenance").{{sfn|Linedecker|1986|pp=47โ72}} With the approval of his [[probation officer]], Gacy worked evenings on his construction contracts while working as a cook during the day. Initially, he undertook minor repair work, but later expanded to include projects such as interior design, remodeling, and landscaping. In mid-1973, Gacy quit his job as a cook so he could commit fully to his construction business.{{sfn|Cahill|1986|pp=112โ123}} By 1975, PDM was expanding rapidly and Gacy was working up to sixteen hours per day. In March 1977, he became a supervisor for PE Systems, a firm specializing in the remodeling of drugstores. Between PE Systems and PDM, Gacy worked on up to four projects simultaneously and frequently traveled to other states.{{sfn|Cahill|1986|pp=177โ184}} By 1978, PDM's annual revenue was over $200,000.{{sfn|Cahill|1986|pp=205โ233}}{{efn|In September 1978, Gacy was also appointed as vice president of RaphCo Incorporated, a contracting firm owned by a business associate.{{sfn|Sullivan|2000|page=66}}}} ====Clown==== [[File:John Gacy Pogo December 1976 Martin Zielinski.jpg|thumb|upright|Gacy as Pogo the Clown|alt=A heavy-set man in a clown costume, with balloons and waving]] Through his membership in a local [[Moose International|Moose Club]], Gacy became aware of a "Jolly Joker" clown club, whose members regularly performed at fundraising events and parades in addition to voluntarily entertaining hospitalized children.{{sfn|Cahill|1986|pp=140โ147}} In late 1975, Gacy joined the clown club and created his own characters "Pogo the Clown" and "Patches the Clown", devising his own makeup and costumes. He described Pogo as a "happy clown", whereas Patches was a "more serious" character.{{sfn|Foreman|1992|pp=68โ77}} Gacy seldom earned money for his performances and later said that acting as a clown allowed him to "regress into childhood". He performed as both Pogo and Patches at numerous local parties, political functions, charitable events, and children's hospitals.{{sfn|Cahill|1986|pp=140โ147}}<ref>{{Cite web |date=June 16, 2023 |title=John Wayne Gacy: The "Killer Clown"|url=https://www.biography.com/crime/john-wayne-gacy |access-date=April 23, 2025 |website=[[Biography.com]]|language=en-US}}</ref> Gacy's voluntary public service as a clown throughout the years of his murders led to him being known as the "Killer Clown".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.biography.com/crime-figure/john-wayne-gacy|title=John Wayne Gacy Biography|work=Biography.com|access-date=October 7, 2020|archive-date=May 22, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200522032202/https://www.biography.com/crime-figure/john-wayne-gacy|url-status=live}}</ref> ====Employees==== Much of PDM's workforce consisted of high school students and young men.{{sfn|Amirante|2011|p=1}} Gacy would often proposition his workers for sex, or insist on sexual favors in return for lending his vehicles, financial assistance or promotions.<ref name="Seymour Tribune"/>{{sfn|Cahill|1986|pp=165โ172}} Gacy also claimed to own guns, once telling an employee, "Do you know how easy it would be to get one of my guns and kill youโand how easy it would be to get rid of the body?"<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/16613729/house-smelled-like-dead-rats/|title=House Smelled Like Dead Rats|newspaper=[[The Journal Gazette]]|date=December 23, 1978|via=Newspapers.com|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200929093616/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/16613729/house-smelled-like-dead-rats/|archive-date=September 29, 2020}} {{free access}}</ref> In 1973, Gacy and a teenage employee traveled to [[Florida]] to view a property Gacy had purchased; while there, Gacy raped the employee in their hotel room. After returning to Chicago, this employee drove to Gacy's house and beat him in his front yard. Gacy told his wife he had been attacked for refusing to pay him for poor quality painting work.{{sfn|Cahill|1986|pp=112โ123}} In May 1975, Gacy hired 15-year-old Anthony Antonucci. Two months later, he went to Antonucci's home, knowing the youth had an injured foot. The two drank a bottle of wine, then watched a heterosexual stag film before Gacy wrestled Antonucci to the floor and cuffed his hands behind his back. One cuff was loose and Antonucci freed his arm while Gacy was out of the room. When Gacy returned, Antonucciโa high school wrestlerโgrappled with him, obtained the key, and cuffed Gacy's hands behind his back. Gacy threatened Antonucci, then calmed down and promised to leave if he was freed. Antonucci agreed and Gacy left. Antonucci continued working for PDM for nine months after this incident, and Gacy made no further attempts to assault him.{{sfn|Cahill|1986|pp=121โ123}} On July 26, 1976, Gacy picked up 18-year-old hitchhiker David Cram and offered him a job with PDM; he began work the same evening. On August 21, Cram moved into Gacy's house. The next day, Cram and Gacy had several drinks to celebrate his 19th birthday, with Gacy dressed as Pogo. Gacy conned Cram into donning handcuffs, his wrists cuffed in front of his body rather than behind. He swung Cram around while holding the chain linking the cuffs, then said he intended to rape him. Cram kicked Gacy in the face and freed himself.{{sfn|Cahill|1986|pp=165โ172}} A month later, Gacy appeared at Cram's bedroom door intending to rape him, saying, "Dave, you really don't know who I am. Maybe it would be good if you give me what I want." Cram resisted, straddling Gacy, who left the bedroom, stating, "You ain't no fun." Cram moved out on October 5 and left PDM (although he periodically worked for Gacy over the following two years).{{sfn|Cahill|1986|pp=165โ172}}<ref name="Cram">{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=slsxAAAAIBAJ&pg=1116,946568|title=Man Helped Dig Trenches at Gacy Home|newspaper=[[The Montreal Gazette]]|date=February 13, 1980|via=Google News|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200929093025/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=slsxAAAAIBAJ&pg=1116%2C946568|archive-date=September 29, 2020}} {{Open access}}</ref> Shortly afterwards, another employee, 18-year-old Michael Rossi, moved in.{{sfn|Linedecker|1986|pp=47โ72}}{{sfn|Cahill|1986|pp=177โ184}}{{sfn|Sullivan|2000|pp=184โ188}} Rossi had worked for PDM since May 23, 1976.{{sfn|Sullivan|2000|pp=58โ60}} He lived with Gacy until April 1977.{{efn|The same month, Gacy became engaged to a woman he had been dating for three months, who moved into his house. In June of that year, by mutual agreement, the engagement was called off and she moved out.{{sfn|Cahill|1986|pp=165โ172}}}} Rossi sometimes assisted Gacy in clowning at grand openings of businesses: Gacy as Pogo and Rossi as Patches.{{sfn|Cahill|1986|pp=140โ147}}{{sfn|Foreman|1992|pp=68โ77}} ====Politics==== [[File:Johnwaynegacyrosalynncarter.jpg|alt=|thumb|Gacy with First Lady [[Rosalynn Carter]] on May 6, 1978, six years after his first murder and seven months before his final arrest]] Gacy entered local Democratic Party politics, initially offering use of his employees to clean party headquarters at no charge. He was rewarded with an invitation to serve on the Norwood Park Township street lighting committee, subsequently earning the title of precinct captain.{{sfn|Linedecker|1986|pp=47โ72}}{{sfn|Amirante|2011|p=73}}{{sfn|Cahill|1986|pp=205โ233}} In 1975, Gacy was appointed director of Chicago's annual [[Polish Constitution Day Parade]].<ref name="auto"/>{{sfn|Cahill|1986|p=142}} Through his work with the parade, which he would supervise until 1978, Gacy met and was photographed with [[First Lady of the United States|First Lady]] [[Rosalynn Carter]] wearing an "S" pin, indicating a person given special clearance.{{sfn|Cahill|1986|pp=205โ233}}{{sfn|Linedecker|1980|pp=140โ153}} The event later became an embarrassment to the [[United States Secret Service]].{{sfn|Linedecker|1980|pp=140โ153}}
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