Boys Enter the House: The Victims of John Wayne Gacy and the Lives They Left Behind

John Gacy was an upstanding citizen, active in local politics and charities, known for his themed parties and appearances as Pogo the Clown. In the winter of 1978–79, he became known as one of many "sex murderers" who had begun gaining notoriety in the random brutality of the 1970s. Boys Enter the House retraces the footsteps of these victims as they make their way to the doorstep of the Gacy house itself. Samuel Stapleton and Randy Reffett play out a boyhood rivalry, Frank "Dale" Landingin and Billy Carroll attempt to break free of turbulent family lives, and Gregory Godzik and Johnny Szyc juggle jobs and relationships.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 336 pages
Publication date: 04 October 2022
Publisher: Chicago Review Press

As investigators meticulously retrieved the bagged remnants of numerous young men from a modest Chicago ranch home, parading them before a throng of TV reporters and onlookers, the focus swiftly shifted to the owner of the residence. John Gacy, an esteemed member of the community, actively engaged in local politics and philanthropic endeavors, renowned for his captivating themed parties and captivating performances as Pogo the Clown. However, during the winter of 1978–79, he gained infamy as one of the numerous so-called "sex murderers" who emerged during the random brutality of the 1970s.

As public curiosity surged, the victims transformed into mere footnotes and statistics, their lives tragically cut short not only by violence but also by the passage of time. Boys Enter the House, through the poignant testimonies of siblings, parents, friends, lovers, and other witnesses intimately connected to the case, delves into the lives of these victims as they journeyed toward the doorstep of the Gacy house itself. Amid the rugged streets of the Uptown neighborhood, Samuel Stapleton and Randy Reffett engage in a childhood rivalry that evolves into a lifelong friendship, navigating the complexities of gangs and girls along the way. Frank "Dale" Landingin and Billy Carroll, seeking respite from tumultuous family lives, find themselves navigating the treacherous terrain of the gay underworld, striving to advance their prospects. As they prepare to embark on their own lives, Gregory Godzik and Johnny Szyc juggle their responsibilities, their paths gradually converging toward the residence at 8213 Summerdale Avenue.

Unified by the heinous act of one man, these victims courageously step forward, sharing their boyish aspirations for love and intimacy, recounting the tragic family tragedies of abuse and addiction, and reliving their adolescent experiences traversing the vibrant neighborhoods of Chicago and the energetic decade of the 1970s.

Weight: 414g
Dimension: 153 x 227 x 24 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781641608367