Devil in Disguise: John Wayne Gacy

-You need to think outside the box.

You told me you killed 33 boys.

-It shouldn't be your first case.

Not my first case?

-You're not gonna get a fair trial here.

-We could motion to hold the jury selection

somewhere else.

-I'm looking for Jeffrey Rignall.

-What do you want? -Last year,

you filed a police report for assault.

You named Gacy as the assailant.

In light of your psych evals,

we're advising you plead not guilty

by reason of insanity.

How about we plead innocent

by reason of self-defense?

-He said if I gave him what he wanted,

he would give me more money.

-So you're not a victim? You're a whore.

Bessie: Love you.

-And it's welded. Ain't going nowhere.

-Where were you at ID-ing the victims?

Billy: There's a good guy out there for you.

He's a guy that you can be really proud of.

So shut the hell up and be him.

Get a real job.

-Never turn a trick alone. -Why?

Ivy: 'Cause that's how you go missing, forever.

Happy birthday.

-All right. I'll be in the car. Go.

Yes! Thank you.

-You really scared me there, Mr. Gacy.

-Just one more trick for the road.

reporter: the discovery of Rob Piest's body?

Sam: We're thankful that Rob Piest's body

has been recovered...

but my client is still entitled to due process

afforded by the Constitution.

We're not reverting to, uh, mob rule and lynchings

as much as the prosecution has pushed for that.

Bill: Listen, this is all I'm gonna say.

In light of the newly discovered bodies,

we will be amending the charges,

uh, bringing it to a total of 33 murders.

- Excuse me.

[reporters overlapping chattering]

Gacy was, uh,

suffering from chest pains and had a heart attack.

reporter: And these are real symptoms?

-I assure you, he--he's not faking it.

He has a long history of cardiac issues.

He's been in and out of the hospital,

requires real medical attention.

-The insanity defense is nothing short

of a Sam Amirante Hail Mary.

I have nothing more to say on the matter.

It is stupid. -It's true.

Gacy had been fasting for 20 days,

consuming nothing but liquids.

Uh, it was not a hunger strike per se.

But, uh, Gacy is a very religious man.

And, uh, Easter's around the corner.

So, you know who else fasted, Jesus.

-We are very pleased that Judge Garippo has denied

the defense's request for a change of venue.

However, agreeing to impanel a jury from a different county

is going to delay the trial another three weeks.

Um, if you ask me,

this is Mr. Amirante's plan all along.

-A potential juror yelled out in court,

saying my client is guilty.

I had no choice but to file for a mistrial.

Now the judge rejected the motion,

but the law is clear, the jury pool is poisoned.

And these are Rockford jurists.

Imagine if they had been impaneled in Chicago.

-Are you suggesting that... -I mean, look.

Maybe Bill Kunkle can finally stop whining about

being cooped up in Rockford for the selection process.

I highly doubt it knowing that man, but...

Bill: I can understand why the Clowning Association

would hold a press conference to defend their profession.

But no, we will not be calling any clowns to the witness stand.

It's been a long 14 months,

but I'm prepared to wage a street-fighter style battle

in court for John Wayne Gacy's

God-given rights as an American citizen.

Bob Motta and I are tough, aggressive lawyers,

gladiators in a three-piece.

We do not hold back.

Thank you, everybody, and I'll see you in court.

Bill: Oh, come on.

Jesus Christ.

Sam: Well, this is awkward.

Only when you say it is.

Bob.

Moo.

-Just too hungry to send it back.

Uh, ready for next week?

We ever really ready, Bob?

Just gotta feet first it.

Goddamn right.

I'm gonna grab our table.

Can I order you something?

-Yeah. Whatever, uh, you think I'll like.

Thank you. -"Whatever you think I'll like?"

Jesus Christ.

You guys make a cute couple.

Been thinking about last year.

That day, that first day in court, me and you?

What you told me? To walk away.

Hmm.

Regrets?

I don't know.

I just really thought I could... handle it.

And, uh, fuck.

I mean,

who could've predicted this circus?

You mean other than everybody?

I'll predict another thing

where my big ass is gonna end up after I win.

Up on that big-ass bench.

Fifth time's the charm, huh?

Uh-hmm.

Right after that sick fuck of yours

takes his place in hell.

Is that why you're doing this?

To become a judge?

-I'm doing this because he deserves it.

Everything else is just gravy. I like gravy.

I just wanted my own practice.

-You know hell attracting new clients is gonna be tough

now that you got that scarlet letter on you.

-When I joined the Marines, I got picked on.

Uh-hmm.

My size made me an easy target.

Italian Meatball they would call me, among other things.

Got my ass kicked daily, yelled at,

just trying to fucking break me, you know.

But I didn't quit. -Hmm.

Became the 17th Marine

ever to score a perfect 500 on my physical.

It's in my DNA,

stick with it till the bitter end.

That's a great story, Sam,

but it's a piss-poor excuse to let a psychopath walk.

-You know, you need all 12 for a conviction.

I only need one for a hung jury.

Well...

ding, ding.

-It's-- insanity doesn't sound pre-meditated.

-What part of what I just told you

doesn't sound pre-meditated?

That's not the issue, Jeff.

You published a book,

in which you state that Gacy was insane,

out of his mind. -He is.

-We told you to wait until after the trial to release it.

I knew it. I knew--

When that cop came to my door last year,

I knew it shouldn't have helped.

You came to me.

Just wait?

I mean, it's, it's all you people,

you cops, all you ever say.

I'm so tired of waiting.

I wanted my story out.

-We have to paint a clear picture. All right.

The core principle of our argument

is that Gacy wasn't insane,

that he was clear minded, pre-meditated.

Yeah, he's all of those things.

It confuses the jury, Jeff.

If you get on the stand and testify,

the defense is going to impeach your testimony

with the help of your own damn book.

-You made their argument for them.

Bill: You know what else juries hate?

The idea of a witness profiting from a case.

And as our key witness, no, none of this is any good.

We can't use you.

It's a sad thing what happened to you.

A shit situation.

But we only get one shot at this and we gotta get it right.

-It's my story. -Uh-huh.

I did what I thought was right.

I'm the victim here.

-You have to work on your bedside manner.

Life's too short.

-We need another compelling witness who knows Gacy,

counter the narrative. -I understand.

Otherwise, Sam will be doing his best Brunnhilde,

singing the same insanity note over and over.

All right here.

Divide and conquer.

You take the victims, I'll take the families.

Spread them out. I need to see the whole mosaic.

All right. Obviously,

we're gonna have the families testify.

All right. They will emotionally activate the jury.