David Paul Talsma (19)
Born
Chicago, Cook County, Illinois
Death
9 Dec 1977, Norwood Park Township, Cook County, Illinois
Tragically, David Talsma was one of the victims of Illinois serial killer and sex offender John Wayne Gacy who raped, tortured, and murdered at least 33 young men and boys between 1962 and 1977. His conviction for thirty-three murders (by one individual) then covered the most homicides in United States legal history. Gacy was sentenced to death and was executed by lethal injection at Statesville Correctional Center on May 10, 1994. He became known as “The Killer Clown” due to his public performances as a clown prior to the discovery of his crimes and is one of the most prolific serial murderers in Chicago history.
On December 9, 1977, 19-year-old U.S. Marine David Talsma disappeared after telling his mother he was to attend a rock concert in Hammond, Indiana. Gacy strangled Talsma with a ligature. He was “Body #13” and buried under the crawl space, close to John Mowery.
His body is recovered on November 16, 1979, on what would have been his 21st birthday. Talsma is identified through X-rays of his left arm.
His body is recovered on November 16, 1979, on what would have been his 21st birthday. Talsma is identified through X-rays of his left arm.
