John Antheney Mowery (19)
Born
Chicago, Illinois
Death
25 Sep 1977, Norwood Park Township, Illinois
Tragically, John Mowery 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 September 25, 1977, 19-year-old John Mowery, who had just completed 18 months with the Marines when he returned home in early 1977, stops by his family’s house to say he’s going out for the night. That is the last time he’s seen alive. His sister, Judith, was murdered six years prior. He is “Body #20” and was buried under the crawl space.
A body found is finally identified with dental records to be Mowery on January 27, 1979.
A body found is finally identified with dental records to be Mowery on January 27, 1979.