Pal Pays Visit to Optimistic Gacy
by Terry H. Burns
As his execution approaches, condemned serial killer John Wayne Gacy continues to believe that last ditch appeals will spare his life, according to a close friend. Rick Gaez, a Los Angeles artist who visited Gacy in prison last weekend, said Wednesday that the killer remains optimistic despite his looming execution. “They’re not going to get me this time,” Gacy told Gaez during their six-hour visit on death row at the Menard Correctional Center. “If he’s getting nervous (about his May 10 execution), he isn’t showing it. He’s a real positive guy and he told me he tries not to think about things he doesn’t have control over,” Gaez recalled. In regard to his pending appeals, one in U.S. District Court and another in Cook County Circuit Court.
Gacy, 52, seemed assured that he was going to be granted a last-minute stay. “I think we’re going to get one of those (appeals),” Gacy predicted. The prediction came just days before the Illinois Supreme Court and a Cook County judge both rejected appeals that could have extended Gacy’s life. “The 26-year-old Gaez first began writing to Gacy in about two years ago after seeing some of the killer’s paintings in a friends office. In the past year, they’ve exchanged letters and telephone calls about once a week. “At first you could say I was just curious. Being an artist, I wanted a (Gacy) painting because I thought they were interesting. Gaez eventually sent a photograph to Gacy, and the killer painted Gaez’ portrait. In addition to the portrait Gaez owns three other Gacy paintings, including one showing Gacy as the infamous “Pogo” the clown.
Gacy claims that the man convicted of murdering 33 young men and boys is hardly the monster frequently referred to by police and prosecutors. “His crimes aside, he’s really a likable guy, very funny, interesting and complex. Despite his apparent friendship with the serial killer, Gaez was quick to say “I’m not here to be Gacy’s pompom guy” I was always interested in seeing what type of person he was. “I figured Gacy can’t be Gacy 24 hours of the day.” There has to be a time when he’s just John,” Gaez said. During their visit, Gacy talked about everything from his family to politics to sex, Gaez said. At one point, Gacy even mentioned that he had received at least five letters from distraught young men contemplating suicide. Gacy told Gaez that he had written back to each of the men to tell them “Just how precious life is.” “Unfortunately, I lost one of those kids (to suicide),” Gacy reportedly said. Gaez again was quick to defend the killer. “He’s not a madman. He’s surprisingly very, very, very normal. “He’s like your dad’s jolly person, the one who tells all the dirty jokes,” he added.
