Gacy Attempts Suicide; 18 Bodies Found

John W. Gacy, Jr. who reportedly confessed to the sex slayings of 32 persons tried to kill himself while in the Cook County Jail’s Cermak Hospital it was reported today. The suicide attempt was made Saturday a source told the Chicago Sun Times. Gacy charged with murdering one youth and suspected of killing perhaps as many as 151 more teenagers and young men reportedly tried to strangle, himself with a towel, the Sun-Times said. Authorities were not immediately available for comment on the Sun Times story. Since the suicide attempt, Gacy has been kept in restraints and strapped to his bed released only for brief exercises under watch of guards the Sun Times reported.

Police say they have found 17 bodies in Gacy’s home since last week. Another one was found last month in the Des Plaincs River and allegedly linked to Gacy by items found in his home. Investigators say a burial map drawn by Gacy led them to more bodies Wednesday “The scene inside the house is indescribable in its horror,” said Stein. “It’s like a battlefield.” People are digging trenches, filling trenches. And as they work their faces have such looks of despair. ” About 100 people stood in the cold outside the contractor’s modest house as police removed bodies and debris. There were reports that as many as two more bodies were located Wednesday but authorities said only 15 had been delivered to the Cook County morgue in Chicago where they are to be identified. Gacy who served a prison term in Iowa for a sodomy conviction, allegedly has confessed that he buried 27 bodies beneath the house and threw five others into a river. He drew a rough map of his home last Friday to assist authorities in their search the Chicago Tribune reported in today seditions.

“So far the map has been completely accurate an unidentified investigator told the Tribune. “We have no doubt that we will find 27 bodies in the places he has shown us.” Stein said the bodies were “badly decomposed. skeletonized and most of the remains were found lying face up with underwear stuffed in their mouths. Authorities started digging and tearing up walls at the home in an unincorporated area near suburban Norridge last Thursday. Gacy a 30-year-old self-employed contractor, has been charged with the murder of 15-year-old Robert Piest, a Des Plaines youth who disappeared December 11. Piest’s body has not been found. Gacy reportedly told police it was thrown into the river.