In a shocking revelation to People Magazine, actor Jack Merrill shared his harrowing experience with the clown serial killer John Wayne Gacy.
October 24, 2024- In an exclusive feature story with People Magazine, “Law and Order” actor Jack Merrill revealed that he was abducted and raped by the infamous American serial killer, John Wayne Gacy.
Jack Merrill and John Wayne Gacy
Here is the breakdown of Merrill’s People story.
Jack Merrill grew up in Evanston, Illinois, in a large but unhappy home.
Despite his father, Jerome Holtzman, being a famous baseball writer who invented the “Save” statistic, Merrill describes a difficult upbringing with a narcissistic mother.
“No matter what I did, I was wrong,” he recalls, reflecting on walking on eggshells as a child.
High school became an escape for him, where friendships provided solace.
At 17, Merrill left home after a physical altercation with his father, moving into a small apartment in downtown Chicago.
By 19, he was working in clubs and dreaming of becoming an actor, though unsure how to pursue it.
John Wayne Gacy Abduction
One fateful night, Merrill accepted a ride from a stranger, who turned out to be infamous serial killer John Wayne Gacy.
Gacy drugged and abducted Merrill, then took him to his house, where he was handcuffed, raped, and nearly killed.
Merrill recalled surviving the ordeal by staying calm and playing along, a skill he had learned from enduring his parents’ anger.
“That’s the way I had survived as a kid,” he said.
Merrill didn’t know at the time that Gacy was a serial killer.
He avoided contacting the police but later connected the dots when news broke about bodies found at Gacy’s house.
“If the police ever needed my help, I’d come forward,” he explained.
Years later, Merrill found healing through acting.
He moved to New York, joined NYU’s drama department, and co-founded the Off-Broadway troupe Naked Angels.=
Acting provided him with an outlet for emotional expression and growth.
“Recognition and acceptance,” he said of the therapeutic nature of his craft.
Jack Merrill Law & Order
Merrill also sought emotional healing through forgiveness, learning to forgive not only Gacy but also his parents.
“I knew I had to do that—to somehow forgive Gacy,” he reflected.
Through time, he rebuilt relationships with his family, particularly with his father, who acknowledged his past shortcomings.
“I can’t. When I get scared, I never cry – my emotions get locked,” Merrill said.
“You know, I’m lucky. I’ve always been lucky,” Merrill concluded.
What are the biggest stories trending online today? Read the latest here
Published by HOLR Magazine
Image Credit: @people Instagram, @people YouTube