How Did a Chicago Teen Outwit Notorious Serial Killer John Wayne Gacy, Even After the Handcuffs Came Out? (Exclusive)

A gripping new episode of “People Magazine Investigates: Surviving a Serial Killer” reveals the harrowing escape of three boys from the clutches of the infamous John Wayne Gacy. Their chilling encounters with the notorious killer showcase how quick thinking and sheer luck allowed them to evade a fate that claimed the lives of so many others.

The episode, airing Tuesday, June 23, at 9 p.m. ET on ID and streaming on HBO Max, dives deep into the stories of Tony Antonucci, David Bolton, and Patrick Dati, who all faced Gacy’s predatory tactics during their formative years. Gacy, who was ultimately convicted of murdering 33 boys and young men between 1972 and 1978, was finally apprehended in 1978 after police linked him to the disappearance of 15-year-old Robert Piest.

In a 𝓈𝒽𝓸𝒸𝓀𝒾𝓃𝑔 twist of fate, 15-year-old Antonucci found himself working part-time at Gacy’s construction company in 1975. During a seemingly innocent evening spent cleaning up after a political event, Gacy made an inappropriate advance toward Antonucci. In a moment of defiance, Antonucci retaliated by striking Gacy with a folding chair, to which Gacy responded with a chilling question: “Why didn’t you just ask me to stop?”

Weeks later, after Antonucci injured himself at work, Gacy offered to check on him at home. Under the guise of concern, Gacy arrived with a bottle of wine and proposed an impromptu wrestling match. It was during this playful encounter that Gacy produced a pair of handcuffs, an alarming tactic he reportedly used to restrain his victims. However, Antonucci’s wrestling skills would soon turn the tables.

The episode titled “Surviving the Devil in Chicago” recounts how Antonucci outsmarted Gacy in a nail-biting encounter, allowing him to escape the killer’s grasp. This episode also sheds light on the traumatic experiences of David Bolton and Patrick Dati, who were both targeted by Gacy at a young age but managed to survive their encounters.

As viewers tune in to this compelling episode, they will witness not only the terrifying reality of Gacy’s actions but also the resilience of those who narrowly escaped his clutches. What other untold stories lie hidden in the shadows of Gacy’s dark legacy?