UPDATE: A San Antonio family is urgently seeking answers as DNA testing on remains linked to notorious serial killer John Wayne Gacy reopens a chilling chapter nearly 50 years after their relative disappeared in 1975. Families across the nation are now holding their breath, hoping this investigation could lead to long-awaited closure.
Authorities in Cook County have confirmed that they are revisiting the identification of several unnamed victims found on Gacy’s property, utilizing modern forensic sequencing and genealogical resources. The Cook County Sheriff’s Office states that this renewed effort has already generated identifications and will continue as DNA quality improves.
The San Antonio family spoke with local reporters from KENS5 on Friday, emphasizing their desire for investigators to compare their DNA with remains previously exhumed from Gacy’s infamous home. They are urging anyone with information about their missing relative to step forward and assist in tracing his last known movements.
Nonprofit teams specializing in genetic genealogy are working closely with county detectives, extracting DNA from teeth and bones, sequencing it, and matching it against public genealogy databases. This collaboration has previously identified a previously anonymous Gacy victim in 2021, according to reports by the Associated Press.
While the approach has yielded results, officials warn that degraded samples and incomplete historical records may hinder some cases from reaching resolution. Currently, multiple sets of remains from Gacy’s property remain unidentified, making cross-checks with missing persons reports essential for families desperate for closure.
Families, including those in San Antonio, are encouraged to file or update missing person reports, safeguard dental records, and work with local law enforcement to submit family-reference DNA. The federal NamUs system provides free forensic services and family DNA kits to assist in these efforts.
As the San Antonio family continues to push for DNA comparisons, they request privacy during this emotional time. Their hope remains clear: they seek a name and an end to nearly five decades of uncertainty.
Developments are expected to unfold rapidly as investigators continue their work, and families from far and wide are monitoring the situation closely, hoping for an answer that could finally bring them peace.
